Collaborative Research: A Spatial Analysis of the Determinants of Setback Distance Variation Between Shale Gas Wells and Residences

该项目将调查德克萨斯州主要页岩气地区市政挫折政策的空间变异性。 在这种情况下，后退距离可以被概念化为天然气威尔斯和住宅之间的绝对空间，以及关键政策行为者之间谈判和知识转让的产物。 通过检查的过程中，其中的挫折距离设置的方式，本研究将填补知识空白的页岩气威尔斯井的位置的理解，有助于新兴的地理理论的流动性的政策在机构景观，并提供关键信息，分析目前和未来的辩论围绕页岩气钻井在人口稠密地区。 这项研究将采用定性和定量相结合的方法，并将在几个城市收集数据。 首先，将开发一个地理信息系统数据库，根据后退距离和气井密度对城市进行识别和分层。 其次，将与多个政策利益相关者进行访谈，以确定他们对制定挫折政策的想法、理解和作用。 访谈数据将进行分析，以确定如何挫折条例扩散，变异，和/或城市之间的演变。 该项目将有助于正在进行的关于页岩气钻探及其对美国各地居民区影响的政策讨论。 来自北德克萨斯大学和德克萨斯A M大学代表性不足群体的本科生将被招募参加这项研究。 这些学生将通过实践实地研究和数据准备，研讨会，辅导进行培训，并将有机会公开展示他们的研究成果。 此外，该研究将成为本科能源地理课程的一个组成部分，其中包括一个研究部分。 第三个组成部分将本研究产生的地理信息系统产品纳入高中学生的模块。 该模块将使学生能够确定如何使用GIS工具来了解碳氢化合物开采的人类层面;它也将成为一个有形的教育产品，以促进其他高中的额外推广计划。 最后，这项研究将为地方、区域、国家和国际在人口稠密地区进行页岩气钻探的政策提供信息。 清楚地了解气井条例背后的动机和后退距离的目标，以及在一个地方制定的政策如何适用于其他地方，将与世界各地的社区有关。

This project will investigate the spatial variability of municipal setback policies in major shale gas areas in Texas. In this case setback distance can be conceptualized as an absolute space between gas wells and homes, as well as the product of negotiations and knowledge transfers among key policy actors. By examining the processes underlying the way in which setback distances are set, this research will fill a knowledge gap in the understanding of the placement of shale gas wells, contribute to emergent geographical theories on the mobility of policies across institutional landscapes, and provide critical information for analyzing present and future debates surrounding shale gas drilling in populated areas. The study will use a mix of qualitative and quantitative methods and will collect data in several municipalities. First, a geographic Information System (GIS) database will be developed to identify and stratify cities based on setback distances and gas well density. Second, interviews will be conducted with multiple policy stakeholders to determine their ideas about, understanding of, and role in establishing setback policies. Interview data will be analyzed to determine how setback ordinances diffuse, mutate, and/or evolve among municipalities. This project will contribute to on-going policy discussions about shale gas drilling and its impact on residential areas throughout the United States. Undergraduate students from underrepresented groups at the University of North Texas and Texas A&M University will be recruited to participate in the research. These students will be trained through hands-on field research and data preparation, workshops, mentoring, and will be given opportunities to publicly present their research findings. In addition, the research will become a component of an undergraduate Geography of Energy course that will include a research component. A third component incorporates the GIS products generated from this study into a module for high school students. The module will allow students to determine how GIS tools can be used to understand human dimensions of hydrocarbon extraction; it will also become a tangible educational product to foster additional outreach programs at other high schools. Finally, this study will inform local, regional, national, and international policies on shale gas drilling in populated areas. A clear understanding of the motives behind gas well ordinances and the goals of setback distances and how policies formulated in one place are applied elsewhere will be relevant for communities around the world.