The UK Government has launched a consultation into land access issues for the onshore oil and gas and geothermal industries.
The new proposals would simplify procedures which the government says are costly, time-consuming and disproportionate for the newer methods of underground drilling.
Shale oil and gas firms would be granted access to land below 300m from the surface, and the government also suggests that companies pay £20,000 per well to those living above the land and provide a clear notification system to alert local people.
UK Business and Energy Minister Michael Fallon said that Britain needs more home-grown energy.
"Shale development will bring jobs and business opportunities. We are keen for shale and geothermal exploration to go ahead while protecting residents through the robust regulation that is in place," Fallon added.
The UK Onshore Operators Group (UKOOG) has welcomed the government’s move to launch the consultation.
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By GlobalDataUKOOG chief executive Ken Cronin said that the existing legal treatment for land access for onshore oil and gas is not in line with other industries and will delay projects that are beneficial to the nation.
"The onshore oil and gas industry continues to be focused on communicating properly at a local level and complying with a regulatory system that is considered one of the best in the world," Cronin added.
The consultation is open for 12 weeks, after which the government will announce its next steps. It follows a new report by the British Geological Survey (BGS) which estimates that there are 4.4 billion barrels of oil in shale rocks in southern England, although it is not known what percentage of the oil present in the shale could be commercially extracted.
Image: UK Business and Energy Minister Michael Fallon. Photo: courtesy of The UK government.
