UK energy company Cuadrilla Resources has announced that it will apply for planning consent to undertake hydraulic fracturing and testing of the shale at its Grange Hill exploration well in Lancashire.
The company is also planning to apply for consent to drill, hydraulically fracture and test the gas flow at six exploration wells in the Fylde area in Lancashire.
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The company has appointed engineering and environmental consultancy firm Arup to carry out environmental impact assessments for each application to drill, fracture and flow-test.
Cuadrilla also intends to apply for planning consent to drill about three vertical exploration wells to collect additional rock samples in order to improve knowledge on the subsurface geology.
The company has postponed a decision to drill and test the Anna’s Road site until after it has explored the other sites.
Cuadrilla Resources chief executive Francis Egan said that the company is carrying out exploratory work to produce natural gas from the shale in commercial quantities.
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By GlobalData"The British Geological Survey last week confirmed the exciting scale of Lancashire’s gas resource and we look forward to working closely with local communities and regulators as our exploration work progresses," he said.
"The UK increasingly depends on imports for its supplies of gas. Gas is vital in heating our homes and businesses, supplying our industry and along with other fuels and renewables, generating our electricity."
According to the latest report by the Institute of Directors, natural gas from Lancashire could lead to thousands of new jobs, higher tax revenues and lower emissions.
UK Energy Minister Michael Fallon unveiled the Geological Survey figures last week. He told the Guardian that it would be irresponsible not to take advantage of a resource that has transformed the US and could provide energy security for Britain.
Image: Cuadrilla plans to drill, hydraulically fracture and test gas flow at about six exploration wells in the Fylde area in Lancashire.Photo: courtesy of Daniel Foster.
