Fracking

Fracking: The events so far...

The use of the drilling technique known as hydraulic fracturing (colloquially known as fracking) as part of onshore unconventional gas exploration has begun again in England for the first time in seven years.

The process, which involves pumping water, sand and drilling fluids at high pressure into a target shale play deep underground to create and keep open narrow fissures (typically hairline in width) from which gas is then released into the wellbore and captured at the surface, is currently prohibited in Scotland and Wales. However, despite vigorous opposition from environmental groups, which has involved several unsuccessful Court challenges, neither the energy exploration companies nor the UK Government at the moment show any sign of giving in to the objectors' demand that the controversial process should also be banned in England.

Why frack?

The UK currently produces 44% of its gas needs from the North Sea and East Irish Sea. It imports 47% of the gas it uses from Europe and Norway with the remaining 9% being imported by tanker in the form of liquefied natural gas. The British Geographical Survey estimates that trillions of cubic feet of shale gas may be recoverable from beneath certain parts of the UK. As a result of these findings energy companies applied to the UK Government in the 13th Onshore Licensing Round held in 2008 to explore for the first time for shale gas. However, since then, despite the industry's best efforts, only one shale gas well has been fracked in the UK (Cuadrilla's Preese Hall 1 well near Blackpool), a test that had to be suspended before completion of the fracturing programme after two small induced earthquakes were recorded. This led to a yearlong moratorium being imposed on onshore fracking operations until a method to control seismic activity through the use of a real time "traffic light system" was introduced.

Fracking in practice

The planning history at the Preece Hall site demonstrates the regulatory hurdles faced by the industry. Cuadrilla were initially refused planning permission by Lancashire County Council in June 2015 but that decision was overturned over a year later on appeal. Although the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government granted Cuadrilla planning permission in October 2016, the discharge of the last of pre-commencement conditions which he had attached to his decision letter was only finally obtained from the local planning authority in...