Cuadrilla Starts Work on Major U.K. Fracking Project

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Written by Martin Lynch, European News Editor for Industrial Info (Galway, Ireland)--Work has started on the first horizontal fracking site in the U.K., following years of protests.

Shale gas company Cuadrilla Resources (Lichfield, England) announced that work to prepare the site at Preston New Road in Lancashire, England, has begun. Surface construction works at the site, which is roughly the size of a rugby pitch, are now underway and will include building a new entrance, access road and well pad, as well as clearing topsoil to put in a protective membrane that will create an impermeable barrier underneath the site. Drilling will start in three months, the company said, with fracking expected to start in the third quarter.

"The start of work on our new shale gas exploration site is an important milestone for Lancashire, bringing new economic growth and jobs for the county," explained Cuadrilla's chief executive officer, Francis Egan. "The work will be undertaken to the highest safety and environmental standards. The operations are also underpinned by comprehensive site monitoring programmes undertaken separately by ourselves, regulators and independent academics."

He added: "Twelve months from now we hope this work will prove the economic viability of this indigenous shale gas resource in Lancashire, which will help improve energy security for the nation."

Cuadrilla was awarded exploration licences for the Preston New Road and Roseacre sites in January 2015, but in the same month the local Lancashire Council deferred its decision, before eventually refusing permission. Cuadrilla finally got the go-ahead last October from U.K. Communities Secretary Sajid Javid. For additional information, see January 30, 2015, article--U.K. Fracking Project Delayed.

The U.K. government is determined to exploit the nation's potential shale gas reserves. Last August, Industrial Info reported on how the new U.K. government under Prime Minister Theresa May wanted to speed up fracking by launching a scheme to pay local residents a share of the profits. The "Shale Wealth Fund" is believed to be in the region of £10,000 ($13,100) per household--or up to £10 million ($13.1 million) per community affected. For additional information, see August 12, 2016, article--U.K. to Pay Residents to Speed up Shale Gas Revolution.

A British Geological Survey (BGS) study of shale gas across the north of England estimated a total shale gas resource of 1,300 trillion cubic feet. This compares to the current U.K. annual gas consumption of around 2.5 trillion cubic feet.

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