
Third Energy’s KM8 site at Kirby Misperton in North Yorkshire, 1 April 2018. Photo: Eddie Thonton
Drone pictures taken today of Third Energy’s Kirby Misperton fracking site in North Yorkshire show that the site has now been cleared.
Third Energy told local people last week that is was releasing the frack spread after the contractor wanted to use it in Europe.
Equipment has gradually been moved off the site between Pickering and Malton since early February.
The latest image shows almost all the equipment has gone. The shipping containers, which made up the company’s sound barrier, remain in place.
Third Energy’s plans to frack the existing KM8 well were delayed by a legal loophole in legislation and then by a Government demand for an assessment of the company’s financial resilience.
In early March, Third Energy indicated that it did not expect to frack until the autumn because it wanted to avoid the summer months when local roads were busiest. The company is still waiting for the final go-ahead from the Business Secretary, Greg Clark.
A local anti-fracking campaigner, Eddie Thornton, has been photographing the site from the air since equipment was first installed in October 2017. Here’s a selection of his images which show how equipment arrived and was then gradually removed. Click here for more images.
April 2018

Wellhead of KM8 borehole, Kirby Misperton, 1 April 2018. Photo: Eddie Thornton
March 2018

KM8 well site, 14 March 2018. Photo: Eddie Thornton
February 2018

KM8 well site, 23 February 2018. Photo: Eddie Thornton
January 2018

KM8 well site, 18 January 2018. Photo: Eddie Thornton
December 2017

KM8 well site, 10 December 2017. Photo: Eddie Thornton
November 2017

KM8 well site, 5 November 2017. Photo: Eddie Thornton
October 2017

KM8 well site, 14 October 2017. Photo: Eddie Thornton
Categories: Industry
V good indisuputable record for the future, thank you.
It is normal to clear the site between the drilling and fracking operations.
Please see section 5 in this explanation article.
https://www.fractracker.org/resources/oil-and-gas-101/explore/
That’s a very well organised and informative site Frances. Thank you.
Hi Frances,
So now the test drilling equipment has been removed, I wonder where to by the way, a convoy carrying large amounts of fracking equipment and chemicals is to be expected as soon as permission to frack is given by the government?
I wonder where that is because surely it will take a long time to source and assemble?
Something of a dent in the confidence of any sensible investor. Aren’t Ponzi schemes reliant on investor confidence?