The government may relax regulations designed to prevent earthquakes caused by fracking, according to comments by the energy minister, Claire Perry.
The current rules, known as the traffic light system, require fracking to stop if the operation causes seismic activity at a level of 0.5ML.
But in a letter to a Conservative MP, Ms Perry said:
“The TLS [traffic light system] is set at an explicitly cautious level but, as we gain experience in applying these measures, the trigger levels can be adjusted upwards without compromising the effectiveness of the controls.”
Extract of letter from Claire Perry to Kevin Hollinrake
The letter, obtained by the Greenpeace investigative team, Unearthed, was in reply to Kevin Hollinrake. His Thirsk and Malton constituency includes the Third Energy fracking site at Kirby Misperton and 35 oil and gas exploration licences.
Mr Hollinrake, who has supported fracking if well regulated, did not back Ms Perry’s proposal to change the threshold in the traffic light system.
He told Unearthed:
“At this point in time I think we need to know a lot more before I’d support that position. The traffic light system is there for a reason.
“To be fair to this government and the responsible approach I think we do take to oil and gas exploration, we haven’t fracked for seven years as a result so clearly we do take this seriously.”
Claire Stephenson, of Frack Free Lancashire, responded to the minister’s letter:
“This move can only be beneficial to the fracking industry and not to local communities who are being forced to endure this technology.
“The fact that they are already deciding to change the safety levels to the industry’s favour, suggests fracking will likely cause seismic events.”
The traffic light system was introduced in 2014 following a series of earthquakes linked to Cuadrilla’s hydraulic fracturing at its Preese Hall site in Lancashire. One of them measured 2.3ML.
The 0.5ML threshold was recommended in a report by the Royal Society and Royal Academy of Engineering. The initial proposal, of 1.7M, was “undesirably high”, the report siad. But it did suggest the threshold could be “adjusted over time”.
Professor Peter Styles, a former adviser on seismicity to the then Prime Minister David Cameron, has argued that current seismic testing techniques would not reveal faults that could result in fracking-induced earthquakes measuring 0.5-1ML. Even faults likely to induce 1.5ML earthquakes were challenging to detect, he said.
He proposed setback distances of 850m between known faults and fracking, particularly in former mining areas.
Ms Perry referred to Professor Style’s research in her letter, saying the Oil & Gas Authority had commissioned research on historic coal mines, focussing on the area round IGas sites at Tinker Lane and Springs Road in Nottinghamshire.
She said:
“The traffic light system, which is designed to help regulators monitor and respond to any seismic event, is deliberately precautionary to enable the Environment Agency to ensure groundwater is protected and for the Health and Safety Executive to inspect well integrity before resuming operations.”
A BEIS spokesperson said:
“The UK’s world class oil and gas regulations, which have a track record of success that goes back decades, will ensure that shale development can only happen safely and in an environmentally responsible way.
“The seismicity levels were set low as a precautionary measure and may be reviewed in the future subject to scientific advice.”
Cuadrilla, which could begin fracking this week at its Preston New Road site, is putting seismic data online. It said measures already show there are naturally-occuring seismic events of 1.5-2.0ML across north England.
Categories: Regulation
DRILL OR DROP? 
The “gold-standard” regulations are already showing themselves to be tawdry gimcrack imitations, and they haven’t even started fracking yet!
For goodness sake, this was the only one of the Royals’ recommendations that they actually fully implemented wasn’t it, and they can’t even leave this one alone?
The think if they say “gold standard” often enough we will believe them, right up to the first major disaster.
No doubt Claire Perry will be able to adjust the gold standards down to suit the fracking companies
it’s only fools gold…..
Claire Perry must be rubbing her hands at the work of the Neoliberal democrats in communities pushing the discourse of cooperation, but still people will hand their power over to these ego driven fools. Not me, I’m anti pro regulations and always have been, represent your democracy with these people one speckle and you are pro fracking!
Can you translate this into English please Joseph?
No need Jo, I understood perfectly….
So peeps, get ready to hang onto your hats, ornaments and imported plastic tat….it seems CP doesn’t give a flying F”(& about you and yours?
Am sure the businessman from the Fylde you had damage to his house just from seismic surveys alone will be wondering where, when and how, and all those who suffered damage from the last round….shakey shakey; Groningen here we come.
Might just set up a business in acro-props; would make a fortune; who knows may even be able to afford to berth my yacht next to the mobsters….now that would be interesting!
How about we go straight to red and respect local democracy. Interesting number 0.5 – have seen it somewhere this week……..
0.5, that would be the score obtained this week by a Lancashire Nana on a 10 point Kindness and Empathy Scale.
Then can you translate it please Sherwulfe? I’m sure I am not alone in not understanding what he is saying.
Paul Tresco
If I understand Joseph right, if you engage with Frackers as part of the democratic process ( such as being part of liaison forum ) you are tainted and are a pro fracker.
I would also read into it that should you engage with anti frackers as part of the democratic process ( talking to an MP who is anti fracking, going to an anti fracking meeting, or maybe attending a meeting to consider of whether country has a need for frack gas … arranged by anti frackers ) you are tainted, and therefore an anti fracker, whether you wanted to be or not.
So we had better beware as even replying to a pro fracker ( or vica versa ) makes you the opposite of what you thought you were, and this cannot be set right by anything you do in the future.
I am reading a book written by a polish chap who, interred in a Siberian gulag, escaped, through the gobi desert and Tibet, to then fight with the free polish army, and eventually settle in Derbyshire.
He explains the tortured logic by which the Russian State determined he was guilty of spying. Guilt by association it seems ( his mother was Russian, or he was in the Polish army, he once spoke to a Russian in Russian ).
So luckily I could apply that logic to your question of interpretation.
I hope that makes sense, but you now must consider yourself an anti fracker, as you asked asked Joseph a question on a forum only allowed in a democratic state.
But there is more ….
Clearly, if you engage with a fracking company as part of an anti democratic fascist state, you are in the clear. In which case, in the view of those who consider the UK to be such a state, all is OK and you are not tainted by association.
Or maybe he meant something else
nope; he said he would not be voting for the blues…..
Thanks Hewes62. Have you seen the movie “The Way back” – the seven who walk from Siberia to India via Gobi & Tibet include a Pole – maybe the same story. What is the book called? I understand your logic……but I still have no issues technically with Cuadrilla testing the two wells at PNR so not converted.
Paul
It is the same, tho I have yet to see the film. It is a re read actually as I was given the book back in 1967, lost it and bought a new copy a few weeks ago. The chap ended up working at Trent Polytechnic and his tenure just overlapped with mine.
The book is titled …the long walk. Slavomir Rawicz
All quite reasonable. Start with a low threshold and then review as experience gained. I think it might be termed-the precautionary approach: beloved of the antis and embraced by Claire. What a gal! Give them what they have called for and expose them as unreasonable if they whinge afterwards.
The call was for no fracking; where’ave you been then?
Am sooo looking forward to fracking coming to a site near Martin……
Oh don’t get him started Sher he will be rattling on about housing developments and oil tankers for days.
Yep it is not rocket science, this pro regulation mob should be called the great uneducated for giving the Frackers a foot in the door. I guess they are scared of rocking the boat on the political ideology that has earnt them a cushy living the last few decades. All now wannabe agency third sector who the state work through, you couldn’t make it up. Allow them a title and they become a pied piper!
Given they haven’t fracked since the seismic events in Lancashire, where has the additional experience come from? Not to mention the fact that Prof Peter Styles has warned about fracking in former mining areas. The quakes in the US Canada and Holland (I know Holland is conventional) started small but grew in magnitude and frequency. Some experts that warned that this could happen were ridiculed. And I understand further studies have now concluded that fracking itself has caused earthquakes, not just the re injection of fluids. If you can point me to studies Martin that state categorically that if fracking causes seismic activity at the increased magnitude proposed, that in the future these events will not become greater or more frequent and that it is safe to frack in former mining areas now and in the future, then I will be very happy but if not then I’m afraid the government’s so called gold standard regulations mean nothing. Because it certainly seems that what industry asks for it gets.
Kat T
The experience will come with, well, experience.
So no doubt all will look closely at what happens in the fylde, should fracking start. The fylde is not an old coal mining area, nor is the Vale of Pickering.
Re the Styles Report, the good prof warned that it would be difficult to frack successfully in those areas with the level set as low as it was, and suggested, inter alia, it should be higher ( to succeed ). At present rates of progress, the first fracking near old coal mine workings will be Tinkers Lane and maybe Misson, As these lie on the edge of the worked Coalfield ( thanks to Harworth Colliery ). So, maybe a good place to gain experience,
The styles report also noted that fracking may cause tremors, but did not say subsidence was expected. The tremors would be similar in magnitude to past tremors caused by coal mining. As someone who lived in a mining area, tremors and subsidence included, the tremors did not cause concern or comment. Subsidence was more of a problem, but not insurmountable…. the NCB fixed it.
The Groningen field had seismic events, but also subsidence. It has been mentioned here before why that has hapenned….. and it is specific to that area.
Due to the extended inlaw family, I have an interest in a number of properties in ex mining area PEDL so am happy to report back on any reported issues in those areas should fracking take place, but at present no one worries about it … see reports on the Ollerton Quakes.
However, ms Perry should have said that the levels would be adjusted as appropriate ( up or down ) in the light of experience.
‘The experience will come with, well, experience’ – at who’s expense hewes, no one likes to be a guinea pig…..
let’s see, now pull the lever, harder, harder; why is the ground shaking, do you know what you are doing? No, but hewes said it’s alright to keep going, we need the experience……
Sherwulfe
Kat asked where the experience had come from. My point was that it was to come.
Plus a point that the Prof Styles report perhaps needs to be read in its entirety to get the flavour of his conclusions.
One relatives house near Bawtry is in ex mined areas and close to Tinkers Lane. Old building but decent foundations, lime mortar and plenty of cracks which open and close over the seasons ( externally in brickwork, internally in the plasterboard but not the old wattle and mud bits ). All duly noted for insurance purposes and any possible frack related tremors. Ex mining damage all repaired many years ago ( due to subsidence, the tremors did not cause any issues ).
Meanwhile we will see what turns up I guess.
‘Meanwhile we will see what turns up I guess.’ holy shit; this is not the way to do business…..
Sherwulfe
To expand, we will se what turns up so we can compare pre frack opinions on DOD with post frack events.
I am not operating the frack site!
See what I mean? The whingers are outed! No traffic light concern, just want no fracking. Different issue-been discussed and mitigated a long time ago.
Living in the past, we are at the present, and will shortly embrace the future.
Enjoy.
Sherwulf, I echo your sentiments, I’d be interested in a partnership regarding the acro’s. I find it extraordinary that Perry winkle feels that we have a “world class regulatory system” in an industry that hasn’t even taken off yet. hmmmm…. I seriously have just spat my tea out over that. I can see a montiython scetch in the making!
Don’t worry, is there not an interim injunction in place which prevents Cuadrilla from fracking? Is this going to be in court tomorrow? Perhaps no traffic lights required at all.
It is on Thursday at 2pm Paul
The latest information we have is that the injunction will be considered at the High Court in London at 1400 this Thursday (11 October)
Thanks Paul & Jono.
Scientific piffle. Set up an experiment and alter the plans as you go along to get some results which you can blag about.
Not a hope of being free of seismic events when weak faulted shale beds are disturbed by intense hydraulic pressure and left damaged and lubricated by slickwater. Problems immediately and / or in the future.
What’s all this baloney about we’ve done it before gold standard style? This onshore deep fracking seeking unconventional energy is new – apart from the 4 calamitous trial wells in Lancashire since 2010.
Let’s remember Claire Perry, like Theresa May, is a graduate geographer, Did she naughtily skip physical geography lectures or does she need an urgent refresh nowadays Seems that she and her fellow ministers and advisers are controlled like puppets. Who exactly is pulling the strings and making them come out with such garbage? Those of us who are “receptors” need to know.
There’s real people being forced to be guinea pigs. Ridiculous spiel and cruelty from our own Government.
am lovin’ the phrase
‘the trigger levels can be adjusted upwards without compromising the effectiveness of the controls.’
note controls, not people….
presumably she is referring to the the equipment……
…or is she?
Just how effectively can a ‘control’ work when it’s house has large cracks in it………
Really KatT??
So, why if the industry gets what it asks for we have only one company about to test frack in the UK, and being more closely monitored than any similar site in the world? Is it because they didn’t ask the right people, the right question?
No, it is because they have been set hoop after hoop to climb through. And rightly so. Are Third Energy already fracked? Igas?
I can quite understand your concern but making fiction out of what is so factually apparent to anyone is really diverting from the real issue. But, then, there isn’t one here until it clarifies in the FUTURE under what circumstances the traffic lights might be adjusted.
Cuadrilla asked for a threshold equating to 2.6M after being stopped for triggering a 2.3M earthquake.
The 2.3M earthquake was felt many kilometres away and caused property damage.
Insurance companies won’t be happy paying out for property repairs. If policy costs increase, money lenders will start to restrict how much they lend on properties near to sites and on properties damaged from fracking.
Every frack would carry a risk of triggering an event and as the BGS state,
‘Although some large scale structures have been mapped, earthquakes in the magnitude range 2 to 3 ML require only relatively small rupture areas, and so can occur on small faults’.
And as for the cumulative effects from hundreds of fracks?
Don’t ask them. They have no idea.
Clearly not a great business model to invest in.
Well, I suppose It’s quite prudent to get ready to relax the rules when you’re confident that you’re going to break them.
The hydraulic frack plans indicates Cuadrilla will be fracking close to minor faults, maybe through one. These minor faults are depicted in the frack plan as ‘seismic discontinuities’, mysteriously these ‘features’ have the same attributes as ‘faults’. All as suggested and predicted by Prof Styles. Faults not picked up by seismology but are revealed when drilled through.
So, pick the low point in the topology of a heavily faulted area and plonk you well pad on ground with subsidence on top of a superficial aquifer. Ensure that you wells go through a critically stressed fault. Seems strange that our gold standard regulations haven’t picked any of this up.
What else? Well there is the (mis)interpretation of the seismic data. The millstone grit under the well pad predicted by the seismic survey ‘vanishes’ from the geological interpretation once Cuadrilla drill down and find it’s not there. The ‘new’ PNR 1 fault heavily splayed at the top to provide numerous pathways into the Collyhurst sandstone to ensure gases can migrate and pollute.
So, better frack the lower Bowland shale first. Less chance of gases rising up and being discovered early. Also, deeper, so tremors won’t be noticed. If the ponsy schema is still viable, then frack the Upper Bowland and hope the gases don’t migrate upwards too quick before selling out to a major….
Maybe they know; maybe they also know they are onto a dead duck; maybe they are going to use it as an excuse to bale; maybe?