Rathlin Energy’s West Newton A well site north of Hull, 20 January 2019. Photo: Peter Yankowski
Views are invited on an application by Rathlin Energy to change its environmental permit for the West Newton oil and gas site north of Hull.
A public consultation runs until 11 February 2019. There is a drop-in information meeting this week near the site.
Rathlin wants to vary its existing mining waste permit to allow it to carry out extended well tests on two wells at West Newton. It also wants permission to store crude oil on the site and burn gas in a flare with a capacity above 10 tonnes a day.
The company is preparing to drill a second well at the site, after gaining a second extension of planning permission in November 2018.
Deliveries began in December 2018, accompanied by ongoing protests.
Lorry route to Rathlin Energy’s West Newton A well site north of Hull, 20 January 2019. Photo: Peter Yankowski
Earlier this month, the conductor rig, which sets the first layer of steel casing, was installed and opponents began round-the-clock monitoring operations.
They said they were prompted to do this because Rathlin Energy breached at least 14 conditions of its existing environmental permit during flow tests on the first well in 2014. (DrillOrDrop reports here and here).
Rathlin Energy’s West Newton A well site north of Hull, 20 January 2019. Photo: Peter Yankowski
The Environment Agency, which grants permits, said it was seeking views from the local community and interested groups on the company’s application for a permit variation. It said:
“This proposes changes to the way tests would be carried out on an exploratory well, scheduled for drilling in early 2019, to assess its potential for oil and gas production.”
Documents about the application can be read online and comments submitted here
Francis Lowe, Environment Manager for the Environment Agency, said:
“The regulatory controls covered by the company’s environmental permit provide a high level of protection for people and the environment. We will now assess proposals to vary the conditions of the permit to ensure that the changes proposed by Rathlin Energy continue to meet these same strict requirements.”
“We also welcome comments from the public and interested groups on local environmental factors that people feel are important.”
The Environment Agency operates a 24-hour incident hotline. Pollution incidents can be reported by phoning 800 80 70 60.
Drop-in event details
The drop-in session is on Thursday 24 January, 3.30pm-6.30pm at Sproatley Village Hall, Main Street, Sproatley, HU11 4PA.
DrillOrDrop key facts and timeline about Rathlin Energy’s West Newton A site
Categories: Regulation
DRILL OR DROP? 
East Riding of Yorkshire Council have issued an eviction notice to the activists, giving 35 days to clear the site, citing Health & Safety grounds.
We are aware of the eviction notice, and hope to be posting something later when we have spoken to the council concerned.
Excellent news John
Thanks for keeping us up to date John. Helps fill in some of the gaps and gives the sort of balance needed.
is this fracking?
Val
The existing planning permission is not for fracking, so 2 extended well tests and some oil storage would not seem to alter that permission.
It is certainly not HPHV shale fracking.