Altcar Moss, the site that Aurora will be applying to drill and frack two wells. Photo: The Moss Alliance
Aurora Energy Resources has announced it is seeking consent to frack for shale gas in West Lancashire.
In a statement this afternoon, the company said it wanted to drill, frack and test two exploratory boreholes near the village of Great Altcar, on Altcar Moss, near Formby.
It said it would be submitting a planning application to Lancashire County Council.
The proposals were first unveiled in January 2018, when the company sent initial details of the scheme to the council.
The planning application will be the first to frack in the UK for just over five years.
Cuadrilla applied in May and June 2014 to drill, frack and test four wells at both Roseacre Wood and Preston New Road. The Preston New Road site saw fracking last autumn on the first of two wells drilled. Roseacre Wood was refused permission and Cuadrilla has said it will not pursue its proposals.
Details
Location of proposed drilling and fracking site. Source: Aurora Resources
Today’s statement from Aurora Resources had no details about the scheme.
But there is more information on the company’s website and scoping request and in responses already made to the initial proposals.
If approved, the first borehole would be drilled vertically through the entire Bowland/Hodder shale. The second well would be drilled initially vertically and then horizontally for about 1,500m within a target layer. Both wells would undergo multi-stage hydraulic fracturing and flow testing. The horizontal borehole may have an extended well test of up to 90 days.
Aurora has said any employment linked to the development would be time-limited and unlikely to be significant.
The site is in an area classed as having a high probability of flooding.
There are seven protected wildlife sites within 2km of the proposed wellsite. They include one of the few remaining places in England where you can see red squirrels.
“New chapter”
Ian Roche, the company’s managing director, said today:
“The Altcar Moss project looks to open a new chapter in the hydrocarbon story of West Lancashire, which has an exploration and production history dating back over 80 years.
“If successful, the development of a significant new indigenous energy resource would provide an important contribution to both the regional and national economies through the growth in high-skilled jobs, supply chain opportunities, and tax and business rate receipts.”
Mr Roche said gas would “continue to play an important role in UK energy supply beyond 2050”. He said the UK must maximise production of its own resources to reduce dependency on imports.
“Prepared for today”
Aurora’s plans have already attracted opposition. A campaign group, the Moss Alliance, was formed to fight the proposals.
The group said tonight:
“We were expecting their planning application and we have positioned ourselves well in terms of raising funds for expert advice and we have long prepared ourselves by way of our own research towards this day.
“Aurora’s licence obligations for PEDL 164 were amended last November (for the fifth time) and the area of the PEDL was split into two parts.
“Aurora’s obligation for the Great Altcar site is to submit a planning application by the end of September 2019, and drill at least one well there within the ensuing twelve months.
“For Aurora to say nothing for seven months and then announce an intention to submit a planning application which is required anyway within the next three months is a bit strange.
“Additionally the timescale for the remainder of the PEDL area is to complete seismic surveys there by end September 2020, submit another planning application by 2021 and drill at least one well there by 2023.”
“Not unexpected but disappointing”
A spokesperson for Frack Free Lancashire said this evening:
“We have seen today’s announcement from Aurora Energy Resources regarding a planning application to frack at Altcar Moss.
“This announcement, whilst not unexpected, is very disappointing. The government has recently declared a climate emergency and it seems extraordinary that we are now contemplating a new fracking proposal. The launching of a new fossil fuel industry is completely incompatible with our commitments regarding climate change and any such proposals should be rejected.
“We need now to de-carbonise our economy and we will oppose fracking applications both in Lancashire and elsewhere.”
“Strongest resistance yet”
Joe Boyd, of Frack Free Liverpool and Sefton, said:
“So finally the frackers have decided to invade this part of the world. But rest assured the frackers will face their strongest resistance on the ground yet.”
Mr Boyd brought a successful appeal against sections of an injunction granted to Ineos. He said:
“Ineos weren’t defeated in the Court of Appeal, so the frackers could just roll on into town unimpeded here as Aurora will find out.”
Application process
DrillOrDrop understands that Aurora sent letters to local councillors today and residents will be contacted tomorrow.
We also understand that the company has told planners at Lancashire County Council that it intends to submit a pre-application, rather than a full, application. There is no date for when this will be submitted.
When the full application is submitted to Lancashire County Council it must be validated to ensure it is in the correct format and contains sufficient information. There will then be a public consultation and the decision will be made by the council’s development control committee.
DrillOrDrop page on Aurora’s Altcar Moss plans
Categories: Regulation
DRILL OR DROP? 
Another cowboy outfit, they really do not learn that the industry is dead and buried, no pun intended but i will take that one anyway. Ponzi scheme will probably attract the same mug punters trying to recover lost Cantdrilla investments.
Excellent news. People like Jono keep going on about how fracking is dead yet the oil majors are diving into it in a big way in the USA and every conversation I have with the CEOs of UK exploration companies seem very buoyant.
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I agree Judith fantastic news! Please remind me again what these anti’s have ever contributed to our energy needs?, they seem to be the experts but they would happily take out fossil fuelled derived lighters from us and give us cave people sticks to chock together to keep ourselves warm! The anti’s capitalist anti’s are the most dangerous backwards race, clearly intent on bringing us back to the stone age! Shame on them… they think they are stopping energy companies, well energy companies are just firing up their turbo charged fossil fuelled engines and just getting started!!
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😂🤣😂😂😂
A safe sustainable lower carbon energy source right below our feet and a UK regulator with global knowledge and stewardship of the oil and gas industry.
Good luck to Aurora we look forward to the UK enriching our energy needs for decades to come!
On 22/09/2014 Cuadrilla wrote to LCC planning department. The letter read “We write to confirm withdrawal of planning application 08/12/1032 for exploration development at Becconsall, with immediate effect”
The decision was made immediately after a private meeting at LCC where members of Ribble Estuary Against Fracking supplied evidence proving the functional links between the Becconsall fracking site and the protected River Ribble Ramsar site. The main links were shown to be the connectivity of surrounding waterways and land usage of protected wintering wildfowl.
This is the LCC response to Aurora’s scoping opinion request. See if you can spot the similarities.
‘The proposed development is in close proximity to Down Holland Moss SSSI, Sefton Coast SSSI and SAC and the Ribble and Alt Estuaries SSSI, SPA and Ramsar site.
The application site is also within an area that is considered to be functionally linked to the Ribble and Alt Estuaries SPA and Ramsar site in particular due to the use of the agricultural land by over wintering wildfowl which are one of the special interest features for which the SPA is designated’
The Becconsall site has been abandoned and is now fully restored.
A well organised community is the best defense against this industry. Make no mistake, this community is very well organised.
“enriching our energy needs” 😂😂😂
Oh the pro-frackers are well and truly rattled on here tonight, they must feel what Aurora has coming to them. Oh well this should be fun finishing them off up north once and for all. Bring it on I say, we look forward to the challenge in these parts 🙂
Joe – I’ve just checked – there are adult literacy classes in your area. Good luck
Splendid, I will give them a phone tomorrow, it will be an excellent exercise in recruiting some more radicals. I’m surprised I’d not thought of it myself before, but then again I’ve been too busy demolishing the industries 7-year plan of protest fascism, with thanks from the arrogance of people like yourself, who just keep on giving. It’s like taking a bunch of kindergarten kids on these days, your boat as long sailed. Mr Powney is right no way will we roll over and allow the great Sefton coast’s wildlife to be put under any stress. It’s not going to happen believe me, just like I told you lot INEOS was not going to win in the long run. I will give you a lesson in resilience one day, you certainly need it. Tally ho
‘Pre planning’ is a simple and cheap ‘talk the talk’. With their licence time running out fast they would need to throw something on the table quick,
‘If Kinch is unwilling to put more of his own money into the company, new investors will have to be sought’
https://corporatewatch.org/aurora-energy-resources-a-ferrari-loving-oilman-bets-on-fracking/
It wouldn’t surprise me John if you’re right. It’s highly likely that they’re just after a few mug punters to pay for their summer holidays.and will just put in an exploratory application at this first and final stage.
Fracking is anything but eco friendly they can not do it within the safety measures and the majority don’t want it ,Its all about making some more already rich richer and nothing to do with us getting safer cheaper fuel ,i would think on eor two on here have shares in these companies by the way they promote fracking as a good thing .Good on anyone who is willing to fight this .
Debra, i have Shares?, Ni i don’t actually! But i have over 35 years Petroleum Experience with over 20 of those years in environmental science and oil and gas well integrity. You can believe all the hype you like, but i probably have more experience and credibility in this discipline and sector than you do.
Hence i haven’t only completed a Public Health degree, fact. The buoyancy to conduct fracking is not a vanity one, if you are a socialist and believe CEO’s are only doing it for profit, well of course they are thats how the civilised world works and the non civilised world is catching up. They want what we have, mobile phones, advanced cures in medicines, warm homes and full bellies. Our markets are driven by a buoyant market of dividends for pensions and security the utilities companies and energy companies drive these and our tax and treasury markets so we have enjoy our pensions and even our NHS services and public utilities.
Where do you think the hydrogen fuel will come from, Debra? Think that will be beyond the Collective! And, guess what? Someone will make money from it and become richer-just like Mr. Musk with his electric vehicles that are unprofitable to produce but Mr. Musk seems to live quite well!
(I noted INEOS are investing in Antwerp and one product they will produce is? Hydrogen!)
And, sorry, “the majority” don’t want it is obvious fake news. Arithmetic and physics, Debra. Maybe start with one and the other will become easier. Cuadrilla are helping to fund such endeavours.
Yes, I have shares. Most in lithium. Doesn’t mean I am convinced of the merits of electric cars. But, I am convinced there are many useful idiots.
Water is life. We said no. We meant it. Resistance is fertile. We have grown in numbers. We shall resist dirty energy every step they take, we will take two. Very slowly of course.
We are the Investor Removal Team.
Bring it on……….
Diana – as you seem to like water so much you will be very pleased to hear that the combustion of gas produces far more water than is used in its production. If you’re really worried about water quality you should stop listing to Greenpeace etc and go and protest outside farms.
Red squirrels can also be seen in UK quite close to the largest on shore oil field in Europe.
Mind you, a good excuse for an injunction to protect red squirrels from noisy protestors and 3 litre BMW diesels!
Here here Martin eloquently put.
Meanwhile, in the real world:
“The UK would be vulnerable to gas supply shortages and price hikes after Brexit, an industry leader has warned. Marco Alvera, head of European industry GasNaturally, said EU nations could restrict gas exports to the UK during winter cold snaps in order to prioritise their citizens.
The UK imports almost half the gas it consumes via pipeline from Europe.”
Shame we have no gas storage. Oh, maybe we do-called SHALE!
Exactly 40 years of gas storage:-
The onshore oil and gas industry in the UK has been in existence for over 150 years. Before the First World War, the UK got almost all its oil and gas from outside the country. Oil was discovered in Scotland in 1851 followed by gas in England in 1896 during construction of Heathfield rail station in Sussex, when natural water wells were being dug. The gas discovered went on to power the lights for the station.
200 wells have been hydraulically fractured, and even by extracting 10% of reserves in place could power the UK mainland for over 40 at current demand! Great when there is an impending Brexit looming and Europe isn’t going to respect us enough to sell us our much needed Gas!
Martin
Marco may be right, but unlikely in my opinion.
We import most of our gas from Norway and Qatar. Some has been coming in from the Netherlands via Bacton, but with the forthcoming reduction in output planned due to subsidence and tremors, that is now less likely. Or it’s Russian gas on its way through.
If it got cold we can turn of the gas to S.Ireland ( an EU country ) and tell Belgium to go hang, we are keeping the Norwegian gas we route through our pipelines to them, to ourselves. That would no doubt please a few here on DOD who do not like the UK selling Norwegian gas at a profit to EU countries.
https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/environmentalaccounts/articles/ukenergyhowmuchwhattypeandwherefrom/2016-08-15
The EU can then keep all the Russian gas, or maybe the UK could warm up some LNG and export it to them.
The backstop is also to hang on to a couple or so of large coal fired power stations, as they can store vast amounts of coal for such an event, and charge eye watering amounts for the energy produced.
Siccar Point Energy had been hoping to recover between one and three trillion cubic feet of gas from Lyon, but has announced drillers “did not encounter reservoir quality sandstone”. Not to worry theres plenty on onshore gas to be exploited, potentially four billion cubic feet of commercial gas.
https://www.energyvoice.com/oilandgas/north-sea/202525/disappointment-as-lyon-comes-up-dry-for-siccar-point/
Not to worry there’s plenty of home grown offshore gas to be exploited, 10 to 20 billion barrels plus of proven oil equivalent.
North sea gas is cheaper by far than onshore shale could ever be. North sea gas has a proven workforce of over 350,000 and a proven infrastructure system. UK shale is a joke compared to our North sea potential. Everyone knows that the worst gets left till the last.
https://www.ogauthority.co.uk/news-publications/news/2018/significant-uk-petroleum-reserves-could-sustain-production-for-next-20-years/