Keep up with July 2021’s news with our digest of daily updated headlines about the business, regulation and campaigns around UK fracking, shale, and onshore oil and gas.

Click here for headlines from previous months. Please let us know if we’ve missed something important  contact@DrillOrDrop.com

30 July 2021

The final section of the route to UKOG’s proposed gas exploration site near Dunsfold in Surrey is “inherently unsuitable”, the public inquiry heard today. DrillOrDrop report on day 4 of the appeal hearing.

29 July 2021

UKOG drilling plans near Dunsfold in Surrey would be “outlandish” in a sensitive landscape, inquiry told. DrillOrDrop report of the afternoon of day 3 of the public inquiry into UKOG plans to drill for gas.

Council accused of “exaggeration” and “after-thought” at Dunsfold planning inquiry. DrillOrDrop report on the morning of day 3 of the public inquiry into UKOG drilling plans.

Wressle small-scale frack. Egdon reports that the controversial proppant squeeze at its North Lincolnshire oil site has been completed “safely and successfully”. DrillOrDrop report

Gathering storm: How rogue companies are buying up North Sea oil and gas. DeSmog reports on new data that shows companies with histories of environmental abuses and alleged labour violations, backed by private equity and with ties to foreign governments, stand to profit from North Sea oil and gas

28 July 2021

UKOG’s proposed gas drilling site near Dunsfold in Surrey would have “direct adverse impacts” on a “highly valued landscape”. DrillOrDrop report on council evidence to the UKOG public inquiry.

News updates from morning of Day 2 of the Loxley/Dunsfold inquiry into UKOG plans to drill for gas. DrillOrDrop reports from cross-examination of UKOG’s landscape witness

27 July 2021

Breaking: IGas ordered to restore its Misson Springs shale gas site. DrillOrDrop reports on Nottinghamshire County Council planning meeting and reaction. Worksop Guardian, West Bridgford Wire, Notts TV, BBC News (29/7/2021)

News updates from Day 1 of the Loxley/Dunsfold inquiry into UKOG plans to drill for gas. DrillOrDrop reports on the morning session and afternoon session

UKOG open offer to shareholders raises 10% of target funds. DrillOrDrop report

Dunsfold drilling inquiry. DrillOrDrop report on what to watch for when the online hearing into UKOG gas exploration plans opens tomorrow morning (Tuesday 27 July 2021).

CCUS must be safe and it must work, government told. DrillOrDrop report on a study which concludes that Carbon capture must be safe and effective in reducing CO2 emissions.

Saltfleetby sidetrack approved. DrillOrDrop report on approval by Lincolnshire County Council of a Angus Energy plans for a sidetrack at Saltfleetby B gas field. Market Watch

25 July 2021

Outrage as Italy faces multimillion pound damages to UK oil firm. The Guardian reports that Italy could be forced to pay millions of pounds in damages to the UK oil company, Rockhopper Exploration, after banning new drilling near its coast. The paper says the case has sparked outrage at the secretive international tribunals under the investor-state dispute settlement at which fossil fuel companies can sue governments for passing laws to protect the environment. It is also fuelling concern that the UK is particularly exposed to the risk of oil firms suing to prevent green policies, potentially hampering climate action.

24 July 2021

Tina Rothery and Martin Hemingway to stand for Green Party leadership. Bright Green report the announcement (22/7/2021) that anti-fracking campaigner Tina Rothery and former Green councillor Martin Hemmingway are standing as co-leader candidates in the Green Party’s leadership election.

22 July 2021

UK govt oil revenues fall 70% as price crash and decommissioning take effect. Energy Voice reports UK government revenues from oil and gas taxes have plummeted by more than 70% due to effects of the recent price crash and decommissioning repayments.

21 July 2021

Union Jack Oil encouraged by early results of West Newton B-1z testing. Proactive Investors reports that gas an liquids are being recovered and analysed from the ongoing well testing at West Newton B-1z well. Union Jack Oil rns

‘Insane’: plans proposed for expanding oil and gas drilling in Yorkshire. ENDS reports comments by a councillor on Rathlin Energy plans to expand oil and gas drilling months after the council declared a climate emergency.

Most ‘zombie’ exploration licences across NSW killed off by government. The Sydney Morning Herald reports that the New South Wales government will kill off the majority of expired petroleum exploration licences across the state but will leave crucial farming land in the Liverpool Plains open for exploration under its long-awaited gas plan.

Are we being kept safe from ‘forever chemicals’ injected into fracking sites? The Guardian reports on what it calls a bombshell expose that reveals oil and gas firms are injecting PFAS chemicals into fracking sites, threatening groundwater.

20 July 2021

The ‘energy revolution’ that produced no gas. DrillOrDrop report on the licensing of thousands of square miles of English countryside for fracking five years ago that has resulted in no wells and no oil or gas.

Planners recommend approval of IGas application for three more years at its shale gas site at Misson, north Nottinghamshire. DrillOrDrop report

19 July 2021

Biscathorpe oil’s carbon intensity below UK onshore average – Union Jack. DrillOrDrop report

15 July 2021

Conservative MP representing Biscathorpe objects to Egdon Resources’ planning application for 15-years of oil extraction. DrillOrDrop report

More than 700 environmental organisations, climate campaigners, physicians and community groups are asking Ireland to introduce a resolution at the United Nations General Assembly to ban fracking. DrillOrDrop report

14 July 2021

“No plans to support shale gas exploration” – minister. DrillOrDrop report on comments by environment minister, Lord Goldsmith, on government policy on fracking and shale gas.

13 July 2021

Major onshore oil production application published. DrillOrDrop report on planning application for Rathlin Energy’s West Newton A site in East Yorkshire. Plans include oil extraction for 20 years, expansion from 2 to 8 wells and near quadrupling of the site area.

Opponents of plans for expansion and 20 years of oil extraction at Rathlin Energy’s West Newton A site in rural East Yorkshire are urging people to object. DrillOrDrop report on early reaction to the planning application.

Isle of Wight MP, Bob Seely, opposes UKOG’s permit application for Arreton oil drilling. DrillOrDrop report

12 July 2021

IGas names second hydrogen site in Surrey. DrillOrDrop report on plans for Bletchingley.

11 July 2021

Biscathorpe oil petition tops 1,000 – Egdon submits more information on plans. DrillOrDrop update on Biscathorpe planning application in Lincolnshire

8 July 2021

Oil giants lobby COP-host UK to back gas as ‘necessary compromise’. Unearthed reports that a group of America’s leading oil companies told a UK minister that the British government should champion natural gas as a “necessary compromise” in the effort to prevent climate breakdown,

7 July 2021

UKOG’s Dunsfold appeal to be held online – more details. DrillOrDrop report on arrangements for the public inquiry into drilling plans at Dunsfold, Surrey.

Fife Council urged to shift pension fund from firms which fail to go green. Fife Today reports that Fife Pension Fund should still look to divest from fossil fuel firms if they fail to go green, a councillor has said – as it was revealed that the Kingdom used its influence to put eco-minded members on the board of oil giant ExxonMobil.

5 July 2021

UKOG shares fall on news of £5m placing. DrillOrDrop report

600,000+ sign petition against protest bill. DrillOrDrop report on opposition to the Police, Crime Sentencing and Courts Bill which begins its report stage in parliament this afternoon.

MPs approve the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill. DrillOrDrop report

Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos backs ‘clean’ hydrogen fund planning UK float. The Guardian reports that Ineos is to invest at least £25m in HydrogenOne Capital Growth – a hydrogen fund that plans to list on the London Stock Exchange later this year. The fund plans to invest in green hydrogen, made from water and using renewable energy, and blue hydrogen, extracted from fossil fuel gas but capturing carbon emissions.

3 July 2021

1,000 mile-cycle ride raising funds to fight oil production at Horse Hill in Surrey. DrillOrDrop report

2 July 2021

Rathlin Energy reports loss of £1m+ in 2020. DrillOrDrop report on the company’s annual accounts

1 July 2021

Latest UK onshore oil production data: March 2021. DrillOrDrop report on the lowest month for daily oil production since May 1990.

MPs call for changes to protest measures in government’s new policing bill. The All Party Parliamentary Group on Democracy and the Constitution calls for a code for the policing of protest. Netpol

Inquiry report scathing about ‘revenge policing’ of Bristol protests and Sarah Everard Vigil. The All Party Parliamentary Group on Democracy and the Constitution criticises policing of the Sarah Everard vigil in London and Kill the Bill protests in Bristol. Its report concludes that police reaction to both protests made disorder more likely and ignored the legal obligation on both the Metropolitan Police and Avon & Somerset Police to facilitate and protect the right to protest. Netpol, Sky News, BBC News, Independent