Plans for a sidetrack well at the Saltfleetby gas site in Lincolnshire have got the go ahead.

Lincolnshire County Council’s planning committee has approved an application by Angus Energy.

The company sought consent for a lateral borehole up to 1,500m from an existing well at the Saltfleetby B wellsite near South Cockerington.

It said the new well would allow it to extract currently inaccessible gas reserves and ensure a longer future for the wellsite.

In a statement on 26 July 2021, Angus Energy said:

“We welcome the decision and look forward to the written notice detailing conditions.”

A small number of local people had expressed concerns about the impact of the proposal on roads and noise levels.

The committee heard there had been no response to the application from local parish councils or the environmental health department of East Lindsey District Council.

In a recommendation tto approve the application, county council planners concluded:

“The proposed development would be wholly contained within an existing site and would secure the continuing operations of Saltfleetby B Well Site and allow the site to fully develop the site for the production of natural gas for export to the National Transmission System via an existing pipeline. This will in turn ensure continued employment within the District.”

They said the proposal complied with national and local planning policy and should be approved with controls on the flaring, traffic movements and noise limits.

Last year, the council granted Angus Energy permission for gas pipeline work at Theddlethorpe and  for gas processing facilities on a extension to Saltfleetby B.

Angus Energy secured a 51% stake in Saltfleetby in December 2019 and became the site operator. The previous operator, Wingas, now renamed as Saltfleetby Energy, held the remaining interest in the licence.