Keep up with August 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

Tuesday 31 August 2021

Formation damage reported at West Newton-B well. DrillOrDrop report on statements from Reabold Resources and Union Jack Oil on tests on WNB-1z well.

Friday 27 August 2021

Cuadrilla says there’s no way forward for fracking, two years after the 2.9ML earthquake caused by operations at its Preston New Road shale gas site. DrillOrDrop report

Thursday 26 August 2021

Perenco UK Limited – the operator of the UK’s biggest onshore oil field – announced losses of more than £100m in 2020. DrillOrDrop report

Tuesday 24 August 2021

Wressle flow test result tops 500 barrels of oil per day, site operator Egdon Resources reports. DrillOrDrop report

Monday 23 August 2021

Huge pink table installed in central London as two-week climate protest begins against investment in fossil fuels. DrillOrDrop report, Energy Voice, Extinction Rebellion press release, Metropolitan Police press release

Sunday 22 August 2021

Carbon from UK’s blue hydrogen bid still to equal 1m petrol cars. The Guardian reports on analysis carried out on its behalf by Friends of the Earth Scotland which concluded that using hydrogen from fossil fuels, rather than renewable electricity, could create up to 8m tonnes of carbon emissions every year by 2050.

Climate change activists target City of London’s Guildhall. Reuters reports that activists climbed the outside of the headquarters of the City of London’s government as they began two weeks of protests focused on the capital’s financial district.

Friday 20 August 2021

Oil firms made ‘false claims’ on blue hydrogen costs, says ex-lobby boss. The Guardian reports comments by Chris Jackson, former head of a hydrogen trade body (see DrillOrDrop report) that oil companies have used false claims over the cost of producing fossil fuel hydrogen to win over the Treasury and access to billions in taxpayer subsidies.

Thursday 19 August 2021

XR campaigners block Fawley oil refinery in Hampshire in protest at expansion plans and government investment in fossil fuels. DrillOrDrop report

Councils’ joint fight against Rathlin Energy expansion and production plan at West Newton-A in East Yorkshire. DrillOrDrop report

Head of hydrogen trade body quits over “expensive distraction” of blue hydrogen. DrillOrDrop report

Tuesday 17 August 2021

Consultation opens on low-carbon standard for blue hydrogen. DrillOrDrop report

Monday 16 August 2021

Consent lapses on second Ineos shale gas site – planning permission expires on the proposed drilling site at Bramleymoor Lane, in the village of Marsh Lane, in the Derbyshire greenbelt. DrillOrDrop report

East Yorkshire Conservative councillors ask Rathlin Energy to agree to a community fund if its West Newton-A expansion plans are approved. Local opponents say the councillors should be objecting to the scheme. DrillOrDrop report

Friday 13 August 2021

Closing arguments. DrillOrDrop report on the final day of the inquiry into UKOG plans for gas exploration at Loxley, near Dunsfold in Surrey

Thursday 12 August 2021

Blue hydrogen could be 20% worse for climate than methane – new study. DrillOrDrop report, Guardian, Energy Voice , Recharge

Scotland wants UK oil licence review. Argus media reports that Scotland’s first minister Nicola Sturgeon has asked the UK government to “reassess” oil and gas licences that have already been issued but where development has yet to start. These include the Cambo field in the west of Shetlands where Siccar Point Energy plans to start drilling next year.

Wednesday 11 August 2021

‘Now is the time to act’ – BP boss responds to IPCC climate change report. Energy Voice reports that the chief executive of BP has added his name to the list of those calling for urgent action on climate change

Monday 9 August 2021

Campaigners call for block on UK oil and gas in light of “code red” climate report. DrillOrDrop report

IPCC report ‘must sound a death knell’ for oil and gas, says UN head. Energy Voice reports on comments from Antonio Guterres that the IPCC report (see above) should spell the end for oil and gas.

Two sides disagree on benefits of Arreton oil drilling plans. DrillOrDrop report

Friday 6 August 2021

Mother Fracker. Private Eye reports that former energy secretary Andrea Leadsom has been appointed co-chair of the Policy Exchange think tank for the COP26 climate change summit. It refers to a incident in 2015, reported by DrillOrDrop, when she said asked officials if climate change was real.

Thursday 5 August 2021

Autumn woodland felling will reveal views of UKOG well site – inquiry hears on final day of evidence on plans for gas drilling near Dunsfold in Surrey. DrillOrDrop report

Wednesday 4 August 2021

UKOG proposed gas exploration site near Dunsfold in Surrey “could be there for years” if temporary permission were granted – inquiry told. DrillOrDrop report on the 6th day of the public inquiry

IGas accused of “misleading” Bletchingley over hydrogen plans. DrillOrDrop report

Labour calls for ‘hard-edged’ end date for oil and gas exploration. The Guardian reports Labour comments that the UK must set a “hard-edged timetable” for the cessation of oil and gas exploration, as Keir Starmer reveals the party will not support the proposed Cambo oilfield development, 77 miles north-west of Shetland.

Tuesday 3 August 2021

New garden village is best site to drill for gas near Dunsfold – inquiry into UKOG exploration plans for Surrey is told. DrillOrDrop report on the 5th day of public inquiry.

Latest UK onshore oil production data for April 2021. DrillOrDrop report

Monday 2 August 2021

Angus Energy to appeal against West Sussex County Council refusal of planning permission for Balcombe oil test. DrillOrDrop report

“Disappointing” pause on UKOG’s Turkish well. DrillOrDrop report that stuck drilling assembly has been recovered in Basur-3 well but well is no longer suitable for onward drilling and must be sidetracked.

Angus Energy predicts decision on reinjection at Brockham next month and drilling at Lidsey in 2022. DrillOrDrop report

UKOG announces that regulators have given it more time to drill at Horse Hill in Surrey. DrillOrDrop report

Re-commissioning of Saltfleetby gas field on track for December 2021, says Angus Energy. DrillOrDrop report