The UK’s only fracked horizontal shale gas wells must be decommissioned, the industry regulator said today.
Cuadrilla, the operator of the wells, has more than 16 months to complete the work.
The North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) told DrillOrDrop this afternoon:
“The NSTA has today issued a Plug and Abandonment notice on the two Preston New Road wells operated by Cuadrilla.
“The company now has until 30 December 2024 to complete the work.”
NSTA said it was not planning to comment further.
Today’s statement followed our questions to NSTA for information about the status of the Preston New Road wells. They both caused multiple earthquakes when they were fracked in 2018 and 2019, including the strongest fracking-induced seismic event onshore in the UK.
Cuadrilla had been instructed to submit “credible plans” for the site by the end of June 2023.
We asked NSTA whether the company had met the deadline and what proposals, if any, had been submitted. We asked whether any plans were considered “credible”. We also asked what would happen to the sites now.
NSTA did not answer most of our questions.
Second order to decommission
This is the second time the regulator has ordered the Preston New Road wells to be plugged and abandoned.
NSTA issued the first notice in February 2022. Cuadrilla began moving equipment on to the site to begin the work, due to be completed by the end of June 2022.
But within weeks and after considerable industry lobbying, NSTA lifted the order. Instead, it instructed Cuadrilla to produce the plans to reuse the wells at Preston New Road and another local site at Elswick.
On that day, NSTA said in a press release:
“Cuadrilla now have until the end of June next year [2023] to evaluate options for the Preston New Road and Elswick sites. If no credible re-use plans are in place by then, the North Sea Transition Authority expects to reimpose decommissioning requirements.”
Local people and anti-fracking campaigners were disappointed and angry about that decision. They said it would “prolonged the stress for residents” and “left the door open to fracking”.
Within six months, the short-lived Liz Truss administration lifted the moratorium on fracking in England. It was restored by Rishi Sunak weeks later in October 2022.
Preston New Road has been largely mothballed since August 2019. Cuadrilla secured a planning reprieve in June when Lancashire County Council gave it a two-year extension to its permission.
We are seeking reaction to today’s announcement. We’ll publish updates as we get them.
DRILL OR DROP? 
Brilliant news 💚.
I remember when we had the news about the Leith Hill lease being cancelled, it was like a curse had lifted, our relationship with the site and the AONB totally changed, all the dread and stress disappeared.
So happy for all the lovely campaigners from PNR, it’s finally over!
Any news on what will be used to fill the fracked bores,
ie Nuclear energy waste
I’m pleased with the decision. I sat on the planning committee that agreed to the 2 years extension, sadly the Tories voted en block to agree the extension. Good to see common sense prevail.
Are Cuadrilla & other (wannabe) fracking companies required to foot the bill for the plug & abandon operations, or will the public once again foot the bill? Thanks 💚
Once again???
I think you are confused with nuclear power stations-those £30B a pop jobs (7 required) for when the sun doesn’t shine and the wind doesn’t blow. Oh yes, and then the £52B costs for GDFs (geological disposal facility) to take the radioactive waste. I am sure there will be plenty of “locals” just delighting in the chance to host one of those.
MARTIN ,
BUT look at the toxic , environmental disaster of Fracking.
Just look at Fracking and THE DIRTY DOZEN of proven nightmare problems associated with this process… It just doesn’t bare thinking about .
Surely even YOU , now Fracking at this site has been permanently laid to rest , must be delighted that children won’t be exposed to an increased risk of Cancer , new born babies won’t be at risk of serious sickness , the elderly won’t be at risk if dying prematurely ……… THE LIST goes ON and ON …. Come on MARTIN be happy for the Preston New Road residents
I think the subject is about decommissioning, Jack.
Reference you last para., there is no list as no one yet knows what the site will be used for.
The elderly died prematurely all the time prior to oil and gas being used, Jack-take a look at age expectancy that “strangely” has shown a huge increase since that first started. I have yet to see any coherent suggestion how that would not suddenly reverse if oil and gas was not used. You can’t even accept that cancer is being risked by children in DRC handling cobalt, a known carcinogen.
I look at gas peaking in USA at $7 and Europe at $47, Jack, and wonder with all that money being spent on energy in Europe, and so much less in USA, is it a surprise that in USA the cancer survival rates are so good? Your “answer”???? Oh yes, after the war we will all be friends again and Russian gas will provide the answer! Well, Jack, that may be your wish but it will not be the case which is why long term gas contracts are being signed between USA and Europe.
What are the cancer risks from more UK nuclear power stations Jack?
We do know what the site will be used for. I attended the recent planning meeting at LCC where the council reluctantly granted Cuadrilla a further 2 years to plug and abandon the wells, remove all equipment and reinstate the land to agricultural use. Most of this work must be carried out by January 2024, the regulators will then monitor the site for several months before the access road is removed and top soil replaced on the site.
What is agricultural use, Pauline?? Firstly, that is a general term that could encompass an awful lot of activities, secondly agricultural land is not land that can not then be designated for other use, if a planning application was applied for and granted. So, sorry, all you know is that the land will be reinstated, which has never been in question. The only questions have been when-now determined-and then what will happen-not determined. That will be up to the landowner to decide, subject to any authorizations required. Having developed such a cordial relationship, I am sure you will be the first to be informed! LOL.