Review of 2019
2019 saw a Conservative government withdraw its support from fracking and introduce a moratorium on the process.
Call for fracking halt to be extended to acid stimulation in oil and gas industry
Environmental campaigners are calling on the government to extend its moratorium on fracking to less publicised techniques used by the oil and gas industry.
Cuadrilla warned over three more permit breaches at fracking site
Cuadrilla has received an official warning over failing to monitor groundwater properly at its Preston New Road fracking site.
“Living in fear” – residents respond to 1.6ML fracking tremor
Cuadrilla has been accused of trying to downplay last night’s 1.6ML earth tremor caused by its fracking operation near Blackpool.
Council declares ‘Frack-Free Zone’ on Somerset coast
Councillors have voted to oppose fracking on the Somerset coast between Minehead and Burnham-on-Sea.
“Gatwick Gusher” breached safety laws over blowout preventer
The oil exploration site in Surrey, nicknamed the “Gatwick Gusher”, breached health and safety laws last year, DrillOrDrop has learned.
Guest post: Liability lottery of onshore decommissioning
Who pays for clean-ups and decommissioning if an onshore operator goes bust? It’s a question that is concerning MPs and landowners. In this guest post, researcher and anti-fracking campaigner, Ben Dean, looks at the rules for decommissioning and argues for tougher controls.
Campaigner questions “gold standard” regulation after safety failings at drill site
Staff working for one of the leading contractors in the UK onshore oil and gas industry breached health and safety regulations and failed to follow best practice during a single routine task, the industry regulator has concluded.
Regulators accused of “extraordinary hands-off” approach to South Downs oil well
An oil exploration well in one of the most sensitive parts of the country has lacked scrutiny because of legal loopholes.
Fracking earthquake rules should be extended to other onshore oil and gas operations, MPs told
The risk of earthquakes from well operations such as acidisation, water reinjection and pressure release should be controlled in the same way as fracking, a parliamentary meeting heard today.
