Updated: No national limits on density of fracking sites, says Minister
The government has ruled out national limits on the number of fracking sites in shale gas areas. It has also refused to set a minimum distance between wells and homes.
Updated: Weald oil production could generate £52bn over 40 years – but thousands of wells needed
Oil production in the Weald in southern England could generate around £52 billion over 40 years, according to forecasts published today by EY.
Last equipment moved off Rathlin’s Crawberry Hill well site
The last excavator was moved off Rathlin Energy’s Crawberry Hill drilling site in East Yorkshire this afternoon. All the cabins have now gone and a small tarmac access to the field is all that remains of the site, where a well was sunk in 2013.
Some fracking controls now in force – but not all
Rules on fracking, set out in the Infrastructure Act, came into force today. They are in section 50 of the act, which sets the depth at which fracking is prohibited and creates an official definition based on the volume of fluid used. The rules also identify requirements that […]
Sussex oil exploration licences at risk in legal battle, investor warns
An investor in oil exploration in Sussex says its legal battle with partner Celtique Energie could cost the companies three drilling licences covering 124,000 acres.
Notts village votes overwhelmingly against IGas shale plans
People in Misson in north Nottinghamshire have voted overwhelmingly against plans by IGas to drill two exploratory shale gas wells near the village.
Arrest warning for “slow-walk” protesters at Horse Hill site near Gatwick
Police have warned protesters outside an exploratory oil site near Gatwick airport they would be arrested if they tried to slow down vehicles delivering equipment.
Who drilled where in 2015?
The short answer is not many companies sank wells anywhere onshore in 2015. The number of oil and gas wells drilled in the UK in 2015 was the lowest for almost 40 years.
Study finds methane leaks from 30% of abandoned wells – but emissions average less than a single cow
A study of decommissioned onshore oil and gas wells in the UK found that 30% were leaking methane. But the average leak produced lower emissions than a breeding dairy cow.
How many wells does Third Energy want to frack at Kirby Misperton?
A local councillor in North Yorkshire says Third Energy showed him a diagram of ten horizontal boreholes leading from the well the company wants to frack for shale gas at Kirby Misperton.
DRILL OR DROP? 