Rathlin Energy’s West Newton oil and gas site, June 2019. Photo: Used with the owner’s consent
Key facts
Address: West Newton A wellsite, Fosham Road, High Fosham, HU11 5DF
Planning applications: Original application 12/04193/STPLF granted in January 2013. Application to extend permission until 21 December 15/03056/STVAR granted on 26 November 2015. Further application 18/02924/CM to extend permission until granted on 15 November 2018 until 19 November 2021.
Operator: Rathlin Energy
Licence: PEDL183
Status: Mobilisation of drilling equipment
Conductor rig at Rathlin Energy’s West Newton A well site north of Hull, 20 January 2019. Photo: Peter Yankowski
Timeline
Last updated 5/3/2020
2 March 2020
Bid published to change permit for West Newton well test. Details
2 February 2020
Revised well test plan submitted for West Newton-A, says Union Jack Oil. Details
23 December 2019
Campaigners question statements on West Newton-A2 well test. Details
12 November 2019
West Newton lock-on trial collapses. Details
11 November 2019
Focus at West Newton A switches to oil with upgraded data on oil in place. Details
12 September 2019
East Riding of Yorkshire Council grants planning consent for 199 tonnes of crude oil to be stored at West Newton-A site
29 August 2019
Rathlin Energy confirms suspension of well test following oil find. Details
28 August 2019
Equipment leaves West Newton well site
22 August 2019
First day of West Newton well test prompts smell complaints. Details
Reabold Resources increases stake in West Newton licence. Details
12 August 2019
Rathlin Energy begins mobilising workover rig and other equipment for testing the West Newton-A2 well. Details
Deliveries delayed by a lorry surfing protest.
Rig surf protest outside Rathlin Energy’s West Newton-A wellsite in East Yorkshire, 12 August 2019. Photo: West Newton Gateway to the Gasfields
6 August 2019
New operations approved for West Newton oil and gas site, including cold venting and acid squeeze. Details
Roads to close for up to two months as testing begins at West Newton. Details
5 August 2019
Campaigner remanded in custody. Details
10 June 2019
East Riding of Yorkshire Council closes road for 21 days. 3-person lock-on protest blocks access. Details
24 July 2019
Rathlin seeks consent from East Yorkshire Council for oil storage at West Newton. Details
26 June 2019
Rig leaves West Newton well site. Details
17 June 2019
Investor at West Newton describes it as “potentially UK’s largest onshore hydrocarbon discovery since 1973”. Details
13 June 2019
Road closure at West Newton drilling site extended up to 18 months. Details
6 June 2019
Lorry protest ends after 27 hours. Details
3 June 2019
Two-person lock-on protest begins at 4am. Lasts until 2am on 5 June. Details
23 May 2019
Eviction of monitoring camps costs East Riding of Yorkshire Council £33,983.34. Complaints about noise of drilling at the site. Details
26 April 2019
West Newton A-2 well spudded at 1.45am. Details
13 April 2019
Rathlin Energy reports that operations will be suspended pending the arrival of additional equipment. Details
10 April 2019
8-hour lock on protest. Details
8 April 2019
Lorry protest as rig is delivered. Details
25 March 2019
Rig contract signed for West Newton well. Details
22 March 2019
Second eviction outside West Newton-A well site. Details
Conductor rig installed at Rathlin Energy’s West Newton A well site in East Yorkshire, 8 January 2018. Photo: still from video by West Newton Gateway to the Gas Fields group
20 February 2019
East Riding of Yorkshire Council rejects community appeal against eviction of monitoring station at West Newton A. Details
23 January 2019
Fire crews called to “minor incident”. DrillOrDrop report
22 January 2019
East Riding of Yorkshire Council confirms it has sought an eviction order against the monitoring station. Details
14 January 2019
Consultation begins on application to vary environmental permit. Details
8 January 2019
Conductor rig installed. DrillOrDrop report
5 January 2019
Opponents establish monitoring and information station at West Newton-A. DrillOrDrop report
4 December 2018
First delivery to West Newton-A
30 November 2018
Rathlin announces start date for work at West Newton-A. DrillOrDrop report
15 November 2018
Councillors approve second application for 36-month extension. DrillOrDrop report
8 November 2018
Rathlin Energy accounts show the company owes £33.9m, “casting doubt” over its viability. DrillOrDrop report
7 November 2018
Officials recommend second extension of planning permission. DrillOrDrop report
4 September 2018
Rathlin Energy application for a further 36-month extension at West Newton-A. DrillOrDrop report
26 November 2015
Planning consent for West Newton-A extended for an additional 36 months (decision date 21 December 2015) DrillOrDrop report
5 October 2015
Rathlin Energy describes West Newton-A gas discovery as “very encouraging” DrillOrDrop report
19 February 2015
Investigation underway into breaches at West Newton-A drill site. DrillOrDrop report
November 2014
Well testing completed at West Newton-A
12 August 2014
Opponents report that Rathlin Energy carried out a mini-frack. Link
July 2014
First well test at West Newton-A
September 2013
Drilling completed of well at West Newton-A
March 2013
Site construction began at West Newton-A
17 January 2013
Original planning permission for West Newton-A granted for 36 months
