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| West Sussex site targeted for oil and gas test drilling | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Shale gas company Cuadrilla is to carry out exploratory drilling at a site in West Sussex. | Shale gas company Cuadrilla is to carry out exploratory drilling at a site in West Sussex. |
| Cuadrilla plans to drill a 3,000ft (914m) vertical well and a 2,500ft (762m) horizontal bore to the south of Balcombe, near Haywards Heath, in June. | Cuadrilla plans to drill a 3,000ft (914m) vertical well and a 2,500ft (762m) horizontal bore to the south of Balcombe, near Haywards Heath, in June. |
| It said if oil and gas were discovered tests would be carried out but neither well would be hydraulically-fractured. | It said if oil and gas were discovered tests would be carried out but neither well would be hydraulically-fractured. |
| Balcombe Parish Council said it had been given assurances that fracking would not take place at the site. | Balcombe Parish Council said it had been given assurances that fracking would not take place at the site. |
| Fracking involves pumping a mixture of water and chemicals into shale rock at high pressure to extract gas and oil. | Fracking involves pumping a mixture of water and chemicals into shale rock at high pressure to extract gas and oil. |
| The local authority previously told representatives of Cuadrilla on 3 May it was "committed to oppose" the technique. | The local authority previously told representatives of Cuadrilla on 3 May it was "committed to oppose" the technique. |
| Exploration borehole | Exploration borehole |
| Fracking was banned temporarily in the UK in 2011, after it was blamed for two earth tremors in Lancashire during drilling carried out by Cuadrilla. | Fracking was banned temporarily in the UK in 2011, after it was blamed for two earth tremors in Lancashire during drilling carried out by Cuadrilla. |
| Environmentalists remained concerned about possible contamination of water supplies. | Environmentalists remained concerned about possible contamination of water supplies. |
| In December, Cuadrilla said it had no intention "at the moment" of drilling to the area south of the village, where it now has permission to drill a borehole for oil and gas exploration. | In December, Cuadrilla said it had no intention "at the moment" of drilling to the area south of the village, where it now has permission to drill a borehole for oil and gas exploration. |
| On Wednesday, a spokesman for the energy company said it had "planning permission from West Sussex County Council for further exploratory drilling since 2010. | On Wednesday, a spokesman for the energy company said it had "planning permission from West Sussex County Council for further exploratory drilling since 2010. |
| "This permission has a deadline attached to it and so Cuadrilla is keen to complete this approved activity before the permission expires." | "This permission has a deadline attached to it and so Cuadrilla is keen to complete this approved activity before the permission expires." |
| 'Dirty and unnecessary' | 'Dirty and unnecessary' |
| Chief executive Francis Egan added: "Although this summer's work will be unobtrusive, we're fully aware that local people will have many questions about our plans and we'll do our best to answer all of them. | Chief executive Francis Egan added: "Although this summer's work will be unobtrusive, we're fully aware that local people will have many questions about our plans and we'll do our best to answer all of them. |
| "During the coming months, we will discuss our plans with residents and they will be able to visit the site to see for themselves what our work involves." | "During the coming months, we will discuss our plans with residents and they will be able to visit the site to see for themselves what our work involves." |
| Tony Bosworth, of Friends of the Earth, said: "Today Lancashire, tomorrow the Weald - this test drilling could lead to fracking on a large scale. | Tony Bosworth, of Friends of the Earth, said: "Today Lancashire, tomorrow the Weald - this test drilling could lead to fracking on a large scale. |
| "This news will strengthen the resolve of local people who are already fighting to protect their communities from the fracking threat." | "This news will strengthen the resolve of local people who are already fighting to protect their communities from the fracking threat." |
| He added: "Fracking is dirty, unnecessary and a risk to our climate and environment. We should be investing in safe, clean energy from the wind, waves and sun." | He added: "Fracking is dirty, unnecessary and a risk to our climate and environment. We should be investing in safe, clean energy from the wind, waves and sun." |
| The exploratory drilling is expected to last for about four months. | The exploratory drilling is expected to last for about four months. |