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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Cuadrilla to apply for more Lancashire fracking sites | Cuadrilla to apply for more Lancashire fracking sites |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| Shale gas company Cuadrilla is to apply for planning consent to carry out more test drilling in Lancashire. | Shale gas company Cuadrilla is to apply for planning consent to carry out more test drilling in Lancashire. |
| It intends to apply for planning consent to hydraulically fracture and test the shale gas at its existing exploration well at Grange Hill. | It intends to apply for planning consent to hydraulically fracture and test the shale gas at its existing exploration well at Grange Hill. |
| Cuadrilla also hopes with its partner Centrica to apply for consent to test drill at up to six new Fylde sites. | |
| Opponents claim water used in the fracking process will be contaminated and could enter domestic supplies. | Opponents claim water used in the fracking process will be contaminated and could enter domestic supplies. |
| Francis Egan, Cuadrilla's chief executive, said: "We want to let everyone know what is happening over the next couple of years. | Francis Egan, Cuadrilla's chief executive, said: "We want to let everyone know what is happening over the next couple of years. |
| "There is a lot of gas in the ground in Lancashire and we need to drill a few more wells to answer the question that everyone keeps asking which is 'how much gas is there?' That's the purpose of the programme." | "There is a lot of gas in the ground in Lancashire and we need to drill a few more wells to answer the question that everyone keeps asking which is 'how much gas is there?' That's the purpose of the programme." |
| A recent survey by the British Geological Survey (BGS) said shale gas resources in Bowland Basin, which stretches under Cheshire, Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Yorkshire, may be double previous estimates. | A recent survey by the British Geological Survey (BGS) said shale gas resources in Bowland Basin, which stretches under Cheshire, Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Yorkshire, may be double previous estimates. |
| The BGS report, published for the government, on 27 June estimates there may be 1,300 trillion cubic feet of shale gas present. | The BGS report, published for the government, on 27 June estimates there may be 1,300 trillion cubic feet of shale gas present. |
| Tina Rothery, from anti-fracking group Residents Action on Fylde Fracking, she was "deeply concerned" at the expansion plans. | Tina Rothery, from anti-fracking group Residents Action on Fylde Fracking, she was "deeply concerned" at the expansion plans. |
| She said: "There is no way that this can be done safely. | She said: "There is no way that this can be done safely. |
| "We have researched this for the last a year and a half and have found no assurance of safety. | "We have researched this for the last a year and a half and have found no assurance of safety. |
| She added: "This is a huge risk for financial gain." | She added: "This is a huge risk for financial gain." |
| The future on the firm's Anna's Road site in St Annes is yet to be decided. A spokesman for the firm said drilling was suspended in September at the site when a tool got stuck. | The future on the firm's Anna's Road site in St Annes is yet to be decided. A spokesman for the firm said drilling was suspended in September at the site when a tool got stuck. |
| Birds issue | Birds issue |
| However, Mr Egan said the problem was restrictions imposed to protect wintering birds. | However, Mr Egan said the problem was restrictions imposed to protect wintering birds. |
| He said: "There is a well-known wintering bird issue close to the Anna's Road site which restricts the period we can work. | He said: "There is a well-known wintering bird issue close to the Anna's Road site which restricts the period we can work. |
| "Pretty much six months of the year there is a restriction on being able to work on the site which limits your operational flexibility somewhat." | "Pretty much six months of the year there is a restriction on being able to work on the site which limits your operational flexibility somewhat." |
| He added: "We prefer to start at sites that don't have an issue like that." | He added: "We prefer to start at sites that don't have an issue like that." |
| The government announced shale gas drilling areas will get £100,000 in "community benefits" and 1% of revenues last month. | The government announced shale gas drilling areas will get £100,000 in "community benefits" and 1% of revenues last month. |
| Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, involves the injection of highly pressurised fluids into shale to extract gas. | Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, involves the injection of highly pressurised fluids into shale to extract gas. |
| It was temporarily banned in the UK after it was blamed for two earth tremors in Blackpool in 2011. | It was temporarily banned in the UK after it was blamed for two earth tremors in Blackpool in 2011. |
| A government review has now concluded fracking is safe if adequately monitored. | A government review has now concluded fracking is safe if adequately monitored. |