Cuadrilla resumes drilling at Balcombe

Whilst widespread in the US, the use of hydraulic fracturing for shale gas is a comparatively new phenomenon in the UK and has been met with some opposition. The UK government recently ended a moratorium on drilling for shale gas and the Prime Minister, David Cameron has stated, “Even if we only see a fraction of the impact shale gas has had in America, we can expect to see lower energy prices in this country.”

Drilling Resumes

Cuadrilla, a UK focused shale company, recently had to halt the drilling of an exploratory well at its Balcombe prospect due to security concerns, after approximately 1000 protestors arrived near the site and set up a “Reclaim the Power” camp. The camp, which lasted six days, has now ended; approximately 120 protestors are believed to still remain near the site and are continuing a local campaign that began on 25^th July. With the dispersal of the vast majority of the protestors, the company has resumed drilling operations.

Several arrests have been made over the course of the protests (figures range from 30 to 60), including MP Caroline Lucas of the Green Party. Supt. Lawrence Hobbs, a spokesperson for the Sussex police force told the BBC that he expected the police “to need a presence at the site for a number of weeks.” He added, “Cuadrilla’s right to carry out their legal work is being upheld and, with more than 1000 people now having expressed their right to peacefully protest, it is notable that the vast majority have done so visibly and vocally, with relatively few arrests.”

Operations at Balcombe

The company received permission from the local council to drill a 3000 ft deep, six in. exploratory well, and has until 28^th September to complete this task. Whilst there are plans to potentially drill a 2500 ft horizontal well if feasible, hydraulic fracturing will not be able to take place until the company applies for, and receives, further permission.

Francis Egan, Cuadrilla’s CEO released a statement saying that the company’s “exploration work at Balcombe involves drilling a conventional oil well. External groups protesting against hydraulic fracturing at Balcombe do so without any work proposal from Cuadrilla to judge. Any hydraulic fracturing proposal would require a detailed Environmental Impact Assessment, public consultations and multi-agency regulatory reviews, all of which would be available for scrutiny.”

Edited from various sources by David Bizley

Read the article online at: https://www.oilfieldtechnology.com/exploration/23082013/cuadrilla_resumes_drilling_at_balcombe/