UPI: Cuadrilla's drilling permit questioned

British energy company Cuadrilla Resources may be operating outside the terms of its existing permits, an environmental advocacy group said.

Cuadrilla says it is drilling a conventional well during its exploration campaign in Balcbombe, a village in West Sussex, England. The company this week said it pulled an application for a six-month extension to its oil exploration operations and would file a new application for drilling.

"The new application will cover the same well testing that is in the currently permitted activity but will include revised planning boundary lines showing the extent of the horizontal well being tested," it said Wednesday. "It will not include additional drilling or any hydraulic fracturing."

Friends of the Earth said it raised its concerns to the West Sussex County Council about Cuadrilla's existing planning permission.  MORE