DECC Proposes Simplification of Deep Underground Access for Shale Gas

British authorities are playing some heavy cards to pave the way to shale gas developments, publishing a proposal to simplify deep underground access for shale gas and also new estimate for the amount of shale gas and shale oil in south-east England. 

‘The new proposals would simplify procedures which are costly time-consuming and disproportionate for new methods of underground drilling. Oil, gas and deep geothermal companies will be able to explore their potential, and will in return provide a voluntary community payment for access,’ reads a note released by the UK’s Department of Energy & Climate Change (DECC). 

DECC added that the proposals comprise a £20,000 voluntary community payment per lateral well, a clear notification system to alert local people and underground right of access for shale gas below 300m.

‘A company looking to develop shale or geothermal will still need to obtain all the necessary permissions. There are controls in place to regulate seismicity, environmental impacts and planning impacts and there are numerous opportunities for local communities to engage ahead of any development.’

Also on Friday, the British Geological Survey (BGS) published an estimate for in the Weald Basin in south-east England.

‘The estimate is in the form of a range to reflect geological uncertainty. The range of shale oil in place is estimated to be between 2.20 and 8.57 billion barrels (bbl) or 293 and 1,143 million tonnes, but the central estimate for the resource is 4.4 billion bbl or 591 million tonnes. No significant gas resource is recognised using the current geological model. This is mainly because the shale is not thought to have reached the geological maturity required to generate gas,’ explains the press release.