IGas Starts Drilling Exploratory Well Near Manchester

UK’s explorer IGas is about to start drilling an exploratory well at Barton, near Irlam in Greater Manchester, reads the website launched by the company to update the population about the developments in the area. 

According to the website, IGas prepared the site in August. The company expects to finish the exploratory drilling in the first semester of next year, with the appraisal analysis to be completed by the end of September 2014.

The site area is 1.8 acres (0.73 hectares). IGas is looking to assess the potential resources beneath the ground at the Barton site.

‘All the current studies suggest that the north west is promising in terms of finding natural gas, either in coal measures, i.e. coal bed methane (CBM) and/or in gas associated with the deeper underlying shale formations,’ reads the company’s website. 

The planning permission is for 25 years. It expires in 2036.

‘The initial exploratory drilling is scheduled for 68 days. In the event of a successful initial well a separate application to test the current well or additional development well(s), would be submitted for approval before any further testing or production could commence,’ reads the website.

The company doesn’t have planning permission for any hydraulic fracturing to take place at the Barton site, but it does not rule out to go for shale. 

‘If we find that there might be potential for this in future, then this will require full consultation with the local community along with further planning applications and permission from the Local Authority,’ said the company.