UK Shale Gas Hearing Set for May 20

Barclays Bank-owned UK shale gas explorer Third Energy has said that its planning application to hydraulically fracture and test a pre-existing onshore well, KM8, in Kirby Misperton will be considered by the North Yorkshire county council’s planning committee on May 20.

The council’s planning officer is expected to complete her report on May 13 and the planning committee will make a visit to the KM8 well site prior to May 20.

Third Energy has produced conventional gas in the area for 20 years for use at its nearby Knapton gas-fired power plant. KM8 was drilled in 2013 with two aims: to test for conventional gas, and to drill to a deeper level to tap shale rock. The current application is to frack five different zones to see if shale gas will flow economically, as the conventional test in 2013 was deemed disappointing.

Campaign group Friends of the Earth, which opposes all UK shale gas plans, said this proposed frack was “very close to the North Yorks Moors National Park” and posed risks to groundwater.

Third Energy is 97%-owned by Barclays, but is managed by Global Natural Resources Investment (GNRI). The latter – then called BNRI – was also Barclays-owned until a management buyout in October 2015.

Elsewhere in northern England, plans to drill and frack for onshore shale gas are also being decided.

Lancashire county council’s planning committee last year refused Cuadrilla Resources permission to drill and frack at two sites – Preston New Road and Roseacre Wood -- near Blackpool. But the company appealed and in November 2015 UK Communities Secretary Greg Clark – using new legislative powers – said he would have the final say. The government believes onshore shale gas could have a vital contribution to UK security of gas supply.

Three weeks ago a hearing was held in Blackpool by Planning Inspector Wendy McKay into Cuadrilla’s plans; she is now writing her report, which is due to be submitted to Clark by July 4.

Another shale explorer, IGas, is applying to drill a shale gas-related horizontal and vertical well at its Springs Road site in the far north of Nottinghamshire but not – at least at this stage – to frack it. IGas has partnerships with France’s Total and Engie and Swiss firm Ineos at its various UK shale licences.

Mark Smedley