Exploratory Hydraulic Fracturing for Shale Gas Gets Go-Ahead

Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Ed Davey, has given the go ahead to the resumption of Exploratory Hydraulic Fracturing (fracking) for shale gas, subject to strict control measures aimed at mitigating the risk of seismic activity.

He has also confirmed the setting up of a new ‘Office for Unconventional Gas and Oil.’ This Office will have a regulatory focus and act as a single point of contact for investors. The key control measures for operators include:

• A review to assess seismic risk and existence of faults before fracking begins;
• A plan detailing how seismic risks are to be addressed;
• Seismic monitoring before and after operations; and
• A traffic light system to monitor seismic activity and a trigger mechanism to stop operations under certain conditions.

For more information please visit the DECC website here.

For further information, help or advice please contact Andrew Davison on 01912 11 7950 or email [email protected].