News from IGEM UK
Council gives the go ahead for test drilling at North Yorkshire site
Fracking in one of the most beautiful parts of the British countryside received the go-ahead last night, opening the door for a dash for shale gas.
The fracking operation at Kirby Misperton, near Malton, will be the first in Britain for five years. Full-scale production can begin if tests show gas could be extracted on a commercial scale.
Energy companies with licences to explore for hidden reserves are now likely to apply for consent for test drilling at dozens of rural sites across England.
Fracking involves injecting water, sand and chemicals at high pressure into rocks deep underground to open up fractures in the rock to release trapped gas and oil.
Critics say the process causes noise and contamination - and small earthquakes were triggered near Blackpool in 2011 by a firm exploring for shale gas, leading to a temporary moratorium.
Third Energy, the company behind the North Yorkshire scheme, has produced gas at the site for more than 20 years.
It has been granted consent to carry out test fracking and production from an existing well drilled three years ago. The process will target rocks nearly two miles below ground.
The test fracking is expected to take around six weeks and consent has been granted for nine years of production.