North Yorkshire County Council’s planning committee has approved Third Energy’s application to undertake fracking for shale gas near the village of Kirby Misperton.
The planning committee’s decision is the first authorisation for fracking – or hydraulic fracturing – in England since a ban on the technique was lifted in 2012.
Fracking is the process of creating fractures in rock formations to release the natural gas trapped inside. Fracturing fluid is released at high pressure into the rock formation to create millimetre-sized cracks. These cracks are held open by sand grains contained within the fluid, allowing the gas to flow into the wellbore and be collected at the surface.
In its deliberation, the planning committee said it is satisfied ‘that in this particular application, mitigation of the effects of the development with regard to safeguarding the natural environment, protected species and habitats, the amenity of local residents, the protection of ground and surface water quality and traffic management can be achieved through the discharge of the planning conditions.’’
According to Rasik Valand, chief executive of Third Energy, the application was made to establish if gas samples from the site – which has existing conventional gas drilling on it – could be made to flow; the process conditions required; and the length of time it would flow for.
“If this flows then we will need to assess how it performs for some months before making any conclusions,” said Valand. “So now we move on to the next stage of obtaining required approvals.”
The County Council acknowledged objections to the application based on the potential for adverse impacts of fracking on the environment, but added that it is required to work within the national policy framework ‘that indigenous oil and gas remain key to energy security while facilitating the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.’
“This has been a very difficult decision for the Council to make and we know it is a difficult decision for the people of this county” said Richard Flinton, North Yorkshire’s chief executive. “We are proud of our beautiful county which attracts so many visitors and maintains a thriving tourism industry. We have no intention of jeopardising those qualities and our rural industries and livelihoods. For that reason the planning conditions must be fully discharged and monitored. In this case there has already been drilling for gas on this site over many years. The decision taken today does not have a bearing on future decisions. Each application of this nature will be decided upon based on its own merits.”
“In this case there has already been drilling for gas on this site over many years.”
Fracking is NOT the same as drilling..
But at least it’s known that there is extractable gas at the location, unlike several proposed fracking sites.
Good decision by typical Yorkshire folk, i.e. those not willing to be pressured into conformity by a suffocating eco-political consensus held by certain strata of society.
We will only learn the realities of fracking in the UK, given our geology and constraints by test drilling and investigation. This is a useful first step to understanding whether fracking can be safe and contained given local context.
Without actual, UK, evidence rooted in our legal framework; all arguments whether for and against are at best informed speculation, at worst ideological hysteria.
It would seem to me that there are likely to be some adverse side effects in certain areas that are subjected to fracking.
What has to be decided is: a – what is the ‘price’ we are prepared to pay for the concerns and issues that arise – and there always is a price.
And b – ensure that adequate independant supervisory systems exist in order to record and compensate where proven, enforce rules and law where they are in jeopardy, make certain that continuous assessment of effects and issues are available for the public.
I am in favour if those constraints are applied.
The County Council don’t seem to appreciate the juxtaposition in their statement; how does exploiting ‘indigenous oil and gas’ help in ‘facilitating the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.’
It helps if one has to revert to any other form of hydrocarbon other than gas.
Since most people heat their homes and cook with gas we are going to need it for many years to come. If we converted to electricity then we have nowhere near enough installed power to meet demand, not even close. Renewables would be of little use, especially with respect to wind and solar both of which fall-off across the British isles: at just the time we need them. Nuclear is going to take years given its farcical handling by the government. The only possible way of meeting demand would be to install, ironically, new gas fired power stations, so no net gain, except of course the huge amounts of embedded carbon needed to construct these and install supporting infrastructure.
Well, you could start with the reduction in transportation emissions.
( The other John )