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| Cuadrilla announces major fracking expansion in UK | Cuadrilla announces major fracking expansion in UK |
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| Cuadrilla Resources, the pioneer of fracking in the UK, has announced a major expansion of its activities just a week after geologists dramatically increased their estimates of Britain's shale gas resources. | Cuadrilla Resources, the pioneer of fracking in the UK, has announced a major expansion of its activities just a week after geologists dramatically increased their estimates of Britain's shale gas resources. |
| The British Gas-backed company, which has former BP boss Lord Browne on the board, has applied for planning consent to start fracking one well and prepare to drill six other sites in the Fylde area of Lancashire, despite promises of opposition from local residents. | The British Gas-backed company, which has former BP boss Lord Browne on the board, has applied for planning consent to start fracking one well and prepare to drill six other sites in the Fylde area of Lancashire, despite promises of opposition from local residents. |
| Francis Egan, Cuadrilla's chief executive, said the new exploratory work should demonstrate that natural gas can be produced from the shale in commercial quantities. | Francis Egan, Cuadrilla's chief executive, said the new exploratory work should demonstrate that natural gas can be produced from the shale in commercial quantities. |
| "By sharing our plans for the exploratory programme, we hope that people will have an understanding of what we plan to do and why. The British Geological Survey last week confirmed the exciting scale of Lancashire's gas resource, and we look forward to working closely with local communities and regulators as our exploration work progresses," he said. | "By sharing our plans for the exploratory programme, we hope that people will have an understanding of what we plan to do and why. The British Geological Survey last week confirmed the exciting scale of Lancashire's gas resource, and we look forward to working closely with local communities and regulators as our exploration work progresses," he said. |
| The BGS said last week it believed about 1,300tn cubic feet of shale resources may lie in the Bowland shale of northern England alone. In 2010 it claimed the figure was possibly more than 50tn cubic feet, although it said that calculation was done "on the back of an envelope". | |
| Access to huge shale reserves in America through horizontal drilling and the fracturing of rock with chemicals has sent natural gas prices spinning downwards on the other side of the Atlantic. | Access to huge shale reserves in America through horizontal drilling and the fracturing of rock with chemicals has sent natural gas prices spinning downwards on the other side of the Atlantic. |
| Cuadrilla and other companies are keen to replicate this "revolution" in Britain as the country faces the rundown of North Sea gas, but there is considerable unease among environmentalists and the wider public about the safety of fracking and the chemicals used. | Cuadrilla and other companies are keen to replicate this "revolution" in Britain as the country faces the rundown of North Sea gas, but there is considerable unease among environmentalists and the wider public about the safety of fracking and the chemicals used. |
| The government has promised local communities up to £100,000 in "community benefits" but this has not halted opposition in Lancashire. Local campaign group Residents Action on Fylde Fracking expressed concern at the "rush" to extract shale gas and said it would do all it could to halt its progress. | The government has promised local communities up to £100,000 in "community benefits" but this has not halted opposition in Lancashire. Local campaign group Residents Action on Fylde Fracking expressed concern at the "rush" to extract shale gas and said it would do all it could to halt its progress. |
| In a statement on its website, the group said: "We will object to the planning applications and urge others to do the same. Groups and individuals opposing this, both locally and nationally, will not accept the risks to UK water, air, agriculture, livestock and human health; Cuadrilla and Centrica (the parent of British Gas) can expect a strong response aimed at stopping progress." | In a statement on its website, the group said: "We will object to the planning applications and urge others to do the same. Groups and individuals opposing this, both locally and nationally, will not accept the risks to UK water, air, agriculture, livestock and human health; Cuadrilla and Centrica (the parent of British Gas) can expect a strong response aimed at stopping progress." |
| Friends of the Earth also expressed objections. The organisation's north-west campaigner, Helen Rimmer, said: "This is just the start – if the government continues to fall for the massive shale gas hype, many more communities across Lancashire and the UK will find themselves in the firing line. | Friends of the Earth also expressed objections. The organisation's north-west campaigner, Helen Rimmer, said: "This is just the start – if the government continues to fall for the massive shale gas hype, many more communities across Lancashire and the UK will find themselves in the firing line. |
| "Local people are already mobilising against the threat of fracking and others are bound to follow when they see the threat shale gas poses to their environment and quality of life." | "Local people are already mobilising against the threat of fracking and others are bound to follow when they see the threat shale gas poses to their environment and quality of life." |
| Concerns were raised last year and a temporary drilling ban introduced after two earthquakes in Blackpool were blamed on Cuadrilla's drilling activities. | Concerns were raised last year and a temporary drilling ban introduced after two earthquakes in Blackpool were blamed on Cuadrilla's drilling activities. |
| The government has since lifted the ban and said it is convinced fracking can be done safely. | The government has since lifted the ban and said it is convinced fracking can be done safely. |
| Unveiling the Geological Survey figures last week, energy minister Michael Fallon said it would be irresponsible not to take advantage of a resource that has transformed the US and could provide energy security, if not cheap prices, for Britain. He has promised special tax treatment and streamlined planning structures as well as the community benefits. On Thursday, Egan quoted a recent report by the Institute of Directors which argued shale could lead to thousands of new jobs, higher tax revenues and lower emissions. | Unveiling the Geological Survey figures last week, energy minister Michael Fallon said it would be irresponsible not to take advantage of a resource that has transformed the US and could provide energy security, if not cheap prices, for Britain. He has promised special tax treatment and streamlined planning structures as well as the community benefits. On Thursday, Egan quoted a recent report by the Institute of Directors which argued shale could lead to thousands of new jobs, higher tax revenues and lower emissions. |
| He added: "We remain at the exploration phase of assessing the possibility, and together with our new partners at Centrica Energy, we are committed to doing this transparently, safely and sensibly." | He added: "We remain at the exploration phase of assessing the possibility, and together with our new partners at Centrica Energy, we are committed to doing this transparently, safely and sensibly." |
| • This article was amended on 9 July 2013 to correct a reference to cubic feet from cubic metres. |