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Shale gas drilling suspended after earthquake

Jun 1st, 2011
by Matthew Spencer.

Test shale gas drilling in Lancashire has been suspended after fears it is linked to earthquakes

Blackpool Tower

The earthquake occurred near Blackpool

A 1.5 magnitude tremor near a drill site in the north west has lead to Cuadrilla Resources suspending shale gas drilling.

The tremor is the second in two months, and Cuadrilla will now wait to review data collected by the British Geological Survey (BGS) before deciding on whether to continue the drilling.

The previous earthquake on the 1st April shared a “similar location and mechanism”, according to the BGS.

Chief Executive of Cuadrilla Resources Mark Miller said: “We expect that this analysis and subsequent consultation will take a number of weeks to conclude and we will decide on appropriate actions after that.”

Shale gas drilling, or “fracking” consists of using hydraulic pressure or small explosions to shatter shale rock and release gas.

The fears that shale gas drilling may cause earthquakes come on top of numerous other environmental concerns about the new technology.

In France, shale gas drilling is currently suspended due to concerns that the fracking process can pollute water beds.

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Posted in: Utilities Market Regulation, Wholesale Utilities Markets.
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