Cuadrilla Seeks Consent to Frack UK's First Horizontal Shale Gas Well

Cuadrilla Resources has submitted an application to the Secretary of State for the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy for the consent to hydraulically fracture the UK’s first ever horizontal shale gas well.

The company stated that it has all the other necessary permits and planning consents required for hydraulic fracturing at the well, which was completed in April 2018 at its Preston New Road exploration site in Lancashire.

The first horizontal well, drilled through the Lower Bowland shale at a depth of approximately 8,858 feet below ground, extends laterally for around 2,624 feet through the shale gas reservoir. Drilling of the second horizontal shale gas exploration well, through the Upper Bowland shale, is also nearing completion, according to Cuadrilla.

Based on its current operations schedule Cuadrilla plans to be in a position to hydraulically fracture both horizontal wells over the course of the second half of 2018.

Following hydraulic fracturing of the first two horizontal wells Cuadrilla said it will run an initial flow test of both wells for approximately six months, with plans to eventually connect those wells to the local gas grid network in 2019.

“Following the government’s very recent announcement which underlined the national importance of shale gas we are very pleased to submit our application for hydraulic fracturing consent to the Secretary of State,” Francis Egan, CEO of Cuadrilla Resources, said in a company statement.

“We are now very close to demonstrating that Lancashire shale gas can be commercially developed in a safe and environmentally responsible manner. We look forward to receiving consent to progress from the Secretary of State at the earliest opportunity,” he added.



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