Cuadrilla Resumes Balcome Shale Drilling

Cuadrilla Resources has resumed shale drilling near the village of Balcombe.

The West Sussex site has seen weeks of protests by upwards of 1,000 activists, agitating against unconventional hydrocarbon development and the use of hydraulic fracturing ("fracking').

The "Reclaim the Power" protest has now officially ended, though about 120 protesters and a reduced police presence remain on the site.

The protest camp saw a visit by the reknown fashion designer Viviane Westwood and the arrest of the Caroline Lucas, U.K.’s only Green Party MP.

Last week Cuadrilla scaled back drilling operations on the recommendation of police fearing concern for staff safety..

The leader in Britain's nasceant shale industry began drilling at Balcombe on August 2nd, with plans for a 3,000ft (900m) vertical well and a 2,500ft (750m) horizontal bore, over a period of a few weeks.

Cuadrilla is currently drilling a conventional oil exploration well and has pledged not to use fracking to release the resources that it is targeting. However, fracking may be a possibility in further development.

The Balcome protests may soon be replicated at other shale developments sites. The Ribble Estuary Against Fracking (REAF) anti fracking group has vowed similar demonstrations if should Cuadrilla receive planning permission to proceed with further development at a site near Banks.

Cuadrilla has made application to Lancashire County Council to carry out diagnostic well tests on their exploration well at Becconsall, near Banks.