Cuadrilla Wins Backing of UK Energy Minister

The United Kingdom's energy minister has given his backing to shale gas production.

Charles Hendry visited with UK shale gas innovator Cuadrilla Resources, at the site of a shale gas exploration well last week.

Mr. Hendry addressed concerns expressed by groups opposed to shale gas drilling and the controversial process extracting the gas known as hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking.”

Opponents have raised concerns that the fracking process, which uses liquid involves high-pressure blasting of a mixture of water, sand and chemicals to release natural gas trapped between layers of clay-like shale rock, could contaminate local ground water.

Mr. Hendry said: “It is a very well-established process used around the world.  “If anyone has concerns about the practice they can be reassured it is safe.”

He added: “People think this is new technology but it is not – it actually dates back to the 1940s. What is new is the application of getting the gas out from 10,000ft below ground level.”

Tim Yeo, chairman of the Energy and Climate Change Committee involved in an inquiry examining the drilling of shale gas in the United Kingdom, has said he does not believe there are any unacceptable risks being taken at a site in Lancashire.

Shadow Energy Minister Huw Irranca-Davies recently said that shale gas “could have a huge potential both in the UK and Europe.” This was a marked reversal for Irranca-Davies, who had initially called for work at Cuadrilla’s exploration well near Blackpool to stop ,while its safety was checked by the Energy and Climate Change Committee.

Cuadrilla began drilling at its second test site in the village of Singleton, about four miles from Blackpool, in January. The first exploration was carried out at Preese Hall Farm, Weeton, last August.

Cuadrilla’s attempts at drilling are the first of their kind in the UK and the company has pledged to be completely transparent with residents near its sites.

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