Cuadrilla, Balcombe and Fracking, oil/gas exploration in general

[lordna]

I have been half expecting someone to start this topic but as nobody else has then i will.

Down here in West Sussex in a little village called Balcombe, very near to the Ardingly resevoir a company called Cuadrilla have been granted licence and permission to do exploratory drilling. The intention is to eventually carry out "Fracking" which is the extraction of Shale gas.

When Balcombe parish council were asked if there was any opposition locally to Cuadrilla doing the test drilling, the parish council were not aware of the implications and the permission slipped through. Now Cuadrilla have started drilling and the residents regret their decision. The Balcombe drilling site has become home to a very large community of protesters who are very concerned about the possible effects on the environment, wildlife, the resevoir etc. The newspapers are full of it. Despite some of the press reports these protesters are ordinairy people very concerned about a largely unproven technology affecting the local area. On the other hand we have the government very keen on Shale gas as the way forward for cheaper energy.

I have my own opinions but have tried to describe whats going on here in an unbiased way. There is also some fracking going on, i believe in Lancashire, and there have been fears of wildlife being driven away, water pollution etc.

If shale gas is found there could be a very large number of wells in the UK perhaps changing the landscape forever. Fracking has already taken place in the USA and Australia (in particular) with disastrous environmental results.

Just wondered what the views were on the forum about Frackin, Cuadrilla and other firms. Who is right the government or the protesters? Maybe they will try Fracking in the Philippines?

[Jamesey]

"Fracking" seems to be flavour of the month for the environmental protestors, many of which aren't basing their opposition on hard evidence and are just looking for something to protest about.

For me, it's all about the evidence. If it's proven to be safe, as appears to be the case in many parts of America, it could be a great source of fuel for us. However, it's just another fossil fuel and it will eventually run out.

My opinion is that we should invest in nuclear, build the Severn Barrage and keep researching and developing renewable energy sources. The sooner we loose our dependence on fossil fuels, the better.

[Jamesey]

I've just found this:
http://royalsociety.org/policy/projects/shale-gas-extraction/report/?utm_source=social_media&utm_medium=hootsuite&utm_campaign=standard

It's a report on "Fracking" by the Royal Society. I would trust this more than any sensationalist newspaper report or environmental protestor.

[Arthur Little]

Tbh ... :anerikke: ... I hadn't even been *fracking aware of the *word's significance until reading this article.

[Arthur Little]

Tbh ... :anerikke: ... I hadn't even been *fracking aware of the *word's significance until reading this article.

Having read it :cwm25: ... I'm thinking maybe "ignorance is bliss"! :icon_rolleyes:

[andy222]

Im afraid it will be the same old things that are bought up. And questions asked. It does'nt matter what the protesters think it will go ahead. Is it a case of not in my back yard?. Is it a case of how many Mps have got their fingers already in the pie?. ETC ETC.

[Dedworth]

Permission would have been granted by the Borough or County Council - Balcombe Parish Council would have been consulted and made no objections. This has now turned into a rallying call for the hordes of unwashed protesters to spend their summer hols in sunny Sussex and the limpwristed local Police have aided the rabble by throwing the towel in and allowing mob rule.

I'm all in favour of fracking if it can make us self sufficient in energy and free us from importing oil and gas from the Arabs. The inaction of Sussex Police has turned this site into another Dale Farm & Twyford Down - Cuadrilla should be making some massive claims against them through the courts.

[KeithD]

I Fracking has already taken place in the USA and Australia (in particular) with disastrous environmental results.

Where? All of the independent studies have found no environmental issues :Erm:

It has also been proven safe, as they've been drilling in the US for years. In the early days some methane may have leaked into ground water due to problems at the head of the well, but that is not an environmental problem as it naturally occurs in our own body... farting :action-smiley-081: :biggrin: .... but these problems have been resolved. Nothing from the actual drilling process has entered any water sources, it is just too far down to do that.

Unlike an open cast mine or quarry, fracking does not change the environment forever. Once they finish, they cap the well, and move on. Apart from the well cap, the surrounding area returns to normal nature within a few years.

It is far better than wind and coal power.

[lordna]

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/aug/19/fracks-figures-big-questions-hydraulic-fracturing

[Dedworth]

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/aug/19/fracks-figures-big-questions-hydraulic-fracturing

:icon_lol:

Straight from that house journal of the publicly funded Left

[grahamw48]

I'm all for it, and my son is hoping to find a career in that industry.

I see the usual bunch of benefit scroungers, junkies, ugly women and assorted misfits with too much time on their hands have pitched camp there. :crazy:

No doubt the locals will now be wondering what's worse, the drilling or the loonies parked on their doorstep, along with their accompanying trespassing, noise, and litter . :smile:

[lordna]

Where? All of the independent studies have found no environmental issues :Erm:

It has also been proven safe, as they've been drilling in the US for years. In the early days some methane may have leaked into ground water due to problems at the head of the well, but that is not an environmental problem as it naturally occurs in our own body... farting :action-smiley-081: :biggrin: .... but these problems have been resolved. Nothing from the actual drilling process has entered any water sources, it is just too far down to do that.

Unlike an open cast mine or quarry, fracking does not change the environment forever. Once they finish, they cap the well, and move on. Apart from the well cap, the surrounding area returns to normal nature within a few years.

It is far better than wind and coal power.

http://www.time.com/time/video/player/0,32068,902909981001_2065158,00.html

[Dedworth]

Seems the grubby rent -a- mob might be moving on

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-23778323

[lordna]

An Emeritus Professor of Geophysics at Glasgow university recently criticised Cuadrilla's operations at Balcombe, stating that the company's knowledge is "inadequate for purpose required". The company's drilling plans are also based on "insecure" geological interpretations, ignore relevant underground faults and may risk contaminating ground water. http://www.davidsmythe.org/fracking/cuadrilla%20sussex%20critique%20V1.pdf

Professor David Smthye went on: "The interpretation of the geological structure (at Balcombe) is insecure" (since the company is only in possession of 2D seismic data). "Horizontal drilling cannot reasonably be carried out without a 3D seismic survey".


A study from Durham university in 2012 noted that fractures can extend up to 1928 feet, or within within two football pitches of the surface at Balcombe. http://gasdrillinginbalcombe.wordpress.com/2012/04/27/new-study-shows-fractures-within-720-feet-of-balcombe-village/www.dur.ac.uk/resources/dei/JMPG_1575.pdf

With inadequate geological knowledge, the company is unable to accurately predict seismic activity around its Balcombe well nor the risk of leaks.

As this weeks Private Eye points out it's not just the company that is unfit for purpose - so are the regulators allegedly overseeing Cuadrilla's actions. http://www.refracktion.com/index.php/private-eye-the-fracking-issue/

Professor Smythe has formerly worked at the British Geological Survey, including on work commissioned by DECC, and is a former advisor to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on North Sea drilling and its geology.

[lordna]

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/baseless-economics-lord-stern-on-david-camerons-claims-that-a-uk-fracking-boom-can-bring-down-price-of-gas-8796758.html

[lordna]

New research officially confirmed that 'fracking' caused the set of nearly a dozen mysterious earthquakes in Ohio in 2011.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2412048/Fracking-DID-cause-109-earthquakes-Ohio-confirm-scientists-opposition-controversial-process-grows.html

[Arthur Little]

:yawn: ... and so the "fracking" debate lingers on ... :blahblah::blahblah:

[Dedworth]

I'd rather be paying 75% less for natural gas as they are in the US

[grahamw48]

This country could do with a good shake-up. :biggrin:

[Terpe]

I'm sure I read somewhere that we're buying huge volumes from USA already.