Fracking survey in Warrington

A SURVEY is to be carried out at Glazebury, Warrington to find out the potential for fracking.
The borough council has been formally notified by TESLA Exploration
International Ltd of the company’s intention to carry out “three dimensional seismic survey” work within the Glazebury area.
The survey work, on behalf of IGas Energy PLC, is intended to form part of IGas’s ongoing appraisal of the potential to extract hydrocarbon from the ground by means of the process known as fracking.
Daniel Hartley, Warrington Borough Council’s development manager, said:
“Under the law, companies are not required to seek planning permission for this activity, but they must notify the relevant mineral planning authority, in this case Warrington Borough Council.
The council does not have any say in the matter.”
Fracking – or hydraulic fracturing – is the process of drilling down into the earth before a high-pressure water mixture is directed at the rock to release the gas inside. Water, sand and chemicals are injected into the rock at high pressure which allows the gas to flow out to the head of the well.
The process is carried out vertically or, more commonly, by drilling horizontally to the rock layer. The process can create new pathways to release gas or can be used to extend existing channels.
Fracking has brought about a boom in cheap shale gas in the United States.
Exploratory drilling has been carried out in several parts of the UK and has led to protests and demonstrations by local people concerned about the damage to the environment and the possibility of earth tremors.