Cuadrilla to Proceed with Shale Environmental Impact Assessment

Cuadrilla Resources appointed Arup to conduct independent Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) as part of planning applications to explore for natural gas from shale in Lancashire.

“These EIAs are being carried out as part of a robust process of developing informed consent for the ongoing exploration of the very significant natural gas resources in Lancashire’s Bowland shale,” said Francis Egan, Cuadrilla’s chief executive.

Arup, an engineering and design consultancy, will start its work this summer. The process is expected to run into the first quarter of 2014.

“We will be working closely with Lancashire County Council, a range of technical experts, and local communities to provide the necessary analysis and consultation,” said Des Correia, project director, Arup.

Cuadrilla’s Bowland Basin in northwest England holds about 200 trillion cubic feet of gas, the company has said, although only a fraction of that will be recovered.

The UK-based Centrica, which owns British Gas, has acquired a 25% interest in the Bowland shale exploration licence in Lancashire from Cuadrilla Resources and AJ Lucas for £40 million in cash. The agreement fostered new enthusiasm for British shale gas developments.

The Guardian wrote on Sunday that big names from the oil industry like Shell, ExxonMobil and Statoil could move soon into the British shale sector.