IGas Energy Plc (LON:IGAS) and French major Total have moved a step closer to realising plans to drill two shale gas well in Nottinghamshire.
The AIM quoted company has revealed that a planning officer has recommended that the Nottinghamshire County Council’s (NCC) planning and licensing committee grant planning consent for the well programme.
Councillors will now come to a decision on October 5.
IGas wants to drill two exploratory wells at the Springs Road site in North Nottinghamshire, within the PEDL 140 licence area.
The company - which operates PEDL 140, with a 32% stake alongside Total with 40% - believes the two-well programme will be an important step in understand the shale gas potential in North Nottinghamshire and more widely in the East Midlands and Yorkshire.
It has previously stated that successful wells would “in all likelihood’ lead to a subsequent planning application to flow test a well which would involve hydraulic fracturing.
In a statement the company said it had addressed a wide range of questions, concerns and comments raised by NCC, statutory consultees and others.
“As part of its commitment to open and transparent communications IGas has undertaken extensive community engagement alongside this application including setting up a community liaison group which was convened in June 2014,” it added.
“IGas businesses have been drilling wells and producing oil and gas safely and in an environmentally responsible manner for over 30 years and we will continue to uphold the highest standards in the future.”
Alongside IGas and Total, AIM quoted onshore oiler Egdon Resources Plc (LON:EDR) has a 14.5% interest in PEDL 140 and US shale firm eCorp International has 13.5%.