UK shale firm Cuadrilla has applied for government consent to conduct the country’s first fracking programme on a horizontal well, at an existing well site in Lancashire.
The horizontal well was drilled in April at the Preston Road site, cutting some 800 metres laterally through the Lower Boland shale gas reservoir.
READ: Govt launches extra support for UK shale projects
At the same a second horizontal well is now being drilled into the Upper Bowland Shale. It is now nearing completion, and, thereafter an application to frack that will is expected to be made.
Cuadrilla, accordingly, plans to hydraulically fracture both horizontal wells in the second half of the year. It potentially set up the project for a relatively long term production test (up to six months), ahead of a possible connection to the UK gas network during 2019.
Today’s update comes after last week’s high profile show of support from the UK government - which wants to accelerate the planning regime for shale projects and earmarked new funds to help local authorities process applications more quickly.
Francis Egan, Cuadrilla chief executive, said: “Following the Government’s very recent announcement which underlined the national importance of shale gas we are very pleased to submit our application for hydraulic fracturing consent to the Secretary of State.
“We are now very close to demonstrating that Lancashire shale gas can be commercially developed in a safe and environmentally responsible manner.
“We look forward to receiving consent to progress from the Secretary of State at the earliest opportunity.”