The energy company Cuadrilla Resources has produced first gas from its fracking site in Lancashire in northwest England, after it began fracking operations there just over two weeks ago.
The energy company said it has started to see natural gas flow at the Preston New Road exploration well. Despite the volumes being “small” at this stage, Cuadrilla said it was “significant” and showed the potential of the site.
The gas returned to surface, along with water being recycled from the shale rock, after hydraulic fracturing a small section of the shale surrounding the first horizontal exploration well.
Francis Egan, Chief Executive Officer of Cuadrilla, explained: “The volumes of gas returning to surface at this stage are small. However considering that we are only at the very start of fracturing operations and, given operating constrains, have not yet been able to inject as much sand into the shale as we had planned, this is a good early indication of the gas potential that we have long talked about.”
The company, based in Bamber Bridge, Lancashire, plans to fully test flow rates from the first two exploration wells towards the end of 2018 and into the New Year following the completion of hydraulic fracturing operations which began in mid-October.
Egan said: “This Preston New Road site is being monitored to an unprecedented level. This initial gas flow is by no means the end of the story. However it provides early encouragement that the Bowland Shale can provide a significant source of natural gas to heat Lancashire and UK homes and offices and reduce our ever growing reliance on expensive foreign imports."
"Three huge tankers carrying liquefied natural gas from across the world, including shale gas imported from the US, will dock in the UK to safeguard our winter gas supplies. If we are able to fully test these wells, without compromising on safety, we have the potential to make a major difference to UK energy supply, security and economic prosperity,” he concluded.
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