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Gas development firm IGas has made known its intentions to explore for shale gas at a site in Nottinghamshire, having applied for planning permission to monitor groundwater.
The planning application was made to Nottinghamshire County Council for drilling up to 12 boreholes across four locations on land off Springs Road, which would help establish existing groundwater conditions.
The boreholes would be monitored for a period of at least 12 months and may be required for a longer period depending on the outcome of any future exploratory drilling application.
In May, a scoping request was submitted by IGas to the Council for exploratory shale gas drilling, in relation to the same site.
Nottinghamshire County Council planning manager Sally Gill pointed out that the Infrastructure Act 2015 includes a requirement for the level of methane in groundwater to be monitored for a period of 12 months before hydraulic fracturing, which would require a separate planning application, can begin.
“The proposed development would assist IGas in collecting the necessary monitoring information,” she said.
The fracking process is a controversial topic, with many UK projects recently being blocked by councils, despite the process being backed by Government, and public support at an all time low. Although the technique appears to have started making slow progress, as companies push for permission to begin projects.
Earlier this month, fellow gas development firm Third Energy announced it would move forward with its application to frack an existing well in Kirby Misperton, following validation from North Yorkshire County Council.
In June, fracking firm Cuadrilla was refused permission to explore for shale gas its Roseacre Wood site. After much deliberation, a decision was made to reject the firm’s Preston New Road, despite receiving backing from planning officials.
Councillors said they rejected Cuadrilla’s application because of the “visual impact and unacceptable noise”.
In a statement, the company said it had completed the “most comprehensive environmental impact assessments ever carried out for operations of this kind” and earlier this month, decided to appeal the decision. However, civil servants have warned that the appeal process could take “at least 16 months”.
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