Earlier this week North Yorkshire Council approved Third Energy’s application to test the controversial process at an existing exploratory well near the village of Kirby Misperton. It marked the first time a council has given planning permission for fracking to take place since a ban was lifted in 2012.
Starting in the second half of this year INEOS is planning to undertake 3D seismic imaging at number of potential production sites to gather data about their geology and identify suitable spots for exploratory drilling. The research is likely to last into the first half of 2017.
The company will need to obtain planning permission before any exploratory drilling takes place. It has already begun liaising with local communities and said it has been “pleasantly surprised” by the level of “quietly spoken support”. The first planning applications could be submitted by the end of this year.
In addition to Third Energy two other shale exploration firms currently have fracking applications being considered for sites in the UK.
Cuadrilla has two applications under appeal. Civil servants have warned that the appeal process could take “at least 16 months”, and last November the government announced that the appeals would be determined by communities secretary Greg Clark.
Nottinghamshire County Council is currently holding a public consultation on an application by IGas to drill exploratory shale gas wells at Springs Road near Misson. In January it granted the company permission to drill monitoring bore holes at the site.
IGas has also submitted a planning application to the council to carry out further exploratory drilling in the county at Tinker Lane near Blyth.