Hydraulic fracturing or "fracking" is the process of drilling and injecting fluid into the ground at high pressure in order to fracture shale rocks and release natural gas. The topic is currently never far away from media interest since the UK mainland lifted its ban on shale gas fracking in December 2012. Since then there have been several attempts to set up exploration sites across the country. So what's all the drama about?

The technique has been around since 1947 and has been used in the UK for offshore extraction of North Sea oil for many years without concern. However, using the technique onshore sets rumours adrift of water from taps being set on fire, increased numbers of earthquakes and greater global warming. So does fracking deserve this image problem?

Against fracking?

The technique uses between 1 and 8 million gallons of water per job and requires 400 tankers to carry water to and from the site. The water is mixed with sand and approximately 40,000 gallons of chemicals to create fracking fluid. The chemicals include lead, mercury, radium, methanol, hydrochloric acid and formaldehyde. Fracking fluid is then pressured injected into the ground causing the shale rock to crack and the gas or oil to flow into a well.

The main issue of concern is that methane and other toxic chemicals are said to leach out into the groundwater contaminating water supplies. In addition, the waste fracking fluid is left in open air pits to evaporate, releasing harmful VOC's (volatile organic compounds) into the atmosphere, creating contaminated air, acid rain, and ground level ozone. There is also the issue of damage to property and digging up large areas of British countryside.

It's possible to quote various horror stories which have emerged surrounding fracking. In the States, a Pennsylvanian family alleged that a nearby industrial complex using the technique had contaminated their water supply causing headaches, sore throats and burning eyes. The family, which included two young children, reached a $750,000 agreement with the oil company including imposition of a ban for life on talking about fracking

For fracking?

Hydraulic fracking produces approximately 300,000 barrels of natural gas a day which some say could solve all our fuel problems. Experts suggest there may be 150 billion cubic metres of shale gas under England. If these large amounts of gas are found underneath the South of England then oil companies and MPs are promising cheaper gas bills and improved odds that our lights are going to stay on.

The Prime Minister backs fracking which he says could create tens of thousands of jobs. The PM claims there is no evidence that the process causes contamination of water and that gas extraction will not harm the landscape. The wider implication of the benefits for the UK economy would seem, in the PM's view, to outweigh any unsubstantiated side effects. So how does a UK company go about getting consent to frack?

Legal consent

Largely, companies need the following authorisations in order to carry out fracking:-

  • a licence or greater interest from the landowner at ground level and from any other landowners controlling access to the site;
  • a Petroleum Exploration and Development Licence from the Department for Energy and Climate Change ("DECC");
  • well consents from DECC; and
  • planning permission from the local authority (the Minerals Planning Authority).

The initial drilling carried out with planning permission in Balcombe, West Sussex over the summer led to dozens of arrests of protestors. The energy firm Cuadrilla was given the go ahead three years ago when planning permission was granted to drill a 3,000ft (900m) vertical well and a 2,500ft (750m) horizontal bore south of the village in search of oil.

This planning permission expires on 28 September 2013. West Sussex County Council has said that Cuadrilla had applied to extend drilling work in Balcombe for six months and increase the height of a flare at the site - but that application has been withdrawn and a planning meeting set for 19 September has been cancelled.

Cuadrilla cites a need to resolve potential legal ambiguity about underground boundaries for a horizontal well below the surface as the reason for withdrawing the application. The protestors, however, see it as a victory for the anti-fracking campaign. Cuadrilla has confirmed that a new planning application will be lodged for the site and will go in front of a planning committee in early 2014.

Whether you love it or hate it, hydraulic fracturing is probably here to stay.

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