BGS commissioned for report on the geological science of fracking
BEIS has, today, written to the British Geological Society commissioning a report on fracking.
Last month, the UK's North Sea Transition Authority, formerly the OGA, agreed to withdraw the requirement to decommission UK fracking wells by the end of June.
The UK government implemented a pause on hydraulic fracturing for shale gas extraction following seismicity experienced by local residents during Cuadrilla’s operations in Lancashire in 2019. According to the commissioning letter, ‘The reasons for that pause - the difficulty in predicting the size, duration, magnitude, and timing of seismic events induced by fracking - have not gone away and to date we have not identified any new, compelling evidence that would support a reassessment of the current position.’
The report is asked to cover -
- new developments in the science of fracturing and if they could reduce the risk and magnitude of seismic events
- suitability for use in fracturing in the UK, with its specific geology and high population density
- how fracking seismicity may compare to other forms of underground energy production, such as geothermal and coal mining, or surface activities such as construction
- could people be confident about the modelling of seismic events and their predictability?
- Are there other sites, where confidence could be found in modelling seismic activity?
The report is due before the end of June.
