Third Energy submits plan to commence hydraulic fracking in North Yorkshire, UK

Exploration company Third Energy has submitted its plans to commence fracking for shale gas at Kirby Misperton (KM) well in North Yorkshire, UK.

In accordance with the regulatory framework, the explorer submitted the Hydraulic Fracture Plan (HFP) to the Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) and the Environment Agency (EA). 

According to the company, the necessary environmental permits and planning approval were obtained last year.

Located in PL080, North Yorkshire, the KM-8 well was spudded in June 2013 and drilled to a total depth of 10,210ft measured depth (MD).

Five stimulation stages are planned to be conducted at five different levels within the KM8 well.

Meanwhile, works at the well will be carried out over four phases, including workover, conducting fracking operation, conducting flow tests, and installing the completion string.

At the time of securing environmental permits from the EA, Third Energy operations director John Dewar said: “This is another important step towards having the necessary permissions in place to fracture the KM8 well and evaluate the potential of the shale resource to produce gas commercially.

“The company will undertake additional actions to ensure conditions attached to the permits are met, ensuring further and ongoing protections.”

Third Energy is mandated by the EA to monitor emissions to air, water, seismicity, and noise during and after the operation.

Through the monitoring, it will assess whether its operations have affected the conditions.

In 2011, an earthquake measuring 2.3 on the Richter scale struck the Lancashire region in the UK, following which a court case was filed against the decision to allow fracking in the region.