The Government believes there is huge potential in shale
gas exploitation to broaden the UK's energy mix, to boost local
economies and to create thousands of jobs - significant and
widespread exploration now looks likely to happen
Introduction
Shale gas exploration now has a green light in the UK and its
widespread development looks to be only a matter of time. The
industry thinks we can expect about 20 to 40 exploration wells to
be drilled in the next couple of years.
In 2010, the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC)
consulted on a strategic environmental assessment (SEA) in
preparation for a 14th onshore oil and gas licensing round. That
process was suspended following the seismic tremors encountered
during fracking operations at Preese Hall in Lancashire but it has
now been re-started and DECC expects to consult on a new SEA for
the 14th round in the autumn. In what was the 13th onshore
licensing round, 93 Petroleum Exploration and Development
