GDF Suez has confidence in UK shale gas

GDF Suez , partly owned by the French Government, is buying a 25% stake in 12 UK exploration licences owned by Dart Energy.
The licences cover a large part of  the north of England  and extend into part of eastern Wales near Wrexham ( where I  live).
In a statement GDF said it was " very confident about the potential of shale gas in the UK, and its anticipated contributions to UL energy security".
Ironically the French Government has banned fracking.

Planning Practice Guidance

In july 2013 the Department of Communities and Local Government published Planning Practice Guidance  for onshore oil and gas. See the Department website at

https://www.gov.uk/government/policies/providing-regulation-and-licensing-of-energy-industries-and-infrastructure/supporting-pages/developing-shale-gas-an

see also the NPPF published in  March 2012 , in particular paragraphs 142 to 149 Facilitating the sustainable use of minerals.

The exploratory, appraisal or production phase of hydrocarbon extraction can only take place in areas where the Department of Energy and Climate Change have issued a licence under the Petroleum Act 1998 (Petroleum Licence). Details of licensed areas may be found at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/205261/landfield_lics.pdf

Environment Agency commitment to sreamline and simplify

In july 2013 the Environment Agency  published a commitment to streamline and simply  the regulation  of onshore gas and  oil exploratory activity- see
http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/news/148476.aspx?month=6year=2013

The purpose of this blog

The purpose of this blog is to provide information about fracking, a process I  became  familiar with by following events in the United States. By way of example it is interesting to view the website of Frontier Oilfield Services , a Dallas based company specialising in saltwater recovery and drilling  fluid disposal - see
 http://frontierosi.com/