British fracking controversies

This January 2014 video is called Protests continue over UK fracking decision.

Another video from Britain which used to be on Youtube used to say about itself:

Feb 24, 2013

A controversial gas extraction method caused two earthquakes in the UK last year, a government panel of experts reported. Yet, despite the environmental dangers fracking may cause, its resumption has been recommended, albeit under strict regulation.

The report by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) backs up an inquiry by energy company Cuadrilla late last year, after which the company admitted culpability for the small earthquakes which measured 2.3 and 1.5 on the “local magnitude” system under which three is classed as “moderate”.

Gas drilling by Cuadrilla at the Preese Hall well in north-west England was suspended in 2011 after two earthquakes in Lancashire were felt at the surface.

Hydraulic fracturing or “fracking” involves pumping water, sand and chemicals into shale rock at very high pressures in order to release the reserves of natural gas which are stored within.

Britain holds significant receivers of shale gas which is regarded as a means of providing relatively cheap energy supplies and a lucrative alternative to importing fossil fuels.

A government decision on whether to allow Cuadrilla to continue fracking is due in six weeks’ time, with ministers expected to give it the go-ahead.

But green groups and local anti-fracking groups have denounced the report and warn against possible side effects, including the contamination of groundwater supplies, air pollution and an increased risk of earthquakes.

Elsie Walker, a member of the Frack Off group that has organised protests at Cuadrilla rigs and rallies in London, said: “This report is a seriously dangerous distraction. People need to understand that the wave of unconventional gas development that is threatening the British Isles will bring with it far greater consequences than a number of small earthquakes.”

“Even within the narrow context of earthquakes, this report misses all the real issues such as sub-surface damage to wells causing them to leak, the much larger earthquakes seen in the US as a result of widespread shale gas development and the potential effects on sensitive infrastructure like nuclear power stations and railway lines.”

Such criticism of the process is not confined to the UK. In the US, shale gas has scaled up rapidly to account for around a quarter of the country’s natural gas extraction, but so has the opposition to fracking following the release of the 2010 documentary “Gasland”. This showed residents of a small town in Colorado setting alight tap water they claimed was soured by nearby oil industry activity. Then in 2012 a whistleblower claimed fracking could poison New York’s drinking water. Such concerns have seen France and Bulgaria ban fracking.

From daily The Morning Star in Britain:

Grovelling Tory peer sorry for ‘no threat’ fracking claim

Tuesday 30 July 2013

Tory peer Lord Howell frantically apologised today for suggesting that fracking could take place in north-east England without any impact on the surrounding environment.

He sparked indignation during Lords Questions after saying: “Would you accept that it could be a mistake to think of and discuss fracking in terms of the whole of the United Kingdom in one go?

“But there are large and uninhabited and desolate areas. Certainly in part of the North East where there’s plenty of room for fracking, well away from anybody’s residence where we could conduct without any kind of threat to the rural environment.”

Speaking outside the House of Lords, Labour peer Lord Beecham, said: “Neville Chamberlain spoke of pre-war Czechoslovakia as ‘a far away country of which we know nothing’.

“Lord Howell clearly has a similar view on the North East and his comments once again highlight the Tories’ problem with the north.

“Perhaps he’s forecasting the future the North East faces as a result of government policy – a ‘largely uninhabited and desolate’ place where there’ll be few people to object.”

Related articles

• Fracking can take place in ‘desolate’ north-east England, Tory peer says (theguardian.com)
• Lord Howell: Frack In ‘Desolate’ North East (news.sky.com)
• Fracking should be carried out in ‘desolate’ North East, says Lord Howell (hartlepoolmail.co.uk)
• Peer apology over North East remark (bbc.co.uk)
• Fracking OK for North East – peer (bbc.co.uk)
• Fracking’s fine in desolate North-East, claims peer (standard.co.uk)
• Chrissie Hynde’s daughter arrested after supergluing herself to her boyfriend during protests against fracking (thisismoney.co.uk)
• Home of fracking firm boss is ‘perfect’ place for shale gas drilling (mirror.co.uk)
• Shale gas: Co-op is major corporate backer of anti-fracking movement (telegraph.co.uk)
• Fracking firm begins tests at Balcombe oil site as protests enter ninth day (theguardian.com)