Cuadrilla pulls out of Preese Hall fracking site
FRACKING company Cuadrilla Resources has decided to pull out of one of its wells in Lancashire.
In a statement the group said it will not carry out any further work at Preese Hall, near Weeton. In October it said it was pulling out of the Anna’s Road site in St Annes.
Preese Hall was the test site linked to two minor earthquakes in the Blackpool area two years ago. The tremors prompted a moratorium on fracking that was lifted a year ago.
The process involves pumping fluid, largely composed of millions of gallons of water and sand, at high pressure into the ground to release gas held in shale rock formations. Environmentalists argue the technique can pollute the water table.
Flowback water from Preese Hall was analysed by the Environment Agency which found “high levels” of sodium, chloride, bromide and iron, as well as elevated values of lead, magnesium, zinc chromium and arsenic compared with the local mains water.
In a statement Cuadrilla said: “As part of its ongoing evaluation of its exploration sites in Lancashire, Cuadrilla has today announced that no further work will take place at its Preese Hall site, near Weeton.
“The company will apply for an extension to the current planning permission, in order to allow time to seal the well and return the site to its former condition.”
Cuadrilla has also conducted tests at Grange Hill, Singleton and Becconsall, near Banks, and is planning to seek permission to drill at a number of other, undisclosed, sites.
