Borehole plan for North York Moors

AIM-listed oil and gas exploration company Egdon Resources is set to seek permission to dig an exploratory borehole in the North York Moors National Park.

If granted, the borehole will be drilled near Westerdale.

The North York Moors National Park Authority will also be asked to approve the building of an access road to the site, on land south of Broad Gate Farm.

If permission is granted, this will be the second exploratory borehole that Egdon will have drilled in the area. 

The first, in 2006, did not find commercial quantities of gas and the site has since been restored to farmland.

If commercially-viable quantities of gas are found, planning permission will be sought so it can be exploited.

Mark Abbott, Egdon’s managing director, said the company planned to hold a public exhibition in Westerdale Village Hall on March 16 to give local residents the chance to view the plans and discuss them with the Egdon team.

“We definitely want to get feedback from residents and other stakeholders before we submit the planning application,” he said.

The company expects the exploratory drilling operation to last for no more than six weeks, after which the rig and associated equipment will be dismantled. 

However, the concrete base will remain while the results of the drilling are analysed.