Fracking: Reaction and debate

On Monday, members of North Yorkshire County Council's planning committee voted 7-4 in favour of the plans, which will see gas company Third Energy fracture deep shale rock, thousands of metres underground, to explore its commercial gas potential. It will be the first onshore fracking in the UK since 2011.

Demonstrators outside County Hall, where the meeting was taking place, expressed shock and dismay at the decision.

The application received 4,375 objections, 36 letters of support and nine comments which didn't have a stance either way.

After the meeting, Sue Gough from Frack-Free Ryedale made a vow to keep fighting.

"Today we resolve to continue to fight to remain free from fracking, to protect our communities, our beautiful countryside, our air and water, and to protect the future of the planet," she said.

Over a full two-day meeting, hundreds of speeches were heard by the planning committee, the vast majority of which from people objecting to the proposal.

At the start of the meeting, chairman of the planning committee Councillor Peter Sowray said: "This is by far the most controversial planning application we've ever had to deal with."

But he also warned that they would be focusing on the application: "It is not for us to decide county policy or national policy on fracking."

The county council's planning officer had recommended approval of the plans as they found no material reason to refuse them, and the committee voted in line with this recommendation.

Councillor Robert Heseltine, an independent member from Skipton, moved to approve the application after the planning officer had presented her report. Councillor Heseltine said: "Members can do none other than rely on the professionalism of the national agencies." His motion was seconded by Councillor David Blades.

However one committee member, Councillor John Blackie, said he thought that the "massive weight of public objections is, in my view, is a material consideration".

The approval means that Third Energy can begin a phased process at Kirby Misperton, beginning with a test frack to ascertain commercial viability.

If it does prove viable, the production stage is projected to last about nine years.

One of the youngest protestors at County Hall    Picture: Jean Illingworth

Fracking company still has 'lots of work to do'

THIRD Energy has said that there is still "lots of work to do" to discharge environmental and planning conditions before it can begin test-fracking for shale gas at Kirby Misperton.

Speaking to press after the meeting, Rasik Valand, chief executive of Third Energy, said that the company are not yet sure if the Bowland shale rock is commercially viable. He said that it would be "many months" before work begins at the well.

UK Onshore Oil and Gas (UKOOG), an industry representation body, welcomed the committee's decision, saying it "corroborates the positive planning recommendation made by the planning officer and the approval of all environmental permits by the Environment Agency".

Ken Cronin, of the group, said: "UKOOG welcomes the decision that has been taken by North Yorkshire County Council, which helps to dispel many of the misleading claims that have been made about this application, as well as the process of hydraulic fracturing more generally.

"We look forward to Third Energy being able to conduct a test to see how much gas is under this area of North Yorkshire to power and heat homes and businesses."

During the meeting, those in favour of the application sought to provide reassurance and address the concerns that had been raised by anti-fracking speakers earlier on.

John Dewar, operations director at Third Energy, said: "The science is well-understood. The equipment and procedures have gotten safer."

He ended with a quote from Winston Churchill: "The truth is incontrovertible. Malice may attack it, ignorance may deride it, but in the end, there it is."

Dr Phil Ham, a hydrogeologist and director of North Yorkshire-based firm EnvireauWater, told the committee that risks to water underground is virtually zero.

He said the zones that will be fracked are around two vertical kilometres below groundwater systems that should be protected.

Concerns about potential earthquakes were also addressed.

Andy Mortimer, subsurface director of Third Energy, said they have comprehensively mapped the sub-surface of the Kirby Misperton area.

"We have an excellent 3D seismic survey. The well at KM8 is drilled a safe distance from a fault," he said.

Third Energy can now begin a phased process at Kirby Misperton, beginning with a test frack to ascertain commercial viability. If it does prove viable, the production stage is projected to last about nine years.

Aerial of the wellsite at Kirbymisperton

'We will keep fighting'

PROTESTERS were left dejected after fracking plans were given the green light by councillors.

Although, Third Energy has been producing gas at the Kirby Misperton site for 20 years, its application to explore deeper rock layers has sparked widescale opposition.

As well as thousands of written objections by individuals, town councils, parish councils and the district council, nearly 80 speakers pleaded with North Yorkshire Council's planning committee to reject the application.

Frank Colenso, of Frack-Free Ryedale, told the committee: “You are being asked to preside over a David and Goliath moment.” He described the large numbers of anti-fracking speakers at the meeting as “democracy in action,” and told councillors: “You are not legally bound to follow the recommendations of the planning officer.”

But after councillors gave the go-ahead for the scheme, campaigners reacted angrily, with many vowing to keep fighting other fracking applications.

Daisy Sands, Greenpeace’s head of energy campaign, said: “Given the pro-fracking bias from central government, there was an air of inevitability about this bitterly disappointing decision.

"But this isn’t over and people will continue to raise their valid concerns and keep fighting against fracking.”

Green MEP Keith Taylor said: “The best chance of limiting the potentially catastrophic effects of climate change is by leaving fossil fuels in the ground.

“Fracking is an environmentally reckless distraction from the work that must be done to build a sustainable future based on a low-carbon, democratic energy system.”

Frack-Free Ryedale, which has protested against the application, also launched a “People’s Declaration” in the wake of the decision.

Group member Sue Gough, who lives near the wellsite, read the declaration out.

She said: “We are extremely disappointed that North Yorkshire County Council has not listened to the overwhelming wishes of the locally elected representatives of Ryedale and local people and has approved Third Energy’s application to frack in our county. This decision is not in our name.”

Protestors at County Hall      Picture: Jean Illingworth

What happens next

THIRD Energy has said that fracking will not commence for “many months”, as they have to work to meet conditions set by the Environment Agency.

When it does begin, they will hydraulically fracture the KM8 well in five separate zones to see if the gas they say they know is there can be made to flow.

These zones are at depths of about 10,000 feet below the surface. If the gas flows after the fracturing, it will be tested to measure pressure and rate of flow.

The fracking itself will take about eight weeks to complete, including a two-week preparation phase and a six-week period of fracturing.

When it is complete, Third Energy say that all the equipment will be removed from site. If the right conditions are met and the gas flows, Third Energy will produce gas from the wellsite for up to nine years.

“HYDRAULIC fracturing”, or fracking, is the process of injecting a mix of water, sand and chemicals down deep wells in order to create pressure to fracture rock. If this rock layer has the right properties, it releases methane gas, which is captured and pumped back up out the earth.

The water mix is also taken out and disposed of. This liquid, one of the key points of controversy during the planning process, is known as “flowback”. It is controversial as it can contain fluids and potentially toxic minerals that were released from the fractured rock.

In the case of the Kirby Misperton well, the rock layer they will be fracking is the Bowland shale, around 10,000 metres under the earth.

The application’s journey:

July 2014 - Seismic surveys are commissioned by Third Energy to explore shale rock for gas.

November 2014 - Third Energy first announce their intention to apply to frack their ‘KM8’ well, which had been drilled in 2013.

May 2015 - Third Energy submit their application.

June 2015 - The application fails county council validation. Third Energy decide to resubmit.

July 2015 - The resubmitted application fails validation for the second time. The county council finally validate it on its third attempt.

September 2015 - Ryedale MP Kevin Hollinrake visits America to explore the fracking industry. On his return he says he is in favour of the application.

November 2015 - The county council request more information from Third Energy, deferring the decision for several months.

January 2016 - NYCC delay the decision again, saying they need more information.

February 2016 - a leaked private letter from Conservative ministers to the chancellor George Osborne revealed that one of their “top priorities” is ensuring that environmental and planning provisions do not create barriers to gas exploration.

March 2016 - Ryedale District Council vote to recommend rejection of the application

April 2016 - The Environment Agency grant permits for fracking by Third Energy

May 2016 - North Yorkshire County Council approve the application to frack at KM8, Kirby Misperton.