The UK government has allowed fracking to go-ahead in a landmark ruling for the shale gas industry. This will be the first time shale rock will be fracked horizontally in the UK.
What is fracking? Your need-to-know guide to fracking in the UK
Communities Secretary Sajid Javid has approved the plans for fracking at site at Lancashire's Preston New Road site, owned by the oil and gas production company, Cuadrilla.
Lancashire County Council refused permission to extract shale gas at Preston New Road and a second proposed site, Roseacre Wood, last year on grounds of noise and traffic impact. Cuadrilla was forced to appeal, though the Roseacre Wood site has not yet been given the go-ahead amid concerns over the impact on the area.
Shale rock is fracked horizontally as it is expected to yield more gas, but protestors say it uses techniques that risk the environment because of the chemicals and pressure used.
Fracking is the process of drilling down into the earth before water, sand and chemicals are injected into the rock at high pressure, which allows the gas to flow out to the head of the well. The term refers to how the rock is fractured apart by the high-pressure mixture.
Cuadrilla was forced to suspend test fracking operations near Blackpool in 2011 after two earthquakes of 1.5 and 2.2 magnitude hit the area. A study found it was “highly probable” shale gas test drilling triggered the tremors.
It is because of this that environmentalists and campaigners protest against fracking. In addition, campaigners have said potentially carcinogenic chemicals used may escape and contaminate the ground around the fracking site.
Francis Egan, the chief executive of Cuadrilla, told Good Morning Britain that fracking is necessary for the UK’s fuel shortage.
“The country needs gas. The country is running out of gas, and without some form of energy development, we’re going to end up importing all our fuel from overseas, and we’ve seen that just last week with the ridiculous situation where Scotland is importing shale gas from America, which is frankly crazy,” said Egan.
He also said the impact of a producing site is “far less, frankly, than a windfarm”.