Cuadrilla ramps up its Bowland shale estimates
CUADRILLA’S shale gas resource in the north west of England may be twice as large as previously thought, according to a geologist at the energy company.
Speaking at the Shale UK conference in London, Huw Clarke said that more detailed analysis suggests that the actual reserves may be much higher than original estimates of 200 trillion cubic feet.
“That was just off one well, that was ratified by the British Geological Survey (BGS), and we were very happy about that,” said Clarke, reported by the BBC.
“Since then we’ve drilled two extra wells and we’ve shot 100 square kilometres of 3D seismic information and I believe there’s closer to 330 trillion cubic feet in place just within Cuadrilla’s licence area alone.”
Last June, the BGS estimated that there is likely to be around 1,300 trillion cubic feet of shale gas underneath the Bowland Basin area in the north of England, raising hopes of a US-style shale gas boom.
Cuadrilla’s upgraded estimates came ahead of today’s landmark court ruling on whether Manchester landowners can legally remove protesters from their land, which hosts an exploratory drilling site for shale gas.
Environmental campaigners fear that discovery of the resource will lead to the use of the hydraulic fracturing technique to extract the gas, which some claim causes earth tremors.
“The [latest] estimates bring the debate on shale gas into sharp focus as the UK seeks to diversify its energy mix,” said Mike Pocock, energy and environment specialist at Pinsent Masons. “Shale gas could make a significant contribution to domestic resources.”