New evidence from North Yorkshire demonstrates the unreliability of promises made by Canadian fracking company, Connaught Oil and Gas through their local subsidiary, Rathlin Energy UK Ltd..
Third Energy have confirmed that they are prospecting for gas by hydraulic testing of the Bowland Shale deep under villages in Ryedale near Malton.
This open admission of the intention to frack for gas comes after years of promises to the contrary.
Third Energy have applied to explore for shale gas near at Kirkby Misperton.
The Ryedale Conservative MP, Anne McIntosh who also chairs the Environment Select Committee in the House of Common said,
“I am at a loss to understand how Third Energy have suddenly developed the technology, when they gave me an assurance within the last year that they themselves neither had the technology nor any intention of hydraulically fracking at depth anywhere in Ryedale.”
Elsewhere INEOS in Scotland and I-Gas in South Yorkshire have recently publicly stated their intention to frack for gas; Cuadrilla has made multiple applications to start large scale fracking operations across Lancashire.
However, in East Yorkshire, Rathlin continue to insist they are only interested in conventional oil and gas production despite have the necessary permits to test the Bowland Shale by hydraulic fracturing.
Having abandoned their first well at West Newton after gas leaks and complaints led to the Environment Agency and Health and Safety Executive forcing temporary stoppages for investigations, Rathlin now plan a series of further wells along the coast of Holderness.
The truth about Rathlin’s intentions was revealed when they applied to the Environment Agency for permission to carry out tests in the Bowland Shale in 2013.
Natural Gas Europe journal reported “Rathlin Eyes Opportunities in UK Shale Gas” on 12th March 2014, “Rathlin Energy…..is planning to gather information to determine whether the Upper Visean/Lower Namurian and the Carboniferous formations can be potentially addressed with a hydraulic fracturing programme.”
When faced with opposition from local residents and the creation of Protection camps Rathlin have repeatedly claimed they are not frackers.
Local Conservative MP Graham Stuart has given full support to Rathlin, on his own web site he said;
“The words “Rathlin” and “fracking” have no connection. Rathlin Energy are not fracking, will not frack and will not sell licences to frack at Crawberry Hill or West Newton. The company has never fracked anywhere.”
Jon Mager, local environmental campaigner, comments,
“How much longer will Graham Stuart defend Rathlin?”
“It is only a matter of time before Rathlin reveal what they have found in the Bowland shale here. Anne McIntosh has been cynically betrayed by Third Energy.”
“At least she has the honesty to admit it and stand up for her constituents. How can Graham Stuart, who supports the Government dash for gas, expect us to believe that Rathlin are not frackers when all the other oil exploration companies openly admit it.”
“Rathlin are owned by a company which specialises in fracking in Canada and Canadian accents were prominent among experts on show at the recent invitation-only meeting for residents of Aldborough.”
Anne McIntosh clearly understands what fracking means,
“There will be concern at the environment implications from this development at Kirby Misperton. At the very least, I am calling for a full environmental impact assessment to be undertaken and the details and conclusions of it to be published.”
“Local residents will want to know where the huge amounts of water required will come from and how the contaminated water will be disposed of.”
“People really will not look kindly on companies coming into Ryedale with their shaft sinkers and traffic movements to hydraulically frack at depth; potentially impacting upon tourism, leaving a legacy of spoilt landscape and ruining the countryside forever.”
