Category Archives: Blog

How the frack does the oil and gas licensing system work?

To decide who drills where in the UK, the Department of Energy and Climate Change is divided into a network of blocks. Initial block licenses last for six years – enough time, according to DECC, for the developer to get planning permissions, work out the viability of the area. These Petroleum Exploration and Development Licenses […]

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Cuadrilla`s Three Casings Gambit

Anyone who has been exposed to much of Cuadrilla Resources‘ public relations campaign to persuade people that what they are doing is not very bad is likely to have come across some sort of variant of there might have been a few problems in the US but we use three casings on our wells so […]

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Cuadrilla – inside the management team

Across the Cuadrilla group it’s notable that two directors of the parent company, Cuadrilla Resouce Holdings, also appear as directors of Cuadrilla’s subsidiary companies. This would indicate they are the senior managers responsible for operations on the ground. These directors are Mark Miller and Dennis Carlton. As well as directors of CRH, Miller and Carlton […]

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When The Vale Says ‘No’, They Mean No.

Good news in Wales last night, as the Vale of Glamorgan council deferred on a planning application for a test well, after 50 protesters rallied outside the meeting. The campaign there ‘The Vale says No’ have been putting a load of pressure on the council – and it seems to be doing the trick… for […]

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I`m pissed off about this! What should I do?

So you’re pissed off about fracking but don’t know what to do about it. Forming a local anti-fracking group in your area is and excellent response. You may not immediately have all the skills and free time that are needed to really make your voice heard but if you get together with a load of […]

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Cuadrilla`s Big Gas Results: the devil in the details

Cuadrilla’s press conference and wine and dine dinner hosted for councilors of all levels last Wednesday in Blackpool was aimed at bigging up the benefits of ‘new gas’ in the UK in order to win over investors as well as the local authorities sitting on planning application boards of the proposed sites. Figures were drawn […]

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What fracking chemicals does Cuadrilla use?

The short answer to that only Cuadrilla Resources, and perhaps its contractors, know and they have not been particularly forthcoming on this question, while simultaneously proclaiming that they are being extremely open on the issue. Some information is available on Cuadrilla’s website but that does not seem to be entirely consistent with what the have […]

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Caudrilla: fracking fluids available at Tesco

In Cuadrilla’s February submission to parliament, the company points out it’s fracking fluids are found in nappies, glass cleaner, salt, and bleach. Even salad cream gets a mention. Reading the submission you’d imagine the company simply nips down to the local superstore to get its chemicals. In reality this attempt at normalising fracking fluids is […]

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