FRACKING licences have been awarded to energy giants, giving them the opportunity to frack on any land in Knutsford, including Tatton Park.


The Oil & Gas Authority (OGA) – the UK’s oil and gas regulator – announced on Thursday, December 17, that 159 onshore blocks under the 14th Onshore Oil and Gas Licensing Round are being formally offered to some energy firms.


These blocks are being incorporated into 93 onshore licences and one of the firms, INEOS, has been awarded three licences in Cheshire, with one of them covering Knutsford, going from Altrincham down to Goostrey.


The other two license areas cover Northwich and surrounding villages, and Winsford.


Following the announcement, INEOS stated it will share four per cent of revenues with homeowners, landowners directly above wells and two per cent to the wider communities.


Jim Ratcliffe, INEOS chairman, said: “We are delighted with today’s announcement. The UK government has demonstrated it is determined to move forward with this exciting new industry. This is the start of a Shale gas revolution that will transform manufacturing in the UK.


“INEOS has the skills to safely extract the gas and we have already committed to both fully consult and to share the rewards with the local communities.”


Other blocks in the region, which are believed to include Middlewich, have also been awarded to a separate firm called IGAS.


The licenses that have been awarded - a Petroleum Exploration and Development Licence (PEDL) - does not itself give any direct permission for operations to begin.


A PEDL grants the licensee exclusivity over an area of land for onshore hydrocarbon exploration, appraisal and extraction.

 

Andy Samuel, OGA chief executive, said: “I am pleased that the 14th Onshore Round attracted strong interest and a high quality of proposed work programmes. This round enables a significant amount of the UK’s shale prospects to be taken forward to be explored and tested.


“Upon acceptance of these offers, applicants will be issued with licences and will be able to begin planning their future strategies for exploration activities. These will be subject to further local planning, safety, environmental and other authorisations.”