Cuadrilla demobolises fracking equipment

Fracking equipment at Cuadrilla’s Preston New Road site near Blackpool is being “demobolised”, the company has announced.

And it says no further fracking will take place before its current planning permission for the site runs out at the end of November.

The energy exploration company’s operations on the site have been suspended since August after a series of tremors – including one that measured 2.9 in magnitude.

Any tremor measuring 0.5 or above means fracking must be temporarily stopped while tests are carried out.

Cuadrilla has confirmed it is continuing to assist the Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) on a series of technical studies arising out of the August incident.

In a statement it said: “A timeframe has not been agreed with the OGA for this work to be completed and further hydraulic fracturing will not take place at Preston New Road before current planning permission for fracturing expires at the end of November.”

However, Cuadrilla has also announced it is to begin flow testing its second horizontal shale gas well at what it describes as “the UK’s flagship hydraulic fracturing site.”