Derbyshire County Council : Steps taken towards shale gas test drilling application

5 January 2017

Steps are being taken by oil and chemical firm INEOS towards applying for planning permission to explore shale gas reserves by drilling on an area of land in North East Derbyshire.

The request means we're required it to express a formal opinion on whether a planning application for potential drilling would require a statutory environmental impact assessment.

The land is privately−owned, off Bramleymoor Lane, between the villages of Apperknowle and Marsh Lane, near Eckington.

INEOS is one of the companies licensed by the Oil and Gas Authority to extract gas from shale deep in the ground which would involve hydraulic fracturing or 'fracking'. This refers to the process of injecting water and chemicals at high pressure to create tiny cracks so the gas can flow up a well to the surface and be collected.

The normal planning process has to be followed, so planning permission is required from our planning committee for each stage. There are three main stages.

Stage 1 − Exploration

This involves building a drilling rig and drilling vertically, deep into the ground to find out how much gas is in the shale. This does not involve fracking.

Stage 2 − Appraisal

This involves using the rig to carry out test fracking to see how the gas flows out of the shale.

Stage 3 − Production

This involves applying for planning permission to set up a full-time commercial fracking operation. If the company gained planning permission, these works would take several years to complete.

Our Strategic Director for Economy, Transport and Communities, Mike Ashworth said:

'If INEOS applies for planning permission to carry out further investigations at this site it would be the first application of its kind in Derbyshire.

'The county council has a legal obligation to decide on planning applications about fracking in Derbyshire.

'Our planning committee considers each planning application on its individual merits and is impartial. As with any other planning application, each planning decision it makes is based on objective analysis of evidence, taking into account local and national planning policies and the relevant comments of official consultees − such as parish councils − and the public.'

He added:

'We're committed to making information available to the public on our website every step of the way throughout the planning process.'

Find out more about INEOS' initial proposal for the site off Bramleymoor Lane.