Cuadrilla to restart fracking at site in Lancashire

The first company to drill for shale gas in the UK says it plans to resume fracking in Lancashire.

The controversial process at the Preston New Road site involves drilling into the ground and pumping in water and chemicals to release gas.

Fracking at the company's first well was halted multiple times at the end of 2018, because of earth tremors.

Cuadrilla says it wants data from this resumed effort to help convince policymakers to relax current safety rules.

At the moment, fracking must be halted if tremors measuring 0.5ML on the Richter scale are detected - a threshold the company calls "uniquely low".

Francis Egan, Chief Executive Officer, said they are "looking forward to demonstrating over coming months that this remains an entirely safe and hugely exciting opportunity for the UK.”

Work will start at a second well under the current regulations.

Related:

• Planning permission refused for second Lancashire Fracking site

• Ineos calls for tremor limits on fracking to be raised

• Campaigners lose court challenger over controversial Lancashire fracking site

• Cuadrilla confirms the first shale gas has been produced at Little Plumpton