Fracking presentation well-received by Blackpool business leaders

By Lancashire For Shale

03 Jun 2019

Lancashire For Shale chair Lee Petts delivered an informative and entertaining presentation to delegates at the latest gathering of the Blackpool Business Leader's Group (BBLG) which took place at the Grand Hotel in the seaside resort on Friday 31st May 2019.

Lee patiently explained how the controls on induced seismicity (micro earthquakes caused by the fracking process) risked stifling the shale gas industry, and could deny Lancashire the the economic opportunities it offers. The Traffic Light System, as it is known, means operators have to stop working for 18 hours at a time if earth tremors of just 0.5 ML (local magnitude) are detected, and that this very low trigger threshold is proving unworkable and scientifically unsound.

He pointed out how the rules were first introduced by the then Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Ed Davey MP, who, in 2012, said that the levels were set intentionally low but that they were temporary and would be reviewed in light of emerging evidence - something the govement has since failed to do, despite the evidence now being available as a result of Cuadrilla's fracking activity on the Fylde in the last quarter of 2018.

Using an industrial tape measure, and with the aid of five audience volunteers, Lee set about putting the 0.5 ML threshold into perspective by highlighting how the wells at Preston New Road are so deep that they could accomodate the Blackpool Tower and London's Shard stacked atop each other vertically, with three of the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, stacked on top of those.

He explained how fracking takes place at depths of around 2.5 km and that, by the time the energy from a 0.5 ML tremor at that depth has dissipated upwards, through over a mile of rock, the surface impact is negligible.

Lee then illustrated the surface impacts of a 1.5 ML tremor at 2.5 km using comparisons developed by the University of Liverpool. As four of his volunteers watched closely, a fifth dropped a honey dew melon on the floor from a height of about 1 metre to see what effect it would have on a bowl of standing water; it was clear that all observers were underwhelmed.

Lee used the demonstrations to clearly make the case that a review of the Traffic Light System is greatly needed, given that it appears to be providing protection from risks that are immaterial whilst set at such a low level.

Delegates were shocked to learn that, whilst seismicity linked to shale gas extraction is being tightly controlled, a deep geothermal project in Cornwall - that involves materially similar drilling and fracking processes - is permitted to operate with no government-mandated earthquake controls despite the developer warning that it would likely be responsible for tremors of 4.0 ML and above (thousands of times more powerful than a 0.5 ML tremor because the Richter Scale is logarithmic) and that these would be felt by local residents.

Lee pointed out that this difference in regulatory stance is very problematic, particularly given that the Regulator's Code says regulation must be consistent, risk-based and proportionate. 

He concluded by outlining how further delays to UK shale gas extraction risked locking the country into higher emission imports for longer, and left delegates to think about how, if it can renege on its promises to the shale gas industry, the government could do just the same to any other sector, potentially impacting any and all businesses in the room.

Enjoyed this? Read more from Lancashire For Shale

Latest news

1

CMAC Group appoints Matthew Ratcliffe as chief operating officer Matthew Ratcliffe CMAC

CMAC Group appoints Matthew Ratcliffe as chief operating officer

03 Apr 2025

2

For sale signs at The Villa Villa Wrea Green has been brought to market (Image credit: The Villa Wrea Green)

For sale signs at The Villa

02 Apr 2025

3

Montane group expands with new Lancashire hub Anthony Rae Scott Murcott And Adam Lee

Montane group expands with new Lancashire hub

02 Apr 2025

4

Trio of wins for Lancaster brand and digital consultancy Tom Grattan MD and Daniel Wallace

Trio of wins for Lancaster brand and digital consultancy

02 Apr 2025

5

College excellence highlighted in Ofsted report Fazal Dad

College excellence highlighted in Ofsted report

02 Apr 2025

Pc Prestonmacan Gif980x120 March
Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
Lancashire Net Zero Carbon Conference
Net Zero Carbon Social 1200px
Networking
18 Jun 2025

Lancashire Net Zero Carbon Conference

Crow Wood Hotel & Spa Resort, Burnley, BB12 0RT

08:30 - 13:00

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

RISE - The Academy for Female Leaders and Managers
WENDY BOWERS RISE Illustrstion copy.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
02 Apr 2025 - 08 Oct 2025

RISE - The Academy for Female Leaders and Managers

East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, Clayton le Moors, BB5 5JR

09:00 - 15:30

WHN Charity Quiz Night
Evenbrite Quiz 2025.png.png
LBV Hub Fundraisers
03 Apr 2025 - 03 Apr 2025

WHN Charity Quiz Night

The Stables Country Club, Bury , BL9 1PU

18:00 - 22:00

Chamber Breakfast Networking – April
Chamber logo - new-02.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
03 Apr 2025 - 03 Apr 2025

Chamber Breakfast Networking – April

The Dukes Theatre, Lancaster, LA1 1QE

08:00 - 10:00

Lancashire Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-880395853-4862066883-1-original.20241022-091152-2.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Exhibitions
04 Apr 2025 - 04 Apr 2025

Lancashire Business Expo 2025

Sir Tom Finney Sports Centre, Preston, PR1 2HE

09:00 - 15:00

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire
LBV Hub Networking
24 Apr 2025 - 24 Apr 2025

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire

Stanley House, Blackburn, BB2 7NP

11:30 - 14:15

People Power: Exclusive Event Series
Stay ahead in 2025.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
29 Apr 2025 - 29 Apr 2025

People Power: Exclusive Event Series

People's History Museum, Manchester, M3 3ER

17:00 - 21:00

Planning for the future + navigating Inheritance Tax changes
Planning for the future + navigating Inheritance Tax changes for website.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
01 May 2025 - 01 May 2025

Planning for the future + navigating Inheritance Tax changes

Stanley House Hotel, Mellor, Blackburn, BB2 7NP, Blackburn, BB2 7NP

08:00 - 10:30

A night at the races
1.png.png
LBV Hub Dinners / Balls
02 May 2025 - 02 May 2025

A night at the races

Morecambe FC, Morecambe, LA4 4TB

19:00 - 23:59

Amber River True Bearing quarterly investment seminar
LBV Hub Seminars
22 May 2025 - 22 May 2025

Amber River True Bearing quarterly investment seminar

Cottons Hotel & Spa , Knutsford, WA16 0SU

16:00 - 18:00

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more Lbv121 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin