Cuadrilla Completes Drilling of UK’s First Horizontal Shale Gas Well
Cuadrilla revealed on the 3rd April that it has successfully completed drilling the UK’s first ever horizontal shale gas well at its exploration site at Preston New Road in Lancashire.
The well was drilled through the Lower Bowland shale at a depth of approximately 8,858 feet below ground and extends laterally for around 2,624 feet through the shale gas reservoir.
Cuadrilla confirmed that it plans to apply, “in the very near future”, to the Secretary of State for the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy for the consent to fracture the well.
Work will now begin on drilling the second horizontal shale gas exploration well, through the Upper Bowland shale.
“Our completion of the UK’s first ever horizontal shale gas well is a major milestone towards getting Lancashire gas flowing into Lancashire homes as we lead the way on UK exploration,” Francis Egan, CEO of Cuadrilla, said.
“From the data we have amassed so far, we are optimistic that, after fracturing the shale rock, natural gas will flow into this horizontal well in commercially viable quantities demonstrating that the UK’s huge shale gas resources can be safely produced and contribute to improving the UK’s energy security,” he added.
Ken Cronin, United Kingdom Onshore Oil and Gas (UKOOG) chief executive, said the completion of the UK’s first horizontal shale gas well was a major step on the road to the UK securing its own supply of natural gas for decades to come.
“When we produce our own homegrown gas onshore we will be able to reduce our dependence on costly imports, support our manufacturing industries, create a new source of tax revenue while creating local jobs and investing in local communities,” Mr Cronin said in a statement published on UKOOG’s Twitter page.
Source: Rigzone