Surveys begin at potential British fracking site

LONDON, Aug. 14 (UPI) -- As the British government looks to kick start the industry, the British Geological Survey said it's conducting baseline surveys at a new proposed fracking site.

The British Geological Survey announced it was leading a consortium tasked with a baseline environmental survey in Yorkshire, where Third Energy U.K. Gas Ltd. has submitted an application to use hydraulic fracturing at one well site.

"It is now widely acknowledged that undertaking baseline monitoring before fracking takes place is essential," Rob Ward, director of groundwater science at the BGS, said in a statement.

BGS already started environmental surveys in Lancashire, where shale pioneer Cuadrilla Resources aims to explore for natural gas using hydraulic fracturing, known also as fracking.

On Thursday, the British government said it was calling on local councils to decide on shale permits within 16 weeks of an application. British Energy and Climate Change Secretary Amber Rudd said some applications are "dragged out for months, or even years on end" at a time when the government is working to cut dependency foreign on natural gas.

BGS estimated shale basins in the country may hold more than 1.3 quadrillion cubic feet of natural gas, a level the government said could help an economy with natural gas imports on pace to increase from 45 percent of demand in 2011 to 76 percent by 2030.

Shale gas is in its infancy in the country. Environmental groups have expressed reservations about the emergence of shale exploration. BGS in its latest statement said surveys conducted before drilling begins could allay public concerns.

"Baseline characterization was not undertaken during the early stages of unconventional oil and gas development in North America and recent scientific study has highlighted that a lack of effective environmental monitoring has led to considerable public concern," it said.