LONDON, March 30 (UPI) -- A British energy company said it began a controversial practice for extracting gas from shale rock in the country using small amounts of common chemicals.
Cuadrilla Resources told the Platts news service that it began fracking at a shale gas deposit in Lancashire.
The fracking process involves shooting water into shale rock to break it up and expose gas deposits. Cuadrilla said its fracking method uses water, sand and small amounts of chemicals used in household bleach.
The company said fracking would be intermittent during the next few weeks to assess the amount of gas flowing from a test well.
British climate officials said London had strong regulations in place to monitor shale gas operations like fracking.
Italian energy company Eni made its shale debut in December when it acquired nearly 760 square miles of land in Poland. Other countries in Europe, however, are reluctant to embrace the controversial natural resource.
The International Energy Agency said global gas reserves could have a lifespan of more than 250 years through unconventional gas reserves, including shale
