Fracking halted at Lancashire site for third time after biggest earth tremor yet

Energy firm Cuadrilla says 'red event' is still too small to cause any harm

Fracking has once again been stopped at a gas exploration site in Lancashire after another earth tremor was detected.

It marks the third time operations have been paused at the Preston New Road site since drilling began there two weeks ago.

Energy firm Cuadrilla restarted operations on Monday after an earthquake, recorded as 0.8 magnitude by the British Geological Survey (BGS), brought proceedings to a halt on Friday.

But a spokesman for the firm said work had been paused as another seismic event was detected at about 11.30am on Monday.

At 1.1 magnitude, it marks the biggest tremor to take place there since fracking began in mid-October.

In a statement the company said: “This will be classed as a ‘red’ event as part of the traffic light system operated by the Oil and Gas Authority, but as we have said many times, this level is way below anything that can be felt at surface and a very long way from anything that would cause damage or harm.”

The first halt on fracking at the site came just over a week after operations had begun there following a legal challenge by environmental campaigners which failed to block the drilling.

In the first instance Cuadrilla chose to pause as a precaution, as the initial tremor measured just 0.4, making it an “amber” event.

However, procedures were suspended again on Friday after a 0.8 event struck, which was then followed by another tremor of similar magnitude within 24 hours.

Any tremor measuring 0.5 or above means fracking must legally be put on hold while tests are carried out.

“In line with regulations, hydraulic fracturing has paused for 18 hours now, during which seismicity will continue to be closely monitored by ourselves and the relevant regulators,” said the Cuadrilla spokesperson.

“Well integrity has been checked and verified.”

Anti-fracking campaigners have passionately opposed the site at Lancashire, which marks the first time fracking has taken place in the UK in seven years.

They have argued that besides the risk of seismic activity, extraction of shale gas poses risks of water contamination and locks the UK in to a future of fossil fuel dependence at a time when green energy should be a priority.

The BGS has pointed out that seismic events with magnitudes of less than two are not usually felt, and experts say that the occurrence of smaller events does not necessarily mean larger ones will follow.

In 2011 fracking was temporarily banned after two Lancashire tremors – one of which registered a magnitude of 2.3 – were attributed to shale gas test drilling.

Public approval of fracking is low, and many have opposed what they see as government plans to “fast track” new projects by speeding up planning applications.

Green MEP Keith Taylor said the latest news showed the “hugely negative impacts” it was having on the community.

“The reality of fracking will do little to win over the majority of Brits who already oppose the government’s decision to try and fast track the process across the country,” he said.