Fracking can be developed while ‘preserving natural beauty’, study finds

To accompany the findings, a video demonstrating the low impact of shale has been created by UKOOG and can be viewed here.

“This study shows how shale gas can be developed in the UK while preserving the natural beauty of the British countryside,” said UKOOG chief executive Ken Cronin.

The Developing Shale Gas and Maintaining the Beauty of the British Countryside report also demonstrates that the installation of 400 drilling pads could reduce the UK dependency on imported gas by as much as 50%.

According to British Gas, 38% of the gas used in the UK comes from European pipelines, while a further 17% is tankered in as liquefied natural gas (LNG).

“We need to develop the gas resources under our feet to avoid the nightmare scenario of having to import four fifths of our gas by 2035,” Cronin added.