Cuadrilla ends Balcombe drilling
24 Sep 2013
Shale oil and gas developer Cuadrilla yesterday announced that it had completed exploratory drilling at its controversial site in Balcombe, West Sussex.
The firm has begun removing its drilling equipment from the oil well site and expects to complete this by Saturday 28th September, just one day after its intended date to submit a new planning application for further works at the site.
Balcombe has been the focus of sustained protests over fracking and the UK government’s support of the shale oil and gas industry.
Speaking as his company pulled out the drilling equipment, Cuadrilla chief executive Francis Egan apologised to local residents for the disruption caused by the protests.
“The well is now closed off for the coming months as Cuadrilla applies for planning permission to come back and test flow rates,” said Egan.
“We appreciate that the Balcombe community has had to bear the strain of protest, as have our on-site and support team and contractors. We commend West Sussex County Council and the Police for both facilitating peaceful protest and preserving order.”
The well was a success and we are very encouraged by the findings so far
Cuadrilla exploration director Andrew Quarles
As it announced its temporary withdrawal, Cuadrilla yesterday also published further details of its work and the results of its exploration at Balcombe.
On-site operations involved the drilling of a vertical exploration well to an approximate depth of 2,700ft, collecting 294ft of rock samples, or core, on the way.
The firm also carried out a set of advanced petrophysical logs that provide data on the characteristics of the underground rock and the fluids contained in those rocks.
As per UK requirements, cores from the vertical well have already been divided between Cuadrilla and the British Geological Survey, who maintain a record of all UK drilling.
In addition to the vertical well a horizontal well was drilled through the middle Kimmeridge Micrite, which is a band of limestone rock within the Kimmeridge Clay Formation. A total distance of some 1700ft of horizontal drilling was achieved, drilling in a direction of just south of due west under the Balcombe estate. Using geo-steering technology, the entire 1700ft was successfully drilled within the target limestone.
Along with the operational drilling success achieved at Balcombe, the well also confirmed the presence of hydrocarbons.
While further testing will be required to determine flow rates, Cuadrilla exploration director Andrew Quarles said that “the well was a success and we are very encouraged by the findings so far.”
