The Culprits

This blog aims to give a little bit of background on some of the main energy companies looking to start fracking in the UK.

Cuadrilla - Cuadrilla is an oil and gas exploration and production company formed in 2007 and based in Staffordshire with an aim to ‘recover natural resources’. They are currently pioneering natural gas exploration in the country with a main focus on the Bowland Shale basin in Lancashire. They claim that all work conducted by the company is regulated by the DECC, EA and relevant local authorities. Cuadrilla recognises that there are environmental risks associated with drilling for natural gas and have a ‘Protecting OurEnvironment’ section on their website with explanations of current and future plans to reduce impacts. 

IGas - IGas Energy Plc is an independent oil and gas exploration and production company based in London, it is the leading onshore hydrocarbon producer in the UK. They operate the largest number of onshore oil and gas wells in the UK with focus in the East Midlands. Their aim: “At IGas we want to play our part in diversifying Britain’s energy mix and reducing our reliance on imported resources.”

Dart Energy -(worst website I’ve ever seen) Dart Energy is involved in exploration and production of unconventional hydrocarbons, such as shale gas and coal seam gas (CSG). It hopes to demonstrate the potential of shale gas in the UK, particularly based around the Bowland Shale basin in Lancashire. 

In early 2014 IGas and Dart Energy joined forces to become the UK’s largest energy company in order to untap Britain’s energy potential on a bigger scale. They now cover over one million acres of potential fracking land and hope that this move further strengthens the industry and makes fracking for shale gas more viable. 

Rathlin Energy - A company that focuses on exploration and development of oil and gas reserves in the UK. Their main locations are found in Yorkshire and Northern Ireland. 

Shale Energy PLC - Shale energy is an independent and conventional onshore oil and gas exploration company with a “strong focus on safety and environmental responsibility”.