Press release

Consent granted for Balcombe conventional appraisal well

Cuadrilla has been given consent to drill a conventional appraisal well in Balcombe, West Sussex.

• From: Department of Energy & Climate Change
• Published: 25 July 2013

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

The target prospect is oil located in micrite, a type of limestone within the Kimmeridge shale formation.

DECC and the Health and Safety Executive have scrutinised Cuadrilla’s plans and the company has received the environmental permits required for this type of conventional drilling from the Environment Agency.

The company does not have consent to use hydraulic fracturing. If Cuadrilla decides in the future it wishes to frack or to conduct further tests in Balcombe, the company would need to apply for further permissions, including consent from DECC.

Published 25 July 2013