Cuadrilla makes headway with UK fracking project
It's taken seven years, but hydraulic fracturing is set to be resumed in northern England
The UK government's decision, announced on 24 July, to allow hydraulic fracturing (fracking) in a shale gas well in England for the first time since 2011 represents a hard-fought victory for the drillers, but doesn't signal the start of a shale gas rush just yet. Privately-owned Cuadrilla now has final government consent to frack one of two wells It has already drilled at its Preston New Road site in Lancashire, north-west England, and plans to apply for consent to frack the second well soon. Among other would-be fracking firms to take heart from the decision is Third Energy, which is 95% owned by banking group Barclays. The company is waiting for government approval to start test fracking a
Also in this section
1 April 2026
Golden Pass’s startup offers QatarEnergy a timely boost but may also force a difficult choice between honouring disrupted contracts and capitalising on soaring spot LNG prices
1 April 2026
It is not a case of if or when, but the length and magnitude of economic damage from elevated oil prices
1 April 2026
The US-Iran conflict demonstrates the need for diversification in several senses of the word. It also exposes the limits of Washington applying pressure on major oil and gas producers it considers geopolitical adversaries
31 March 2026
Disappointing results in its bidding round are a reality check for Libya, and global exploration generally
