Methane drilling may get the go-ahead on Shropshire farmland
Methane drilling could take place in Shropshire under plans put forward by an energy company.
Dart Energy has approached Shropshire Council to check whether an environmental impact survey would be required for an exploratory borehole on farmland in Dudleston, Ellesmere.
The borehole, which would require separate planning permission, would be used to analyse the coal structure. The firm said it intended to "revive" a bid to drill for coal bed methane.
Planning permission to create a test borehole at the site was granted in 2010, but expired last year. The process involves drilling down to a coal seam and then siphoning off water to stimulate the flow of methane as a source of energy.
Coal bed methane drilling has still attracted opposition at other sites in the UK, if not on the same scale as fracking.
