Half-mile-deep Shropshire methane drilling bid submitted
A planning application to drill for coal bed methane in the north of the county has been submitted to Shropshire Council.
If given the go-ahead the borehole would be more than half a mile deep.
Dart Energy wants permission to drill a temporary coal bed methane exploration borehole on land north west of The Brooklands, Dudleston, near Ellesmere.
The project has already sparked a series of protests,with public meetings held in both the Ellesmere area and in Oswestry.
Objectors fear any coal bed methane drilling could be the first step towards fracking, potentially compromising the water table.
Now the energy company has officially lodged its application for a temporary drilling period of not more than 60 days.
Peter Reilly , spokesman for the company, said: "The aim of the borehole is to extract core samples from the coal seams for testing of the gas content.
"It should be noted that this application relates only to this borehole and does not relate to hydraulic fracturing."
The application is for a borehole with a total depth of 830 metres – just over half a mile.
Mr Reilly said: "The drilling fluid will be water or brine with drilling starch or in some cases biodegradable viscosifiers.
"Dart Energy will use a chemically benign drilling mud to lubricate the drill bit and return drill cuttings to the drill floor."
Mr Reilly said the chemicals used in the drilling would be naturally biodegradable and water-based.
The company has also stressed that, for stability, steel pipe casing will be inserted and cemented in place to form an impermeable barrier.
The depth of the casing is anticipated to be about 280 metres.
"Following completion of the drilling operations, the steel casing of the drill hole will be cut to approximately two metres (six feet) below ground level and the borehole will be cemented to the top of the cut casing. The site will be restored to its former condition."
Once the application has been validated and registered by Shropshire County Council it will be available to the public to see and comment upon before councillors make a decision at a later date.
