Fracking halted in Lancashire again after second earthquake in three days

Fracking has been paused at a site in Lancashire after the second earthquake in the space of three days.

A series of small tremors were detected at the Preston New Road site, peaking at a magnitude of 0.9 which meant operations had to stop.

Readings above 0.5 are ranked “red” on the traffic light system used to monitor these events, and mean fracking must be suspended immediately.

Fossil fuel exploration company Cuadrilla began pumping again at the site this week for the first time since October, when small tremors meant activity had to be repeatedly paused.

Within days of starting again, a minor earthquake of 1.5 magnitude struck – the largest to hit the site since shale gas exploration began this year.

A spokesperson from Cuadrilla said: “A series of micro seismic events in Blackpool have been recorded on the British Geological Survey (BGS) website today 14 December.”

“The largest recorded was 0.9ML (local magnitude) at about 2pm. This occurred whilst we were hydraulically fracturing at the Preston New Road exploration site.

“Detected by Cuadrilla’s sophisticated monitoring system, and verified by the BGS, it will be classed as a ‘red’ event under the traffic light system operated by the Oil and Gas Authority.

“Cuadrilla has paused and will continue to monitor micro seismicity for at least 18 hours after the event was recorded, in line with the traffic light system regulations. Well integrity has been checked and verified.”

Environmental groups fiercely oppose fracking, which they say contradicts the government's commitment to cutting down on fossil fuels.

However, energy minister Claire Perry has said she sees shale gas as a key component in the UK's transition away from high-polluting fossil fuels.

Green activists have repeatedly attempted to block fracking at the Lancashire site, but in October a judge ruled that the process posed no more than a "medium risk".

Concerns have been raised about the frequent seismic activity at fracking sites, but Cuadrilla has reassured the public that the quakes do not present a safety hazard.

The company cited research from the University of Liverpool to compared the larger tremor that struck this week to "dropping a melon".

Responding to the news of more earthquakes this week, Friends of the Earth campaigner Tony Bosworth said: “It appears that they cannot frack without triggering tremors".

"And instead of acknowledging that fracking needs to end, Cuadrilla are instead urging for regulations around earthquakes to be relaxed."

A moratorium was placed on fracking for seven years after two quakes of magnitude 2.3 and 1.5 struck in 2011 at Cuadrilla's Lancashire site.