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
19 March 2026
The regional crisis highlights the undervalued role of fixed pipelines in the age of tanker flexibility
18 March 2026
Rising LNG exports and AI-driven power demand have raised concerns that US gas prices could climb sharply, but analysts say abundant shale supply and continued productivity gains should keep Henry Hub within a range that preserves the competitiveness of US LNG
18 March 2026
Risks of shortages in oil products may cause world leaders to panic and make mistakes instead of letting the market do what it does best
17 March 2026
The crisis in the Middle East has put LNG’s ability to offer security and flexibility under uncomfortable scrutiny
