News 2018

REVIEWS  OF 2018 - DRILL OR DROP

​2018 In Numbers

​

​

​

2018 was a year of firsts for fracking and the campaigns against it, with successes and setbacks on both sides of the argument.

Earthquake Watch 2018

Fracking in Lancashire - tremor tracker

​Lancashire fracking earth tremor was like “dropping a bag of flour on the floor” – government report!

​Dutch Govt. ditching fracking - Channel 4 - video report on earthquake damage in Holland from Fracking

and here

Interview with Oil and Gas Regulator

Save the Fylde – Why we must keep the earthquake safety limit at 0.5 - Drill or Drop

December Highlights

​

• Women win right to appeal against UKOG protest injunction

• Councils can use climate change evidence to reject fracking, government lawyer tells High Court

• Government ignored new evidence on climate impacts of fracking – court told

• Angus begins Brockham test programme amid local questions over consent

• Government fracking policy faces more legal challenges

• IGas plans for Ellesmere Port “don’t conform to UK climate commitments” – inquiry expert

• Angus and IGas protest injunctions renewed at High Court

• Red-level tremor stops fracking as total seismic events top 50

• IGas exploration plans are “in the heart of a community”, Ellesmere Port campaigners warn

• 200 MPs calls for pension fund to divest from fossil fuels​

• 8,000+ sign letter urging PM to ban fracking

• Environmental regulator defends decision on fracking waste at Cuadrilla’s shale gas site

​

​

November Highlights

​​​

• Air pollution study exposes fracking risks, say campaigners

• Anti-fracking campaigners join protest to close five London bridges

• Spain plans switch to 100% renewable electricity by 2050

• 22 arrests after climate change blockade of energy department

• Campaigners call for tougher rules on acid use at Weald oil sites

• HSE action over escape of water from IGas injection well

• Rathlin Energy’s £33.9m debt “casts doubt” over company viability – accounts

• 15% support fracking and 31% oppose – government quarterly survey returns

• High Court blocks challenge to government statement on fracking definition

• Cuadrilla produces first shale gas from fracking site – despite “strict” earthquake rules

• Residents warn of legal action if government relaxes fracking quake rules

​

October Highlights

​​

• The shadow of Preese Hall over UK fracking regulations

• Court quashes 'excessive' sentences of fracking protesters - The Guardian

• Drill or Drop Report of the Case

• 300K+-signature petitions against government plans to fast-track fracking

• More tremors at Cuadrilla’s shale gas site after fracking finishes for the day

• Leading Surrey councillor lists challenges of working with Weald oil companies

• Fast track fracking proposals undermine democracy and bypass scrutiny, MPs told

• Judicial office launches investigation into complaint over fracking judge with alleged oil and gas ties

• What government told the shale gas industry about success, regulation, jobs and support

• Cuadrilla is to start fracking in Lancashire. But we will not give in

• As the fracking protesters show, a people’s rebellion is the only way to fight climate breakdown

• ​Shock over family connections of judge who jailed three anti-fracking campaigners

• North Yorks Tory MP vows to oppose relaxed planning rules for shale gas sites 

• Fracking earthquake rules could be relaxed – energy minister

• https://drillordrop.com/2018/10/11/communities-take-action-against-government-plans-to-fast-track-fracking/

• We have 12 years to limit climate change catastrophe, warns UN

• The IPCC global warming report spares politicians the worst details

• The frackers are back: but will there ever be a British shale gas boom?

• Does today’s climate report change the arguments on UK fracking?

• 1,000+ academics call for review of fracking protest prison sentences

• Breaking: Court blocks fracking at Cuadrilla’s Preston New Road site

• Fracking Fissures Obscure the Need to Embrace Green Technologies

September Highlights

​

• Investigation: Beauty spot oil well releases hundreds of tonnes of methane into the atmosphere

• Government warned it could lose vote over changes to shale gas planning rules

• Ryedale Tories reject government changes to fracking planning rules

• Westminster rally and debate urge government to let communities decide on fracking

• Government faces second legal challenge over new planning rules on fracking

• Breaking: Oil companies pull out of Leith Hill exploration site in Surrey

• Campaigners seek appeal - UKOG injunction

• UKOG High Court Injunction Curtailed

• UK councils invest £9bn of pension funds in fracking companies – new research

• Oil company bid for more time at Broadford Bridge backed by officials

• Another oil company sells stake in Horse Hill

• Grandmother’s “act of conscience” fracking protest led to conviction

​

​

August   Highlights

​

• Friends of The Earth call for ban on acid stimulation

• Health experts add to calls for investigation into impacts of fracking

• Cuadrilla warned over another environmental breach at Lancashire fracking site

• N Yorks Mayor to launch legal challenge to government plan to fast-track fracking

• Campaign group begins legal challenge to government planning policy on fracking

• ‘Government is using Lancashire residents as guinea pigs in a fracking impacts experiment’ – doctors

• Dame and Baroness threaten to breach Cuadrilla’s fracking protest injunction

• Domino-effect of climate events could move Earth into a ‘hothouse’ state

• Oil exploration should halt immediately in Surrey earthquake zone – geologists

• Learn suffragette lessons, say sisters found guilty of obstruction at shale gas site​

• Most Tory Councillors oppose Government plan for shale gas planning rules

• Government Report on Impacts of Fracking on air pollution delayed publication for 3 year

July  Highlights
 

• Government recruits fracking commissioner to “facilitate communication” with residents

• Government presses ahead with planning policy changes on oil and gas – despite “limited support”

• UKOG COURT INJUNCTION  Daily Updates

• UKOG injunction court hearing ends – judgement reserved -  July 6th

• Oil company seeks “unprecedented injunction based on flawed case”, women tell the High Court - July 4th

• Slow walking protests are “unreasonable and wrongful”, oil company tells High Court - July 3rd

• Six women go to court in challenge to UKOG's injunction- July 2nd

• Surrey earthquake mystery: Monitors installed near fossil fuel drilling sites

• Church Of England Divests from Fossil Fuel Companies - The Independent

• Fast tracking plans for fracking prompt criticism - The Independent July 5th

• Local authorities are best placed to decide on fracking plans – MPs report

​
 

June Highlights

• Government recruits fracking commissioner to “facilitate communication” with residents

• Government presses ahead with planning policy changes on oil and gas – despite “limited support”

• UKOG COURT INJUNCTION  Daily Updates

• UKOG injunction court hearing ends – judgement reserved -  July 6th

• Oil company seeks “unprecedented injunction based on flawed case”, women tell the High Court - July 4th

• Slow walking protests are “unreasonable and wrongful”, oil company tells High Court - July 3rd

• Six women go to court in challenge to UKOG's injunction- July 2nd

• Surrey earthquake mystery: Monitors installed near fossil fuel drilling sites

• Church Of England Divests from Fossil Fuel Companies - The Independent

• Fast tracking plans for fracking prompt criticism - The Independent July 5th

• Local authorities are best placed to decide on fracking plans – MPs report

• Minister urged to delay fracking in Lancashire until emergency plans are published
• Grandparents lock-on in anti-fracking protest at government department

• BP is now actively working with UK government to sidestep sanctions to frack in Russia

• Fracking causes harm and violates human rights – interim opinion of international tribunal -drill or drop link here

• UKOG releases oil resource estimates as it considers change in company status

• Judge grants temporary injunction against protests at Lancashire fracking sit.

• Campaigners call for fracking moratorium in former mining areas after new report reveals shale gas plans overlooked key geological data - drill or drop link here.

• Parliamentary group to investigate impacts of commercial fracking in UK led by Tory MP who opposed fracking in his constituency
  
  
  May Highlights

• Challenging The Licence to Drill

• Government Rejects National Setback Distances for Fracking Sites

• Is shale gas nationally important and should decisions be taken out of local control?

• Government announces plans to speed up fracking decisions in England + detailed reaction

• Fast-track fracking plan by the government prompts criticism
  
  
  April Highlights

• Oil company withdraws key clauses in protest injunction

• Shale gas companies threaten legal challenge over minimum gap between homes and fracking sites

• Live updates: Inspector backs buffer zones between N Yorks shale gas sites and homes plus local fracking definition

• Picture post: Nearly all gone – Third Energy empties Kirby Misperton fracking site

• Wildlife Trusts oppose fracking.

• Europa’s Leith Hill oil drilling plans contain “significant errors, inconsistencies and omissions” – review

• UKOG suspends Broadford Bridge and announces two new Weald drill sites

• INEOS criticised for “bullish approach” over access to land for seismic testing

• Friends of The Earth Statement on Why Fracking in the UK will not save our energy problems
  
  March Highlights

• UKOG loses access rights to Markwells Wood oil site in South Downs

• Police chiefs have agreed to public consultation on policing protests!

• Court adjourns decision on “wide-ranging” injunction against protests at UKOG oil drilling sites

• Can climate litigation save the world? The Guardian

• UKOG ordered to restore drill site at Markswells Wood after abandonment

• WATCH - BBC Report of UKOG Injunction Plan for Broadford Bridge Wellsite

• Letter we signed to the Prime Minister from Frack Free United

• Gas company’s statements about fracking impacts on wildlife “not backed up by evidence”, say experts

• UKOG seeks injunction to ban protests that aim to damage its business

• Government seeks to strengthen planning case for onshore oil and gas

• BBC Question Time : Who Should Decide on Fracking?

• “Deficiencies, omissions and insufficient surveying” – planners recommend refusal of INEOS shale gas plan in South Yorkshire greenbelt

• Estimates of UK shale gas wells “out of date”, says minister

• UK fracking backlash: seven of eight plans rejected in 2018

• Angus Energy focuses on production with release of accounts and Brockham plans
  
  February Highlights

• INEOS to legally challenge Scottish Government ban on Fracking

• UKOG Shares drop losing £50m after Broadford Bridge Well  formation damage

• Yorkshire landowners back National Trust in INEOS legal challenge

• TV presenters join call on Government to block oil drilling off Bournemouth

• Acidisation of wells. The Debate and how the Environment Agency and Campaigners have responded.

• Controls needed to cut risk of spills and leaks from UK shale gas industry – new research

• Meet The Yorkshire Village Fighting Fracking. Kirby Misperton

• Lancashire Campaigners are winning the fight against fracking say climate change experts
  
  
  ​January Highlights

• £43 million IWC Pension fund invested in fossil fuel portfolios.

• Offshore Licence P1916 -  UKOG publicly announces  this licence is dropped - 6 weeks after the event .

• Northern anti-fracking campaigns step up with plans for meetings and “targeted resistance”

• The Guardian View on Fracking - Keep it in the ground!

• Fracking firm Ineos leads industry lobbying to avoid green tax

• Ecotricity’s ‘Boycott the Big Six’ calls for bill payers to fight fracking with their energy bills