Peter Lomas is seeking an injunction to prevent activity at the West Newton A wellsite
A view of the West Newton gas site.(Image: Reabold Resources)
A campaigner opposing a controversial gas drilling site near a Holderness hamlet has launched a fresh legal challenge. Lawyers acting for Peter Lomas, part of the West Newton Said No group, have applied to the High Court for an interim injunction halting planned works at the West Newton A wellsite, reported to be coming in November.
In recent weeks, Rathlin Energy – a joint venture partnership operating the site – has said it will carry out “well simulation”, an activity similar to hydraulic fracking. Rathlin says it understands residents’ concerns but has stressed the method is not high-volume hydraulic fracking.
The legal challenge by Mr Lomas, who earlier sought a judicial review against the Environment Agency, focuses on his concerns about groundwater contamination and risk of seismic activity brought on by the activity. An earlier Gofundme fundraising page set up in May in support of his efforts has so far attracted more than £5,000.
Mr Lomas said: “Rathlin’s constant stubbornness and unyielding attitude has left me no choice other than to seek this injunction against them. At each and every point throughout the legal process so far they have shut the door or built a wall to any compromise, and it seems are intent on carrying out their plans in an attempt to subjugate the legal process.
“We have seen this behaviour before from them when they were operating the well sites earlier, so it comes as no real surprise, but this attitude needs to be stopped, we cannot allow our precious land, air and water to become unusable in the industry’s attempts to extract the unextractable. Communities are sick of being treated like guinea pigs, and it needs to stop now.”
Earlier this year, Rathlin said oil and gas regulator the North Sea Transition Authority and the Environment Agency had approved its hydraulic fracture plan which is required for the simulation process which uses fluid to open fractures within the reservoir and then prop the fractures open using sand.
When announcing the activity, the company said: “Rathlin understands residents’ concerns surrounding the proposed well stimulation operation, but it’s important to be clear that the proposed activity at West Newton is not high-volume hydraulic fracturing (‘fracking’) for shale gas as defined by in the Infrastructure Act and by the Government’s moratorium. The approved activity is a small-scale well stimulation technique, used in conventional carbonate reservoirs, such as the Kirkham Abbey Carbonate reservoir at West Newton.
“This operation uses significantly lower volumes and pressures and is materially different in scale, design and subsurface behaviour from shale gas fracturing operations.”
An Environment Agency spokesperson said: “We granted an environmental permit variation to Rathlin Energy following a public consultation on the Agency’s preliminary decision which took place at the end of last summer. We will always put the environment first and will only issue permits when we are satisfied the operator has appropriate measures in place to operate without causing harm to the environment, human health or wildlife.”
Meanwhile, a schism has opened between the joint venture partners behind Rathlin Energy. Minority shareholders Union Jack Oil raised concerns about Mr Lomas’ bid to get a judicial review and said the West Newton site – which was granted planning permission in 2013 – is yet to start commercial production.
Reabold Resources, the majority partner in Rathlin which recently made a takeover bid for Union Jack Oil, said the firm’s new board wanted to characterise West Newton as a risk to its shareholders. Reabold said: “Reabold considers this position inconsistent with Union Jack’s longstanding investment in West Newton and the repeated statements made by the former Union Jack board regarding the significance of the project.
“West Newton remains one of the largest onshore conventional gas and condensate discoveries in the United Kingdom. Significant technical work has been undertaken to understand historic well performance and to design the forthcoming WNA-2 recompletion programme.
“The New Board’s comments regarding reservoir performance, permitting matters and future development activity are largely speculative. The forthcoming programme is specifically intended to further evaluate the productivity and commercial potential of the reservoir.
“Importantly, the new board provides no independent technical report to support its assertions regarding the project’s prospects.”
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