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Surrey earthquakes: Scientists call for oil drilling ban as mysterious tremors continue to strike region

Warning comes after 12 earthquakes strike county in four months

Josh Gabbatiss
Science Correspondent
Monday 06 August 2018 15:44 BST
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Local campaigners have been protesting oil companies in Surrey after earthquakes in the area were linked with drilling operations
Local campaigners have been protesting oil companies in Surrey after earthquakes in the area were linked with drilling operations

The “swarm” of earthquakes that has plagued Surrey for months has prompted scientists to call for a temporary ban on oil drilling in the county.

Four senior geologists have highlighted the risks to public health and the environment after 12 earthquakes struck the region within four months.

They said there could be unstable geology that had not been identified when oil companies were given permission to explore for fossil fuels at several sites across Surrey.

Two of these exploration sites are located just a few miles from the earthquake epicentres.

Small earthquakes with magnitudes up to 3.0 have been recorded, with residents of Newdigate, Dorking, Horley and Charlwood reporting noticeable tremors that were compared to explosions.

In a letter to The Times, the scientists said: “The abrupt onset of the earthquake cluster recorded by the British Geological Survey [BGS] at Newdigate since April 1 requires an explanation, and gives rise to our concerns about safety.

“Oil drilling, extraction and re-injection can cause earthquakes.”

“There are two oil sites in the immediate area: Horse Hill and Brockham. A causal link with either well site cannot be ruled out, so we need the full picture for the risk assessment.”

Of particular concern to the scientists is the risk of an oil well rupturing due to an earthquake – an event that could contaminate groundwater with oil or gas.

They have called for energy secretary Greg Clark to ban drilling, testing and re-injecting of water into wells until experts understand the cause of the earthquakes.

Among the scientists signing the letter was professor Richard Selley, a petroleum geologist who has previously supported exploitation of the UK’s shale gas resources.

The precedent for a moratorium on oil extraction comes from the temporary ban on fracking in the UK that came after drilling by energy company Cuadrilla caused earthquakes near Blackpool in 2011.

However, no fracking has been authorised in Surrey and fossil fuel companies working in the county insist there is nothing unconventional about their activities.

UK Oil & Gas, which runs the Horse Hill site, said it had only been pumping there during one of the 12 earthquakes.

Meanwhile Paul Vonk, managing director of Angus Energy, which runs the Brockham site, said it was “scientifically and physically” impossible they had caused any tremors.

To get to the bottoms of the mysterious spate of quakes, the like of which had not been recorded in the region for 50 years, BGS has recently installed new earthquake monitors to pinpoint the precise origin of the tremors.

They have previously stated they are “unable to say categorically if these earthquakes are related to hydrocarbon exploration or production” but that a natural cause is likely.

A spokesperson from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy told The Independent there were currently no ongoing drilling operations in this area, and the Oil and Gas Authority would await the findings from BGS’s investigation.

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Nevertheless, the letter was welcomed by local activists and politicians who have been campaigning against the new fossil fuel developments in their vicinity.

“The seismic activity in an area where unconventional fossil fuel drilling and testing is active is clearly extremely concerning,” said Green MEP Keith Taylor.

However, he noted that no one should draw firm conclusions until the results of the scientific investigation emerge.

“I welcome the BGS’s efforts to further monitor this activity and wholeheartedly support the call from geology and seismology experts for a moratorium on any oil and gas activity in the geological region until the results of any investigation are clear,” he said.

“The case for employing the precautionary principle is obvious.”

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