The Environment Agency has opened a consultation on a permit variation application from Rathlin Energy in East Yorkshire.
The company, which has operated at West Newton north-east of Hull since 2013, has an environmental permit for drilling wells and long-term oil and gas production.
It has applied to vary the permit for West Newton A well site at Fosham Road in High Fosham, about which the Environment Agency is now seeking views from the local community and interested groups in a consultation running from now until January 3rd.
Rathlin is asking for permission to carry out ‘reservoir stimulation’ on the existing WNA-2 well. This is a process used by the oil and gas industry, which is designed to improve the efficiency of the flow of oil or gas through the reservoir rock and into the well.
Mining and extractive industries must have an environmental permit to operate. Issued by the Environment Agency, environmental permits detail the conditions that an operator is required to meet to ensure its activities minimise the risk of harm to people and the environment.
Peter Stevenson, Area Environment Manager at the Environment Agency, said: “We will carry out a detailed and rigorous assessment of Rathlin Energy’s permit variation application. Our regulatory controls for the onshore oil and gas industry are in place to protect people and the environment.
“We may only refuse a permit application if it does not meet one or more of the legal requirements under environmental legislation, including if it will have an unacceptable impact on the environment or harm human health. If all the requirements are met, we are legally obliged to issue a permit. ”
