Latest research shows people feel more knowledgeable about shale gas and more supporting of local exploration

Friday, Dec 28, 2012

LONDON, December 27, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --New research by BritainThinks reveals that local residents in Fylde, Blackpool and West Lancashire are feeling more knowledgeable about shale gas, and more supportive of continued exploration in their local area to understand the potential for shale gas in the UK.

The results follow last week's announcement from the Department of Energy and Climate Change concerning the hydraulic fracturing of glass exploration wells in Lancashire.

The survey was conducted using random digit dial (RDD) methodology. The purpose of the survey was to understand attitudes about shale gas in the context of recent announcements.

Francis Egan, CEO of Cuadrilla Resources, said:

"Clearly the more people hear about and talk about shale gas in Lancashire the more informed they are about the potential advantages it can bring, as well as the environmental considerations that need to be managed.

"A well-informed communication can have the constructive public discourse this industry needs to be successful in the UK."

Offered further details of the regulatory requirements around monitoring and reporting, including the 'traffic light' system for detecting any low level of seismicity, respondents welcomed the government's stipulations - with 64% stating they made them feel much or a little more supportive of continued exploration in their area.

As in the October research, job creation is felt to be the most important of the potential benefits tested with 32% choosing it as a single most important (compared with 25% in October) followed by cheaper energy (22% in December, versus 24% in October), and less reliance on gas from abroad (14% in December up from 11% in October).

Asked to rate the single most important disadvantage, 30% of respondents selected risk of earth tremors (no change since October).  Risk of water pollution was selected as most important by 25% (up from 22% in October), and risk of gas leaks was selected by 12% (compared with 8% in October).   Risk of a negative impact on climate change was sited by 9% (up from 6% in October).

Source: Cuadrilla Resources 

To access over 3,000 of the latest oil projects from across the world visit Projects OGP for free trial today