Burniston Gas Drilling Rig Firm Holds Public Drop In Session

The company behind plans for an exploratory gas drilling rig in Burniston are holding a drop in information event in the village on Thursday (26th September).

Europa Oil are seeking permission to conduct a three month project to test the potential of the Cloughton gas field.

They would use a process called a 'proppant squeeze' which was excluded from the 2019 fracking ban.

The project is being opposed by the local MP, North Yorkshire's Mayor says he has concerns, and over 100 people turned up to a recent parish council meeting to express their concerns.

CEO of Europa Oil - Will Holland - says he hopes anyone with concerns will go to Thursday's drop in event, which is at Burniston and Cloughton Village Hall from 1pm-6pm.

The proposed site for the drilling rig is located off the A165 Coastal Road, close to Burniston, and the plan involves drilling a "lateral borehole" towards Scalby.  The rig itself is expected to stand at a height of 30 meters and will use the "proppant squeeze" technique to assess the gas reserves.

Will Holland says the  proposed test drilling rig in Burniston would have 20 times less seismic impact than a passing lorry.

He says the firm wants to provide residents with scientific facts about the project.

Local Councillor - Rich Maw - is encouraging as many local people as possible to go to the event.

He thinks the project is a form of Fracking.

Councillor Maw is hoping residents will turn up "en-masse" at 1pm to show the breadth of local opposition to the project.

Europa say it's been known for years that there are gas reserves in the Cloughton area, but that historically extracting the gas hasn't been a viable proposition.

Will Holland says a number of economic and technical advancements have now changed that situation.

Mr Holland says there are also environmental reasons for looking at producing gas at the site.

The proposed test drilling project would last for around three months in total but the actual drilling period would shorter than that.

Local Councillor - Rich Maw - says there are a number of issues that concern him about the proposed drilling project.

Local residents have raise a number of concerns including over the number of heavy lorry movements that would be needed to build and then remove the equipment and materials needed for the test drilling project.

The company has projected that the construction, drilling, and completion phases would span approximately 14 weeks, resulting in 1,050 HGV movements to and from the site.

Will Holland thinks impact would be "minimal"

The core of the controversy over the project stems from the proposed use of a "proppant squeeze" technique, which many consider a form of hydraulic fracturing. Fracking is currently subject to a moratorium in the UK and Europa Oil and Gas maintains that their technique is distinct from the banned high-volume fracking and falls outside the moratorium's scope.

Will Holland says the process they are proposing was specifically excluded from the fracking ban and is used elsewhere in the country.

Mr Holland says there is no danger that the process will damage water tables or the wider environment.

Europa say they will have a number of their senior team at the drop in event on Thursday September 26th which is taking place from 1pm to 6pm and Burniston and Cloughton Village Hall.

Will Holland is encouraging local people to attend the event and ask questions

Local residents have voiced strong disapproval of the project, with over a hundred attending a Burniston Parish Council meeting to express their  opposition.The "Frack Free Scarborough" campaign group has also been rallying against the plans.

Several local councillors, including Bryn Griffiths, Tony Randerson, Rich Maw, and Paul Haslam, have called for greater scrutiny of the project, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). Alison Hume, the MP for Scarborough and Whitby, has been a vocal opponent, calling for the loophole in the fracking ban to be addressed and urging the government to enact a complete ban on fracking. David Skaith, the mayor of the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority, has also expressed "real concerns" about the project.

Although the company initially contended that an EIA was unnecessary, North Yorkshire Council has ruled that an EIA is mandatory due to the potential for significant environmental impact. The company has announced its intention to submit a full planning application, inclusive of the EIA, in November. Should the application receive approval, drilling operations are projected to commence in early 2026.

• RELATED STORIES : Scarborough Fracking Plan to Proceed
• RELATED STORIES : Burniston Residents Rally Against Drilling Rig Plans
• RELATED STORIES : Call for Fracking Loop Hole Closure After Application for Burniston Rig
• RELATED STORIES : Drilling Rig Plan for Burniston
• RELATED STORIES : Mayor Says There are ‘Real Concerns’ About Scarborough Fracking Plan
• RELATED STORIES : Residents Organise Meeting to Discuss Scarborough Fracking Proposals
• RELATED STORIES : Council Calls for Environmental Assessment of Burniston Drilling Rig Plans