Information on Cuadrilla's Preston New Road Site

Overview

Regulation of Cuadrilla's Site at Preston New Road

We will regularly update this page with information we receive through our audits, site inspections, check monitoring and sampling work. The latest information can be found using the links under the heading 'Related Documents'. 

This page is intended to provide access to information on site operations. For general questions or advice and guidance about the oil and gas industry, the following links may be useful:

Onshore oil and gas regulation 

Gov.uk information

Oil and Gas Authority

Health and Safety Executive

 

Latest Information

The Compliance Assessment Report (CAR) form at the link below relates to an assessment we carried out on 27 January. We completed a full assessment to check Cuadrilla’s reporting of seismic monitoring during the fracturing process at well PNR2 at the Preston New Road site.  As you will be aware, the onsite activity ceased following the government moratorium. 

Following our assessment we were satisfied that Cuadrilla had correctly followed the reporting measures set out in the hydraulic fracture plan.  Our assessment was conducted through onsite audits before, during and after fracturing operations and through reviewing daily, traffic light system and quarterly reports. No ‘non-compliances’ were recorded in our assessment.

The assessment did identify short-term data gaps for the 26 August 2019, three days after fracturing operations stopped at the site. These data gaps occurred during the 2.9ML seismic event. However, as pumping operations had already been halted it was not classed as a permit breach.  We have checked data leading up to, and following, these data gaps and there are no indications that any fractures created by the hydraulic fracturing work have gone beyond the permit boundary. And so we are satisfied that the controls ensured that groundwater was protected.

The Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) continues to review the seismic data collected during hydraulic fracturing operations in August 2019. It will publish its report in due course.

Preston New Road Compliance with Permit Assessment Report - 20.04.20 - Monitoring Data PNR2

The compliance assessment report form below relates to the management of surface water on the Preston New Road Site.  As you may be aware, the site stopped hydraulic fracturing when the Government moratorium came into effect on 2 November 2019.  All wastes and the majority of active equipment were removed from the site by 1 January 2020. The risks to surface water from the site are now significantly reduced.  As such the required testing of surface water has been removed whilst the site is ‘non-operational’. This position will be reviewed if notification is received of any operations taking place that may increase the risk of surface water pollution.

There is still a requirement in place to prevent discharge taking place when the surrounding areas are subject to flood alerts and flood warnings.  In this event, the operator will arrange to remove surface water from the site via a different route.

Preston New Road Compliance with Permit Assessment Report - 09.07.20 Surface Water Discharge

Preston New Road Groundwater Monitoring Data Q2 2020

Preston New Road Compliance with Permit Assessment Report - 28.01.20 - Site Inspection

Preston New Road Groundwater Monitoring Data Q1 2020

Preston New Road Air Quality Report - March 2020

Carr Bridge Brook Monitoring Programme  to Jan 2020

 

Preston New Road Community Updates

Preston New Road Community Update 1 - 23 October 2018

Preston New Road Community Update 2 - 30 October

Preston New Road Community Update 3 - 6 November

Preston New Road Community Update 4 - 14 November 2018

Assessment of seismic activity - 6 November 2018

Preston New Road Community update 5 - 28 November 2018

Preston New Road Community Update 6 - 19 December 2018

Preston New Road Community Update 7 - 16 January 2019

Preston New Road Community Update 7 - control of waste

Preston New Road Community Update 8 - 11 March 2019

Preston New Road Community Update 9 - 5 August 2019

Preston New Road Community Update 10 - 28 August 2019

Preston New Road Community Update 11 - 24 October 2019

Preston New Road Community Update 12 - 19 December 2019

 

Environmental Permits

The Environment Agency is the environmental regulator for onshore oil and gas operations in England. We ensure that people and the environment remain protected by requiring operators to hold environmental permits that set out legally binding conditions. We have previously consulted on environmental permits for the Preston New Road site and want to provide access to information as operations start.

The permits set out the conditions for operation and will include conditions on groundwater, surface water, emissions, safe storage of waste, noise and air quality. They also include pre-operational conditions and monitoring and reporting requirements. 

Cuadrilla Preston New Road Mining Waste Permit AB3101MW

Cuadrilla Preston New Road Decision Document and Annex Mining Waste Permit AB3101MW

Cuadrilla Preston New Road RSR Permit KB3395DE

Cuadrilla Preston New Road Decision Document RSR Permit KB3395DE

Standard Rules Permit - Storage and Handling of Crude Oil

Cuadrilla are not expecting to extract oil from the well. The definition of crude oil in the standard rules permit includes gas condensate, which can arise when liquid hydrocarbons held in gaseous form at high reservoir temperatures are produced to the surface.  As the liquid hydrocarbons cool they condense out of the gas. The standard rules permit will allow Cuadrilla to store and handle this gas condensate should it occur.

1. Storage and Handling of Crude Oil - Standard Rules Permit Notice_KP3731JR
2. Storage and Handling of Crude Oil - Decision Doc_KP3731JR

More information about this standard rules permit, including a copy of the rules as well as the associated Generic Risk Assessment, can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sr2015-no-2-storage-and-handling-of-crude-oil

 

Permit variations

1. Preston New Road Variation Notice 11 Dec 17
2. Preston New Road Decision Document 11 Dec 17

 

1. Application for Permit Variation-February 2019
2. Preston New Road Variation Notice 11July 2019
3. Preston New Road Decision Document 11 July 2019
4. Block Process Flow Diagram
5. Flowback Fluid Diversion Instruction
6. Waste Management Plan 

 

1. Preston New Road Variation Notice 1 May 2018
2. Preston New Road Decision Document 1 May 2018
3. Proposed Permit Variation Information July 2019

 

1. Preston New Road Variation Notice 24 Oct 2019
2. Decision Document 24 Oct 2019
3. Waste Management Plan Oct 2019
4. BAT Assessment of Artificial Lift Techniques
5. BAT Screening Assessment for Nitrogen Removal
6. Nitrogen lift work instruction
7. Environmental Risk Assessment Oct 2019

 

Pre-Operational Conditions

The permit for operations at Preston New Road granted in January 2015 includes a number of pre-operational conditions that have to be met before Cuadrilla can carry out hydraulic fracturing operations.

• Shut Down Procedure

Preston New Road Compliance with Permit Assessment Report 03.12.18 Pre-Operational Condition 1

• Environmental Management and Monitoring Plan

The conditions also require approval of an Environmental Management and Monitoring Plan. We have now completed a detailed technical assessment of the plan and are satisfied that Cuadrilla has demonstrated that it has appropriate monitoring arrangements in place.

1. PO2 Environmental Management and Monitoring Plan v5.1
2. Compliance with Permit Assessment Report 18.05.18

The following 2 documents are related to the Revised Monitoring Compliance Report:

1. HSE-Permit-INS-PNR-020 Well Suspension Monitoring v2
2. PNR-ERA-002 Well Suspension v2

• Hydraulic Fracture Plan

Well 1

Pre-operational condition 3 requires our approval of a written Hydraulic Fracture Plan.

The Environment Agency has agreed the hydraulic fracture plan for the first well at Cuadrilla’s Preston New Road site. We are satisfied that the company has demonstrated that it has the necessary arrangements in place for subsurface monitoring during and after hydraulic fracturing. 

The related documents are below:

1. PNR1z Hydraulic Fracture Plan
2. PO3 Approval Compliance Assessment Report  020718

Well 2

The Environment Agency has now agreed the Hydraulic Fracture Plan (HFP) for Well 2 for Preston New Road. The compliance assessment report below details our assessment of the plan.

Preston New Road Compliance Assessment report - hydraulic fracture plan 29.07.19

• Well Integrity Tests

Preston New Road Compliance with Permit Assessment Report PO5 and PO6 - Review of Well 1

• Flaring

Preston New Road Compliance with Permit Assessment Report Pre- Op Condition 10

• Surface water 

Preston New Road Compliance with Permit Assessment Report 07.06.19 – Pre-Operational Condition 11.

 

Seismicity

Assessment of seismic activity - 6 November 2018

 

Waste Management

Cuadrilla Preston New Road Radioactive Waste Sampling, Analysis and Pollution Inventory Reporting Specification

Preston New Road Waste Management Plan

Waste stream audit warning letter 25 July 2018

 

Water Quality

• Carr Bridge Brook Monitoring

Carr Bridge Brook Monitoring Programme to August 19

Carr Bridge Brook Surface Water Quality Data Dec 2016 - July 2018

Car Bridge Brook Surface Water Quality Data - Q2 2018  to  7 May 2019

Carr Bridge Brook Water Quality Data - January 19 to August 19

• Inspection of surface water on 1 May 2018

Preston New Road Surface Water Quality Visit Report 01-05-18

 

Groundwater Monitoring

Groundwater Monitoring Plan 2016   -   This document provides details for Environment Agency approval of the monitoring objectives, conceptual model and risk assessment, borehole location, design and construction method, monitoring parameters, frequency of sampling and reporting.

Preston New Road Background Groundwater Quality Monitoring 2016 - 2017

Preston New Road Groundwater Monitoring - July 2016 to Dec 2016

Preston New Road Groundwater Monitoring - Jan 2017 to June 2017

Preston New Road Groundwater Monitoring - July 2017 to Sept 2017

Preston New Road Groundwater Monitoring - Oct 2017 to Dec 2017

Preston New Road Groundwater Monitoring - Jan 2018 to Mar 2018

Preston New Road Groundwater Monitoring - April 2018 to June 2018

Preston New Road Groundwater Monitoring Data Q3 2018

Preston New Road Groundwater Monitoring Data Q4 2018

Preston New Road Groundwater Monitoring Data Q1 2019

Preston New Road Groundwater Monitoring Data Q2 2019

Preston New Road Groundwater Monitoring Data Q3 2019

Preston New Road Groundwater Monitoring Data Q4 2019

 

Air Quality Monitoring

Preston New Road Air Quality Report - Dec 2017

Preston New Road Air Quality Report - January 2018

Preston New Road Air Quality Report - February 2018

Preston New Road Air Quality Report - March 2018

Preston New Road Air Quality Report - April 2018

Preston New Road Air Quality Report - May 2018

Preston New Road Air Quality Report - June 2018

Preston New Road Air Quality Report - July 2018

Preston New Road Air Quality Report - Aug 2018

Preston New Road Air Quality Report - September 2018

Preston New Road Air Quality Report - October 2018

Preston New Road Air Quality Report - November 2018

Preston New Road - Air Quality Update on Methane- December 2018

Preston New Road Air Quality Report - Dec 2018

Preston New Road Air Quality Update on Methane - January 2019

Preston New Road Air Quality Update on Methane - January 2019 report 2

Preston New Road Air Quality Report - January 2019

Preston New Road Air Quality Report - February 2019

Preston New Road Air Quality Report - March 2019

Preston New Road Air Quality Report - April 2019

Preston New Road Air Quality Report - May 2019

Preston New Road Air Quality Report - June 2019

Preston New Road Air Quality Report - July 2019

Preston New Road Air Quality Report - August 2019

Preston New Road Air Quality Report - September  2019

Preston New Road Air Quality Report Oct 2019

Preston New Road Air Quality Report Nov 2019

 

Site Inspections

Information about Compliance Assessment Report (CAR) Forms - Version 2

Preston New Road Compliance with Permit Assessment Report PO4 04.07.16

Preston New Road Compliance with Permit Asessment Report 18.07.16

Preston New Road Compliance with Permit Assessment Report 30.01.17

Preston New Road Complinace with Permit Assessment Report 06.02.17

Preston New Road Compliance with Permit Assessment Report 02.03.17

Preston New Road Compliance with Permit Assessment Report 07.04.17

Preston New Road Compliance with Permit Assessment Report 14.06.17

Preston New Road Compliance with Permit Assessment Report 17.07.17

Preston New Road Compliance with Permit Assessment Report 01.08.17

Preston New Road Compliance with Permit Assessment Report 25.08.17

Preston New Road Compliance with Permit Assessment Report 28.09.17

Preston New Road Compliance with Permit Assessment Report CQA Validation Report Review 10.11.17

Preston New Road Compliance with Permit Assessment Report 31-01-18

Preston New Road Compliance with Permit Assessment Report 19.04.18

Preston New Road Compliance with Permit Assessment Report 01-05-18

Preston New Road Compliance with Permit Assessment Report 04.07.18

Preston New Road Compliance with Permit Assessment Report Mining Waste  Facility Annual Report 24.07.18

Preston New Road Compliance with Permit Assessment Report Mining Waste Facility Annual Report 24.09.18

Preston New Road Compliance Assessment Report 08.08.18

Preston New Road Compliance with Permit Assessment Report Inspection 05.09.18

Preston New Road Compliance with Permit Assessment Report 27.09.18 - Groundwater & Surface Water Annual Review - Drilling

Preston New Road Compliance with Permit Assessment Report 04.10.18 - Pre-fracturing set-up inspection

Preston New Road Compliance with Permit Assessment Report 08.10.18 - Pre-fracturing set-up inspection

Preston New Road Compliance with Permit Assessment Report - 12.10.18

Preston New Road Compliance with Permit Assessment Report - 15.10.18

Preston New Road Compliance with Permit Assessment Report -  17.10.18

Preston New Road Compliance Assessment Report 22.10.18

Preston New Road Compliance with Permit Assessment Report - 19.10.18

Preston New Road Compliance with Permit Assessment Report 29.10.18

Well Pad Integrity Inspection - 29.10.18

Preston New Road Compliance with Permit Assessment Report 02.11.18

Preston New Road Compliance with Permit Assessment Report 07.11.18

Preston New Road Compliance with Permit Assessment Report 13.11.18

Preston New Road Compliance with Permit Assessment Report 23.11.18_Oil Storage

Preston New Road Compliance with Permit Assessment Report  23.11.18

Preston New Road Compliance with Permit Assessment Report 06.12.18_Oil Storage

Preston New Road Compliance with Permit Assessment Report 06.12.18

Preston New Road Compliance with Permit Assessment Report Waste Audit 07.12.17

Preston New Road Compliance with Permit Assessment Report PO5 and PO6 Review of Well 2 - 06.03.19

Preston New Road Compliance with Permit Assessment Report 24.10.18 - Operating Techniques

Preston New Road Compliance with Permit Assessment Report LDAR 15 Jan 19

Preston New Road Compliance with Permit Assessment Report RAS 20 Dec 18

Preston New Road Compliance with Permit Assessment Report 27.02.2019 _ Flare Operations

Preston New Road Compliance with Permit Assessment Report 27.02.19 - Flare Operations - Additional Information

Preston New Road Compliance with Permit Assessment Report 11.04.19 _ site inspection radioactive substances activity

Preston New Road Compliance with Permit Assessment Report 23.04.19 _ flowback management and disposal

Preston New Road Compliance with Permit Assessment Report  03.06.19

Preston New Road Compliance with Permit Assessment Report - 05.08.19 - Groundwater Investigation

Preston New Road Compliance with Permit Assessment Report - 29.08.19 - A5 & Groundwater Audit

Preston New Road Compliance with Permit Assessment Report 16.08.19 - MSM Assurance CAR 2

Preston New Road Compliance with Permit Assessment Report 14.08.19 - MSM Assurance CAR 1

Preston New Road Compliance with Permit Assessment Report 31.07.19 - HFP Pre Frac CAR

Preston New Road Compliance with Permit Assessment Report - 25.07.19 - Site Set-up

Preston New Road Compliance with Assessment Report 21.08.19 - Well 2 Stages 1-5 Data Review

Preston New Road Compliance with Permit Assessment Report 11.10.19 - Condensate Storage

Preston New Road Compliance with Permit Assessment Report 11.10.19 - Surface Water Commissioning

Preston New Road Compliance with Permit Assessment Report 09.12.19 - Revised Monitoring

Preston New Road Compliance with Permit Assessment Report 17.10.19 -  Condensate Storage

Preston New Road Compliance Assessment Report 30.09.19 - Surface Water

Preston New Road Compliance with Permit Assessment Report 12.09.19 - Operating Techniques EMMP

Preston New Road Compliance with Permit Assessment Report 20.12.19 -  17 Oct 2019 inspection

There is one minor non-compliance in the CAR form below – dated 22 November 2019. This is for the non-retention of CCTV footage of the flares, which was overwritten every 7 days. We discussed this minor non-compliance with Cuadrilla to make sure they understood that the CCTV footage should have been retained. There were no impacts on human health or the environment as a result of the non-compliance.

Preston New Road Compliance with Permit Assessment Report 22.11.19 - Nitrogen Lift

 

Drilling methodolgy for the installation of the conductor casing

Preston New Road WR11 Method Statement and the Environment Agency Acknowledgement   -   This document provides details of the drilling methodolgy for the installation of the conductor casing. 

 

Water Use

Water usage briefing