Oil and Gas Authority

The Oil and Gas Authority had kept confidential a crucial dataset, Cuadrilla’s 3D seismic survey of the Fylde, which should have been released on 1 January 2018. The aim of the case was initially to force the OGA to release the dataset and to uncover any collusion between Cuadrilla and the OGA. On the wider scale the case aims to expose the hidden means by which the government is doing everything possible to help the nascent UK fracking industry.

Environment Agency

In parallel with the OGA, the Environment Agency (“the EA”) is currently assessing Cuadrilla's hydraulic fracture plan for its next well at Preston New Road, known as PNR-2. I have prepared a detailed technical report for the Preston New Road Action Group to submit to the EA, pointing out significant errors in Cuadrilla's interpretation of the geology across the Fylde. The title image above shows how Cuadrilla's geological interpretation has changed substantially (see the red highlighted areas) over just six months. This is unacceptable, as it suggests that Cuadrilla still does not have a sound grasp of the geology even after nine years of activity in the Fylde.

I believe that Cuadrilla should not be given authorisation to proceed with its plans to frack PNR-2, since there is a risk that without properly understanding the Fylde’s geology, the fracking at Preston New Road could lead to the pollution of large amounts drinking water, inter alia.

The aim of the case is to ensure that the EA's regulation of fracking at Preston New Road is effective in ensuring that the environment is protected.

Stage One

This campaign is Stage One of a possible legal challenge to the OGA and/or the EA. No outside donations are needed at the moment, because this stage will be financed by my transfer of some of the funds remaining from my CrowdJustice case won against the University of Glasgow.

If the EA proves to be intransigent, then we may move to Stage Two, considering legal action against the EA. This will be run as a separate campaign in conjunction with local groups in Lancashire.

About the claimant

I am David Smythe, Emeritus Professor of Geophysics at Glasgow University. I retired 20 years ago. Over the last few years I have: invented a new kind of 3D medical ultrasound diagnostic imaging method; helped persuade Cumbria County Council to refuse a nuclear waste repository; defined a new objective nuclear accident magnitude scale, NAMS, after Fukushima in 2011; and more recently have helped local opposition groups by providing technical objections to planning applications for fracking and coal bed methane. All this research has been pro bono. 

Kate Harrison of Harrison Grant is acting for the Preston New Road Action Group, in collaboration with me.