UK Oil & Gas plc (UKOG) has been granted a two-year planning extension to its Broadford Bridge-1z Kimmeridge oil discovery in Sussex.
PLANS
West Sussex County Council this week approved the application for PEDL234 to run until 31 March 2024.
“The additional two years will permit any learnings from possible future Kimmeridge drilling at both the company’s nearby Loxley conventional gas and Horse Hill oil fields to be factored into the company’s future Broadford Bridge plans,” said UKOG.
In 2016, the company acquired 100% of the 300 km² PEDL234 containing the discovery, the existing Broadford Bridge well pad, and planning permission to drill exploratory well BB-1.
UKOG has said that analysis suggests Kimmeridge limestone oil potential was prevalent in a similar way to that at Horse Hill.
The company will also use the two-year extension to develop conceptual plans for geothermal energy.
UKOG’s appeal against Surrey County Council’s planning refusal for the Loxley gas project is due for decision on or before 7 June 2022 by the secretary of state for levelling up, housing and communities.