UK Oil & Gas plc (UKOG) said that it has been granted a two-year extension in which to start drilling the PEDL234 Loxley-1 gas appraisal well in the Weald Basin.
The Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) said that UKOG must now begin drilling at the company’s 100% interest project before 31 December 2023.
UKOG added that the drilling extension was granted in response to delays beyond the company’s control.
These include the pandemic and the UKOG’s appeal to the Planning Inspectorate against Surrey County Council’s (SCC) decision on 15 December 2020 to refuse approval for the Loxley gas appraisal drilling project.
PUBLIC INQUIRY
The company added it now looked forward to presenting a “robust case” for Loxley to the planning inspector at the forthcoming public inquiry on 27 July 2021 .
“Senior legal counsel continues to advise that, given SCC’s cited reasons for refusal, there are strong grounds to expect a positive inquiry outcome for the company,” said UKOG in a statement.
UKOG’s Statement of Case was submitted to the Planning Inspectorate in February 2021 as part of the appeal process.