UK Oil & Gas plc (UKOG) will appeal against Surrey County Council’s decision to refuse planning permission for its Loxley-1 gas appraisal project near Dunsfold.
The council issued a decision notice on Tuesday (15 December 2020) following the planning committee’s refusal in November over concerns of highway safety and the impact on landscape. bit.ly/2WsmeOP
UKOG believes that PEDL 234 contains a “significant calculated mean and high case recoverable gas volumes of 34 billion cubic feet (bcf) and 54 bcf respectively.”
The company said yesterday (17 December) it planned to submit an appeal on its 100% owned project in the new year and expected a public hearing or inquiry during the following six to nine months.
UKOG added it believed there were strong grounds to expect a positive outcome of the appeal, as the reasons for refusal were in direct conflict with the council’s planning and highway officer’s reports and the officers’ two separate recommendations for approval.
An independent inspector from the Planning Inspectorate will determine whether the temporary Loxley development meets the requirements of the Town and Country Planning Act and other relevant policy guidance.
UKOG chief executive Stephen Sanderson said: “Although not ideal in terms of speed, the appeal process at least ensures Loxley’s case will be assessed by a competent and independent inspector who will deliver an evidence-based decision that is not unduly swayed by unsubstantiated and emotive local argument.
“We trust that any future decision will also consider the needs of the many who could benefit from a successful Loxley project’s affordable, low-impact, low-carbon energy, as well as those of the privileged few.”
It added that a successful Loxley gas project would play a role in the Government’s low-carbon hydrogen policy, in which natural gas is reformed into clean burning hydrogen and an 85% saving in carbon emissions. Domestic gas has around a quarter of the carbon emissions to those of imported liquefied natural gas.
The company also quoted this week’s Written Ministerial Statement and Energy White Paper which stated that the UK’s domestic oil and gas industry had a critical role in maintaining the country’s energy security and was a major contributor to the economy. The paper also highlighted the promotion of low-carbon options.
In April 2019, UKOG submitted a planning application to drill the Loxley-1 well intended to appraise the Godley Bridge Portland gas discovery in the northwest of the licence in Broadford Bridge, PEDL234.
In October 2019, UKOG applied for a permit to the Environment Agency to drill, core and test the centre or ‘crest’ of the Portland gas accumulation. If the initial test is successful, UKOG will drill and test a horizontal sidetrack, Loxley-1z, within the Portland and carry out an EWT to establish commercial viability.
In November 2019, UKOG submitted a planning application to extend the existing Broadford Bridge planning approval by 24 months to March 2022. The Oil and Gas Authority approved an amendment to the PEDL 234 Retention Area work programme in which Loxley-1 is to be drilled by December 2021.