Portsmouth Water is working with developer UK Oil & Gas (UKOG) and the Environment Agency to address concerns regarding a new planning application for oil production in Markwell’s Wood, West Sussex.
UKOG is a listed company which trades on London’s Alternative Investment Market (AIM) and ISDX Growth Market. The firm has a portfolio of direct and indirect investments in 11 UK onshore exploration, appraisal, development and production assets. The assets cover 650 sq km in the Weald and Purbeck-Wight basins of Southern England. UKOG is currently generating investment cash from its interests in four producing oil fields in the region: Horndean, Avington, Brockham and Lidsey.
UKOG is keen to grow its core business in the Weald by developing the Markwells Wood oil discovery, appraising the Horse Hill Portland and Baxter’s Copse oil discoveries, and also via new exploration and acquisitions in the Weald and Isle of Wight.
Commenting on the application, Rod Porteous, Engineering Director at Portsmouth Water, said:
“From our review of the initial planning application, we have raised to the South Downs National Park Authority concerns over the potential risk to water contamination. These include issues such as a fuller evaluation of the risks to drinking water supplies.”
“As a result we are working closely with the developer UKOG, their expert consultants, and the Environment Agency to try and resolve these issues. The provision of safe and high quality water is a cornerstone of public health and is our primary duty.”
The South Downs National Park Authority has received a planning application for oil production in Markwell’s Wood, West Sussex for Appraisal and production of oil incorporating the drilling of one sidetrack well from the existing well (for appraisal), three new hydrocarbon wells and one water injection well, and to allow the production of hydrocarbons from all four wells for a 20 year period.
SDNPA has emphasised that this is not an application for hydraulic fracturing - also known as fracking.
The application will be considered by the SDNPA Planning Committee in due course.
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