The UK Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) announced on the 13th December that exploratory hydraulic fracturing for shale gas can resume in the UK, subject to new controls aimed at mitigating the risks of seismic activity. These include a bundle of measures that address, amongst other things, seismic risks, management procedures and the enforcement of existing laws. The implications of any future move to large-scale production are also addressed in the December statement of the DECC.

Energy and Climate Change Secretary Edward Davey concluded that, after considering the latest scientific research available and expert advice, appropriate controls are available to mitigate the risks of undesirable seismic activity.

Included in new plans to mitigate seismic risks:

• Before hydraulic fracturing begins a review must be carried out to assess seismic risk and the existence of faults;
• An hydraulic fracturing plan must be submitted to the DECC showing how seismic risks will be addressed;
• Seismic monitoring must be carried out before, during and after hydraulic fracturing;
• A new traffic light system to categorise seismic activity and direct appropriate responses will be implemented. A trigger mechanism will stop hydraulic fracturing operations in certain conditions.

The new rules rely to a large part on the recommendations of a recent review of the risks of hydraulic fracturing by the Royal Society and Royal Academy of Engineering. The Government accepts all the recommendations of the academies’ report addressed to these risks.

Further new controls for the exploratory phase include: 

• An external evaluation of well design and operational plans by an independent "well examiner" on-site that will ensure well integrity.
• All substances proposed for injection will be identified, and the agency´s conclusions on the potential for hazard will be publicly available.
• Substances hazardous to groundwater will be banned from use in fracturing fluids.