News
Three Nooks Farm Re-drilling Press Release 5 July 2011
5 July 2011
Statement by Alkane Energy plc
regarding re-drilling of existing borehole at Three Nooks farm
Alkane Energy has received planning permission to re-enter a well at Three Nooks Farm originally drilled by Shell Oil in 1982.
The purpose of the drilling activity is to re-enter a known underground gas reservoir. Tests will be undertaken to assess the quality and quantity of the gas within the reservoir. This is a naturally formed gas reservoir at shallow depth (460 meters) and is not associated with Shale Gas which is typically found in depths around 2,000 meters.
There will be drilling from one location only for a period of seven weeks which will fully conform to the planning conditions imposed by Staffordshire County Council. Planning permission has been granted on the basis that the test rig arrives and leaves the site over a weekend period. There is no other planned major transport activity associated with the development.
Following testing, a decision will be made whether to seek to exploit the natural gas reserves and develop the project to phase 2. In the event that Alkane Energy decides to proceed with phase 2, a second planning application would be progressed and consulted upon. Alkane would agree the scope and coverage of phase 2 environmental surveys and assessments with Staffordshire County Council, and would develop appropriate mitigation measures to ensure the development is environmentally acceptable.
At the end of both the current drill programme and, if approved, the exploitation of the natural gas reserves, the development site will be restored to its original state as part of the licence terms.
Alkane Energy is a Stock Exchange quoted company with a first class reputation for operating sites which fully conform with all legislation and regulations required for the development and operation of small scale electricity producing generators. In particular, it is very experienced in ensuring that its sites do not cause a nuisance or pose any risk to those living or working nearby.
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For more information please contact:
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Alkane Energy plc
Tony Bryan, Project Manager
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01623 827927
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www.alkane.co.uk
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Background Information
Alkane Energy has the UK’s leading portfolio of coal mine methane (“CMM”) licences, enabling the Company to extract gas from abandoned coal mines. Alkane started extracting CMM in 1999 with sites at Shirebrook, Steetley and Markham. Shirebrook and Markham are still operational today, a decade after they were opened. Shirebrook is still producing CMM and surplus capacity has been deployed to conventional peak load along with capacity at Markham.
The Group now generates power from 12 mid size (less than 10MW) plants across the UK and sells this power through the electricity distribution network. The electricity is generated using standard modular reciprocating engines, and these units and other ancillary plant are designed to be flexible and transportable. This allows additional capacity to be brought onto growing sites and underutilised plant to be moved to new sites to maximise efficiency.
Alkane’s skills and ambitions are not limited to CMM. The operating model has already been transferred to demand response running at peak periods using conventional gas. Alkane currently operates 10MW across two sites on conventional gas with our trading partners GDF SUEZ Energy UK.
Page last updated: 8 July 2011
