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A COMPANY drilling for gas under the Fylde could help solve Britain's energy crisis if their explorations prove as successful as similar trials in America, it has been claimed.
Cuadrilla Resources is currently drilling an exploratory borehole on land south of Grange Road in Singleton.
The search for shale gas is the first of its kind in the UK but shale gas is widely used in the U.S. where it is said to account for 45 per cent of gas supplies.
It is being claimed that if Cuadrilla finds significant reserves, it could help reduce the UK's reliance on gas imports.
In an interview with Channel 4 News, Chris Cornelius, the founder of Cuadrilla, said in future shale gas could reduce the need for some imports into Britain.
He said: "It's very early days. It will take a lot of exploration and a lot of effort by small companies like us, and larger companies as well, but ultimately we are hopeful that we would find certain deposits here that would add to the net reserves of the UK."
Shale gas has previously been considered too expensive and problematic to retrieve, but new technology has made the process more viable.
There are some environmental concerns, however, as it is thought the drilling could pollute ground water supplies but Cuadrilla said it is working with the Health and Safety Executive and the Environment Agency to ensure there are no problems with the work.
Singleton councillor Maxine Chew said people were not too concerned at the moment.
She said: "There is gas under the Fylde and they are coming across little pockets of it all over. People aren't too concerned at the moment but if large reserves were found, there may be more worries about the impact."
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