from Sunday Herald, 14 April 2013
An allegation that explosive and highly polluting gas is leaking from boreholes in southwest Scotland is being probed by the Scottish government’s green watchdog.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) is launching an investigation into claims that methane is “bubbling up” in wells drilled to test for the gas in coal seams near Canonbie in Dumfries and Galloway. The claims are denied by the company that owns the wells.
The Sunday Herald received information claiming gas was escaping in the wells.
The information was passed to Sepa, which promised to investigate. “Sepa has recently become aware of information regarding the potential release of gas from coal bed methane wells in the Canonbie area,” said a Sepa spokesman. “Sepa will shortly be carrying out investigations into this."
Sepa stressed that it was important for members of the public to report suspected pollution incidents to its telephone hotline (0800 80 70 60). “Once the investigation is completed, we will consider whether any follow-up work may be necessary in line with our enforcement policy,” said Sepa’s spokesman.
“If methane were escaping from a well, Sepa would advise that it is reported to the regulators involved in the control of these operations. This would include Sepa, the Department of Energy and Climate Change, the local planning authority, the Health and Safety Executive, and the Coal Authority.”
Methane, a major component of flammable natural gas, is regarded by gas companies as an explosion risk in concentrations of over 40,000 parts per million. It is also a very powerful greenhouse gas, causing 21 times more global warming than carbon dioxide.
“These allegations underline legitimate concerns surrounding unconventional gas,” said Labour’s environment spokeswoman, Claire Baker MSP.
“There is a desperate need for clarity, transparency and a truly robust scrutiny process to assess the safety of such sites before we start to see a rapid expansion of unconventional gas. As a matter of urgency, the Scottish government must bring forward national guidelines to clarify the situation."
Eight exploration and pilot production wells were dug in the Canonbie area by Greenpark Energy in 2007 and 2008, and Sepa issued two licences permitting the controversial technology of fracking to extract underground gas. Greenpark was taken over by the Australian company, Dart Energy, in April 2012.
“We strongly deny that we have well integrity issues with any of our wells, nor is there danger of leaking of natural gas,” said a spokesman for Dart Energy on Friday afternoon.
“We are in regular discussion with Sepa whose representatives are welcome, as always, to visit our sites as they have done previously. Sepa has confirmed within the past few hours that the only suggestion that wells are leaking has come from the Sunday Herald newspaper.”
update, 24 June 2013
An investigation by Sepa has uncovered no evidence of gas leaks at the Canonbie site. “Following reports of leaks from coal bed methane wells in the Canonbie area, Sepa carried out an investigation which included on-site scientific analysis," said a spokesman for the agency.
"The results showed no presence of methane, carbon dioxide or any other restricted substance and there was no reduction in oxygen levels around the well or along associated pipework. Therefore, it has been concluded that no follow-up work, or enforcement action, will be required. A full report is available on our website.”
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