Controversial ‘fracking’ technique to extract gas from the ground was the ‘highly probable’ cause of earth tremors, report finds

Two earthquake tremors in north-west England earlier this year were probably caused by controversial operations to extract gas nearby, a report by the company responsible has concluded.

The two tremors, which were felt by people just outside Blackpool, but did not cause any known damage, were reported in April and May, measuring 2.3 and 1.5 on the Richter scale. Since the second event, Cuadrilla Resources has stopped “fracking” operations – where water is injected into rocks at high pressure to extract gas from the cracks.

The report, by a team of European seismic experts not usually employed by the company, concluded it was ‘highly probable’ that the two main tremors and a series of aftershocks were caused by Cuadrilla’s operations at the Preese Hall-1 Well in Lancashire.