Online: | |
Visits: | |
Stories: |
Story Views | |
Now: | |
Last Hour: | |
Last 24 Hours: | |
Total: |
Claim that water contamination risk much higher in UK comes as Government set to give drilling go-ahead
Fracking poses a much bigger risk of water contamination in Britain than the US, an expert has warned.
David Smythe, Professor of Geophysics at the University of Glasgow, says those citing the US as an example of where fracking has worked are ignoring a fundamental difference to here.
His research suggests there are 400 more fault lines beneath the surface in the UK, dramatically increasing the risk of gas and oil leaking into water sources or to the surface.
The warning comes as the Government is expected to use today’s Queen’s Speech to make it easier to allow shale gas exploration firms to drill beneath private property without needing the owners’ permission.
Fracking is the process of drilling down into the earth before a high-pressure water mixture is directed at the rock to release the gas inside.