Scientists from Heriot-Watt University have welcomed research findings released by Nottingham University and the British Geological Survey that suggest UK shale reserves are significantly smaller than originally estimated.
The University of Nottingham made the announcement of its findings on its website on 16 August, with the Heriot-Watt response coming on 21 August.
Commenting on the research, Heriot-Watt University’s Professor John Underhill said: “This research is an important next step in the discussion around the UK’s reliance on shale gas extraction as a solution to our current energy crisis. In 2017, our research revealed that the UK’s geology is unlikely to be suitable for hydraulic fracturing because the uplift and faulted structure of the basins are detrimental to its ultimate recovery.”
Professor Underhill previously cited the geology of three potential fracking sites to illustrate the issue: the Weald basin in southern England, the Bowland Shale in Lancashire and the West Lothian Oil Shale in Scotland.
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