EXCLUSIVE: Energy company hoping to drill for oil and gas between Wisborough Green and Kirdford

An energy company is hoping to explore for oil and gas at a site between Wisborough Green and Kirdford.
JPCT 220612  Public exhibition on Celtique's plans to drill for gas south of Billingshurst. Geoff Davies from Celtique right, talking to Lorraine Dale and Martin Dale. Photo by Derek MartinJPCT 220612  Public exhibition on Celtique's plans to drill for gas south of Billingshurst. Geoff Davies from Celtique right, talking to Lorraine Dale and Martin Dale. Photo by Derek Martin
JPCT 220612 Public exhibition on Celtique's plans to drill for gas south of Billingshurst. Geoff Davies from Celtique right, talking to Lorraine Dale and Martin Dale. Photo by Derek Martin

Celtique Energie, which was granted permission to test for energy deposits near Billingshurst by West Sussex County Council (WSCC) in February, wants to undertake exploratory drilling on a site north-west of Wisborough Green.

The company will be holding consultation events with residents on Friday May 17 (4-8pm) and Saturday May 18 (11am-3pm) at Kirdford Village Hall, on proposals to erect a temporary well site.

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Geoff Davies, chief executive officer at Celtique Energie, said: “We take our responsibilities as an exploration company seriously, and we will be taking all precautions to ensure that our operations have a minimal impact on the environment and the local community.”

He added: “We are fully committed to meaningful engagement with the communities in which we operate, and we look forward to meeting with members of the public to introduce ourselves as a company and listen to their feedback on our plans.”

After reviewing previous data of the region and undertaking its own seismic surveys, the company is proposing to construct a temporary well site on a remote and well screened piece of land north-west of Wisborough Green, West Sussex. The exploratory well would enable the company to test for the presence of commercially viable oil or gas reserves in the area.

Mr Davies stressed that they are looking for conventional energy deposits and that they would not be looking at the process of Fracking at this time, but did not rule submitting future applications if deposits of shale rock are found.

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Should their application for a temporary drill site from the county council be approved, and if sizeable deposits were found Celtique would have to apply for a permanent site to WSCC and the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC).

The London-based company was awarded four licenses by the DECC to explore for gas and oil in the Weald Basin, which stretches from Kent to Hampshire.

For enquiries about the public exhibition call Celtique’s community information line (9am – 5.30pm Monday to Friday) on 0800 023 2148 or email [email protected]

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