Dart Energy welcomes Airth CBM inquiry

Dart Energy has welcomed the start of the public inquiry into its proposed coal bed methane (CBM) development at Airth, near Falkirk, Scotland. The inquiry will commence on 18^th March.

Public inquiry

The public inquiry, which is expected to last three weeks, was deemed necessary by the representative appointed by the Scottish Government, after Dart Energy appealed to it on the grounds of non-decision.

If the CBM development is approved the gas will be delivered into the national grid and the produced water treated to standards agreed with the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) and discharged to the Firth of Forth under licence.

Drilling for gas

The proposed development includes the drilling of 22 wells, development of Inter-Site Connection Services, site access tracks, a Gas Delivery and Water Treatment Facility, ancillary facilities, infrastructure and associated water outfall point. Over the 20-25 year life of the development, the expected gas recovered will amount to 0.02% of the annual UK gas consumption.

Low carbon economy

Douglas Bain, UK Country Manager, commented: "We are pleased to have the opportunity through the public inquiry of demonstrating the important strategic role gas will need to play in delivering safe, secure and economical energy to the UK in the coming decades as we transition to a low carbon economy.

CBM production

"We will seek through the public inquiry to address and allay with scientific rigour the concerns of the communities and at the same time correct the many myths surrounding the production of coal bed methane," Bain concluded.

Adapted from press release by Katie Woodward

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcoal.com/cbm/17032014/dart_welcomes_cbm_inquiry_625/