There has already been recent activity at 3 well sites in East Yorkshire, and at least 6 more are planned in Holderness alone:
- West Newton A – North East of Hull, halfway to the coast, near Withernwick. Currently mothballed after serious problems in 2014, but still has planning permission to drill a 2nd well.
- West Newton B – a larger site, 2km south of West Newton A, constructed in 2020.
- Crawberry Hill – just West of Beverley, between Walkington and Bishop Burton. Mini-frack test program prevented by protests; site restored to field in 2016.
- Burton Constable area – at least 6 more possible well sites are in planning.
The Oil and Gas Authority issues licences for petroleum exploration in defined areas of the UK.
PEDL 183 (Petroleum Exploration & Development Licence) is the largest licence area in the country, and covers Holderness from South Cave, Beverley and Hornsea, down almost as far as Easington.
PEDL183 licence area, shaded green, covers Holderness and beyond. It is held by Rathlin Energy, with 3 well sites so far, and many more planned.
PEDL183 is held by Rathlin Energy (UK) Ltd.
The company takes its name from the Rathlin Basin in Northern Ireland.
In October 2015 they announced they are pulling out of Northern Ireland, their only other area of interest. BBC News story.
Rathlin Energy are owned by a Canadian company, Connaught Oil and Gas Ltd.
In November 2015 it was announced Connaught are selling all of their Canadian assets to focus on East Yorkshire. Report by CanOils.
Moorhouse Drilling and Completions, from Bridlington manage the well projects.
Marriott Drilling actually do the work on site.
Total Environmental Technology, from Driffield, tanker waste from site.
The same bright orange tankers were used at Barton Moss, the extreme fossil fuel exploration site in Salford.
The workover rig used for recent testing at West Newton was also used by fracking company Cuadrilla Resources.