It is "highly probable" that controversial test drilling for shale gas in Lancashire triggered seismic activity in the area, a report has concluded.
The Fylde coast was struck by a tremor measuring 2.3 on the Richter scale on 1 April and a second measuring 1.5 on 27 May after US firm Cuadrilla Resources began fracking work at its nearby Preese Hall-1 well.
Green groups have called for a ban on fracking, which involves fracturing shale rock with high-powered liquid to release gas, claiming that it is unsafe and damaging to the environment. Despite being given the all-clear by MPs earlier this year, in a decision to be debated in Westminster Hall tomorrow, Cuadrilla suspended drilling in June over fears that the activity was causing earthquakes.
Today's report, commissioned by Cuadrilla, confirmed that it is "highly probable" that the company's work did trigger "minor seismic events", but that these tremors were also due to an "unusual combination of geology at the well site" and are unlikely to occur again.
The local geography limits "worst case" seismic events to around magnitude 3 on the Richter scale, the report added.
Mark Miller, Cuadrilla's chief executive, welcomed the report and said that the company will continue drilling once a warning system monitoring seismic activity is put in place.
"We are ready to put in place the early detection system that has been proposed in the report so that we can provide additional confidence and security to the local community," he said in a statement.
"Cuadrilla is working with the relevant local and national authorities to implement the report's recommendations so we may safely resume our operations."
Shale gas is keenly pursued in the US as a cheap and secure alternative to fossil fuel imports, and production in the country has expanded fivefold since 1990.
While Cuadrilla's operation is the first in the UK, the company claims to have found reserves in the region approaching 200 trillion cubic feet of gas, which would put it on a par with large energy exporting nations such as Venezuela.
Supporters of shale gas claim that, if these reserves are confirmed, around 800 wells could be drilled supporting 5,600 jobs, but opponents worry that a new dash for low-cost gas will hamper the expansion of renewable energy and have disastrous environmental consequences.
"Shale gas is still a fossil fuel, and a new dash for gas could see global temperatures skyrocket," said Nick Molho, head of energy policy at WWF-UK. "Our research shows that renewables are the best way of reducing our disproportionate vulnerability to the gas price and tackling climate change in the long term; the Government has to listen and resist the siren calls of the fossil fuel industry."
Green Party spokesman Andrew Cooper added: "Renewable technologies do not carry the same risks that fracking does. It's ironic at a time such as this that low risk technologies such as solar photo volcaics are bring cut by the Government and carbon intensive and risky technologies such as fracking are being encouraged."
Shadow energy minister Tom Greatrex said the report showed the need for a cautious approach to shale gas.
"There is real potential in the shale gas reserves which have been discovered in the UK over the past few years - and work is ongoing to properly assess the scale of these reserves," he said. "People must have the confidence that whilst the discovery of shale gas may bring many benefits, real concerns about its exploration and production need to be addressed properly by the government."
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