Huge Gas Field Discovered Onshore Could be UK’s Largest

The UK’s largest onshore gas field is thought to have been discovered at a drill site in East Yorkshire.

West Newton A-2, a site operated by Rathlin Energy, is believed to hold at least 189 billion cubic feet of gas – the equivalent of 31 million barrels of oil.

Investment firm Reabold Resources also said the site could also be the largest hydrocarbon discovery in the country since 1973.

Protesters have in recent months stuck themselves to lorries with glue and blocked access to the site, leading to a series of arrests.

Sachin Oza, Co-CEO of Reabold, said: “We are delighted by today’s results confirming that West Newton could potentially be the UK’s largest onshore gas field.

“The results of the well have exceeded our expectations and have also shown a significant liquid hydrocarbon volume which has increased our excitement and the future value of the field materially.

“From its onshore location near Hull and with nearby infrastructure available, we anticipate that West Newton can provide material volumes of hydrocarbons for the UK’s energy needs at low cost and in the near term.

“Success in a project of this scale would undoubtedly be transformational for Reabold and its investors. We look forward to the well test in the coming weeks and potentially generating early cash flow from the testing programme.”

Reabold confirmed further well testing is expected to take place between July and the end of September.

The Rathlin Energy site has been at the centre of controversy since East Riding Council approved plans last November to extend test drilling at West Newton.

Since then, protesters have been arrested and charged with offences including obstructing the highway and obstructing a police officer.

Watch: Protestors outside East Riding County Hall in Beverley

Earlier this month, activists “locked themselves in” to a device made of concrete and steel to block access to the site.

This involves them sticking their arms into the heavy device and using the weight to make it harder for police to move them on.

East Riding Council last year stressed the application to extend tests at the site did not include fracking, rather “conventional drilling.”

This involves drilling down to potential reservoirs of petroleum, which differs from the hydraulic fracturing of rock to obtain the mineral – otherwise known as fracking.