Energy engineers call for new regulatory framework for fracking

Leading energy engineers are suggesting that UK regulations on the surface vibrations caused by shale gas fracking are unnecessarily restrictive. University of Glasgow academics state in a new paper that widely applying restrictions similar to those currently in force on fracking would require a ban on heavy vehicles from passing houses or walking on wooden floors. They also state that the threat of serious earthquakes caused by fracking activity is considerably lower than commonly feared. The report, written by Dr Rob Westaway and Professor Paul Younger of the University of Glasgow's School of Engineering, is published today (Tuesday 11 November) in the Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology. They suggest that adopting a new fracking regulatory framework closer to the rules which govern activities such as quarry blasting would be a clear improvement on the current guidelines. Dr Westaway said: "Currently, the Department of Energy and Climate Change's regulation is that any fracking operation which induces surface vibrations greater than magnitude 0.5 on the Richter scale should be shut down immediately. "That level of vibration is extremely low.