French oil and gas company Total is to invest in the UK's shale gas industry, it is to be announced on Monday.
Total will be the first of the so-called "oil majors" to invest in shale gas in the UK, the BBC has confirmed.
The British Geological Survey estimates there may be 1,300 trillion cubic feet of shale gas present in the north of England.
But the process to extract shale gas - called "fracking" - has proved controversial.
Fracking - short for "hydraulic fracturing" - involves drilling deep underground and releasing a high-pressure mix of water, sand and chemicals to crack rocks and release gas stored inside.
Total is to spend tens of millions of pounds buying substantial stakes in firms with drilling licences in the north of England, where other large energy firms such as Centrica and Gaz de France have already invested.
BBC News - French oil giant Total to invest in UK shale gas
There was a time we fought to keep the French out, now we're inviting them in to come here, ck up the land and take our gas *shrug*
Bet that half is north of Watford.....
Total will be the first of the so-called "oil majors" to invest in shale gas in the UK, the BBC has confirmed.
The British Geological Survey estimates there may be 1,300 trillion cubic feet of shale gas present in the north of England.
But the process to extract shale gas - called "fracking" - has proved controversial.
Fracking - short for "hydraulic fracturing" - involves drilling deep underground and releasing a high-pressure mix of water, sand and chemicals to crack rocks and release gas stored inside.
Total is to spend tens of millions of pounds buying substantial stakes in firms with drilling licences in the north of England, where other large energy firms such as Centrica and Gaz de France have already invested.
BBC News - French oil giant Total to invest in UK shale gas
There was a time we fought to keep the French out, now we're inviting them in to come here, ck up the land and take our gas *shrug*
In December, a report commissioned by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), said more than half of the UK could be suitable for fracking.
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