damage to property, the firm added.
“We can confirm that a micro seismic event measuring 2.23ML (local magnitude) on the Richter scale
occurred at Preston New Road,” a spokeswoman said. “This lasted for around one second and resulted in
ground motion less than 1.5 mm/s. Hydraulic fracturing was not taking place at the time.”
According to the British Geological Survey, the tremor had a depth of 2km (1.2 miles) and was felt by
residents in areas including Great Plumpton, Blackpool and Lytham St Annes.
Regulators were informed and the “integrity” of the well has been confirmed, Cuadrilla said.
Fracking was temporarily stopped at the site after Wednesday’s tremor, which the company said would
have felt similar to someone dropping a large bag of shopping on the floor. Pausing work for 18 hours is the
routine response for any tremor over 0.5.
Labour’s shadow business secretary Rebecca Long Bailey has called for fracking to be banned, saying it
causes air and water pollution and contributes to climate change.
Environmental campaign group Friends of the Earth said in 60 days of fracking last year there were 57
tremors in Lancashire and that it cannot be carried out without triggering earthquakes.
“Even small vibrations at ground level can be the sign of far more damaging impacts deep underground,”
said Jamie Peters, a campaigner for the organisation.
The government has said the extraction of shale gas through fracking could support the UK’s transition to
net zero greenhouse gas emissions.