Plans approved to import waste water to oil well

An oil well in Surrey that has reportedly produced almost half a million barrels will continue operating through to 2036 after it was granted planning permission.

The Brockham Wellsite was given approval by Surrey County Council's planning committee to transport waste water every day to the site in Betchworth, near the Surrey Hills.

The oil field had been at risk of running low due to diminishing pressure inside the well, but will continue to operate until the end of its previously agreed lifespan, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Objectors argued oil would be shipped overseas and contribute nothing to the country's energy security.

Local resident Gerry Hamilton claimed that "seismic activity" was an identified risk from water reinjection.

He cited his claim from a study by the University College of London, which suggested a series of more than 100 small earthquakes in Newdigate from 2018 to 2019 may have been caused by oil extraction from a nearby well.

The planning application, submitted by Angus Energy, said the imported waste water was from other oil sites.s

An Angus Energy spokesperson said: "Fresh water could not be used as it is important any liquids pumped into the ground are broadly similar to what is already in the ground to avoid earthquakes caused by swelling or clay erosion."

During a council meeting, planning officers added: "HGV tankers bring in the waste water and it's then stored before being injected into the oil well."

They added that two tankers per day would be used to deliver water to the site during normal operating hours, and lorries were required to avoid Brockham village.

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