ISLAND GAS LTD.
APPLICATION UNDER SECTION 73 OF THE TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING ACT (1990) TO VARY CONDITION 2 OF PERMISSION 1/43/97/23 TO ALLOW THE CONTINUED USE OF THE OILFIELD FOR A FURTHER TWENTY YEARS
AT
SOUTH LEVERTON OILFIELD, COMPRISING OF WELLSITES 6, 7, 8 AND 13, LAND BETWEEN SOUTH LEVERTON AND TRESWELL, NOTTINGHAMSHIRE.
SUPPORTING STATEMENT
May 2012
2012 Island Gas Ltd..
APPLICATION UNDER SECTION 73 OF THE TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING ACT (1990) TO VARY CONDITION 2 OF PERMISSION 1/43/97/23 TO ALLOW THE CONTINUED USE OF THE OILFIELD FOR A FURTHER TWENTY YEARS
AT
SOUTH LEVERTON OILFIELD, COMPRISING OF WELLSITES 6, 7, 8 AND 13 LAND BETWEEN SOUTH LEVERTON AND TRESWELL, NOTTINGHAMSHIRE.
SUPPORTING STATEMENT
May 2012
Author Mr. M Jervis Estates Manager, Island Gas Ltd.
Report Status Final
Date of Issue 11th May 2012
DISTRIBUTION Date Issued To: Name No. 11/05/2012 Nottinghamshire County Council Via Planning Portal 1 11/05/2012 Island Gas Ltd. Mr. M. Jervis 1
CONTENTS Page
1. INTRODUCTION 1.1. Background 1 1.2. The Applicant 1 1.3. South Leverton Oilfield 2 1.4. Location and Description 2 1.5. Geology and Hydrology 3
2. SITE DETAILS 2.1. Wellsite 7 4 2.2. Wellsite 6 5 2.3. Wellsite 13 5 2.4. Wellsite 8 6
3. OPERATIONS DESCRIPTION 3.1. General 7 3.2. Oil Production 7 3.3. Production Rates and Lifetime 7 3.4. Security and site Monitoring 8 3.5. Surface Water and Waste Disposal 8 3.6. Site Maintenance 8 3.7. Environmental Permitting 8
4. RESTORATION AND AFTERCARE 4.1. Restoration 9 4.2. Aftercare 9
5. PROPOSED VARIATION OF CONDITION 5.1. Existing Condition 10 5.2. Proposed Variation 10
6. TRANSPORT 6.1. Access to Sites 11 6.2. Transport Routes 11 6.3. Transport Movements 11 13 7. NOISE
South Leverton Oilfield May 2012
8. LANDSCAPE AND VISUAL IMPACT 8.1. Landscape Character 14 8.2. Visual Impact 14
9. FLOOD RISK 9.1. General 16 9.2. Flood Risk Mapping 17 9.3. Historic Flooding and mitigation 17 9.4. Assessment of Flood Risk 18
10. OTHER POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS 10.1. Contamination and Groundwater Protection 19 10.2. Dust 19 10.3. Ecology 19 10.4. Statutorily Designated Sites 19 10.5. Public Rights of Way 20 10.6. Archaeology and Cultural Heritage 20
11. CUMMULATIVE IMPACT 21
12. PLANNING POLICY 12.1. Policy Framework 22 12.2. Minerals Local Plan 22 12.3. Nottinghamshire Emerging Policy 23 12.4. Bassetlaw Local Development Framework 23 12.5. National Planning Policy Framework 24 APPENDICES
1. PLANS SLVO – 01A Oilfield Location 1:50,000 SLVO – 02A Oilfield Overview 1:5,000
2. Wellsite 7 – Plans and Photographs
3. Wellsite 6 – Plans and Photographs
4. Wellsite 13 – Plans and Photographs
5. Wellsite 8 – Plans and Photographs
6. Noise Assessment
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1. INTRODUCTION
1.1. Background Planning permission for the South Leverton Oilfield was originally granted in the 1950s and was subject to relatively few conditions. In recognition of the need to apply updated conditions to mineral permissions granted in the 1950s, 60s and 70s, the Environment Act 1995 introduced introduced a requirement that all mineral planning consents granted after 1948 should be subject to an Initial Review followed by Periodic Reviews every 15 years thereafter.
The initial review of the South Leverton field was undertaken in 1997 and the field currently operates under conditions determined during this review (Ref: 1/43/97/23). In respect of the lifetime of the development, Condition 2 states that:
The use of the wells for oilfield operations shall cease on or before 31 st December 2012 and the wells restored to agricultural use within six months of the cessation of use of that well for oilfield operations. Although production has gradually declined over the years, an economic quantity of oil is still being produced from the field, and the field is believed to be capable of sustaining such production for a number of years from 30 th December 2012.
This application is therefore brought before Nottinghamshire County Council (NCC), as the appropriate Mineral Planning Authority (MPA) to allow the retention of the oil field and the recovery of hydrocarbons for a further twenty years.
Future operations would not involve any further built development and the granting of such an extension will allow the full exploitation of the field to be achieved. Following the cessation of oilfield operations, the sites would be appropriately restored.
1.2. The Applicant Island Gas Limited is part of the IGas Energy Group, an integrated energy company that produces oil, gas and electricity from a number of onshore oilfields in the United Kingdom. Its principal operations are focused on oil and gas fields in the northwest of England, North Wales, Hampshire, Surrey, West Sussex, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire.
The company employs some 80 staff in the East Midlands Area and spends in excess of £1m annually on taking services from local companies to support its operations.
In the East Midlands the company has recently taken a number of apprentices for long term training, and it is envisaged that these apprentices will replace staff due for retirement in the near future.
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1.3. South Leverton Oilfield The South Leverton oil field, discovered in the late 1950s, was originally developed by BP and initially consisted of seven sites linked by underground pipelines. Three of the outlying sites have since been abandoned and restored, with four sites remaining.
Oil is currently produced from one of these sites, with a further site requiring a work-over before it could be brought back into production, and the remaining two being used for reservoir management and monitoring purposes.
Oil occurs at two levels in the Namurian Millstone Grit and one in the Wesphalian Lower Coal Measures, however the only currently producing sandstone is the Crawshaw Sandstone of the Lower Coal Measures.
At its peak the oilfield produced some 160 bbls of oil per day but production has now declined to less than 3% of that figure.
With the exception of the pipeline connecting wellsite 13 and wellsite 7 the underground pipelines linking the sites are now abandoned and fluids produced from wellsite 7 are stored on site pending collection by road tanker for transport to Gainsborough 05 site, from where it is transferred by road to be refined at Immingham.
1.4. Location and Description The wellsites are located between the villages of Treswell and South Leverton, approximately 8.5km east of Retford.
The surrounding area is largely given over to agriculture, with fields being delineated by mature hedgerows with occasional trees. The River Trent, which flows from south to north, lies approximately 3.5km to the east. Cottam Power Station, which lies approximately 2.5km to the east of the Oilfield, dominates the local landscape.
The bulk of residential properties are located within the numerous villages in the area, with the villages being linked by a network of relatively minor roads. Major transport links are absent in the immediate vicinity of the oilfield, with the A57 lying 5.5km to the south. An extensive network of agricultural tracks affords access to the area immediately surrounding the wellsites.
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Wellsites 7, 6 and 13 lie to the northeast of Treswell and are accessed via a track locally known as Rampton Lane, which runs north from the public highway, Green Lane, before turning westwards. Wellsite 8 lies to the north of Treswell and is accessed from Treswell Road and thereafter by a track locally known as Beckingham Lane.
For further details of all the sites locations, see drawing numbers SLVO-01A and SLVO- 02A, which are reproduced at Appendix 1.
1.5. Geology and Hydrology British Geological Survey (BGS) mapping shows the greater part of the oilfield to be devoid of any significant superficial deposits however wellsite 6 is underlain by head deposits. Such deposits typically comprise of a poorly sorted mixture of gravels, sands and clays, dependent on their upslope source and distance from source. To the east of the oilfield, the Trent Washlands are dominated by extensive areas of alluvium and sand and gravel.
The underlying solid geology consists of sediments of the Mercia Mudstone Group, which area characterised by red or green-grey mudstones with occasional subordinate siltstones. Thin beds of gypsum/anhydrite are widespread and sandstones are also present.
The area surrounding the wellsites is drained by a number of artificial ditches which flow eastwards into the Catchwater Drain, which runs northwards, alongside Rampton Lane, eventually draining into the River Trent.
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2. SITE DETAILS
2.1. Wellsite 7 The wellsite, centred at SK 789 796, lies approximately 100m to the north of Green Lane, Treswell. It is roughly rectangular in shape, extending to 0.25ha. and lying at an elevation of 12m AOD. The extent of the site is shown on drawing number SLV7-05A which, along with photographs of the site, is reproduced at Appendix 2.
The site is currently the sole operational wellsite and is accessed by a roadway, known locally as Rampton Lane, which runs north from the public highway. It is secured by concrete post and chain link fencing, and a number of motion sensors are present which are capable of detecting any unauthorized access to the site.
A single nodding donkey is located to the south of the site’s centre, with a bunded atmospheric storage tank lying immediately to the east of the well. Underground oil pipelines from the remote sites converge on an above ground pipe manifold to the south of the well and storage tanks but these pipelines are no longer in use.
In addition to a small storage container, the incoming site electricity supply, transformer and site electrics are all located close to the northern boundary. A fire water storage tank is located immediately to the south of the main access gates, with two collection sumps between the tank and the site’s eastern boundary.
The site’s principal access gates are located on the eastern boundary, with an emergency access gate close to the northwestern corner of the site. An HGV turning circle occupies the westernmost part of the site, with a concrete tanker loading pad being located immediately to the north of the storage tank.
The closest residential property lies to the south of Green Lane, approximately 150m from the site’s southern boundary. Views of the site from the public highway and nearby residential properties are limited by the presence of mature trees which line the highway and Rampton Lane, intervening hedgerows and planting along the southern boundary of the site.
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2.2. Wellsite 6 The wellsite, centred at SK 790 799, lies 350m to the north of Green Lane, Treswell. It is roughly square in shape, extending to 0.20ha. and lying at an elevation of approximately 12m AOD. The extent of the site is shown on drawing number SLV6-06A which, along with photographs of the site, is reproduced at Appendix 3.
The site is accessed by Rampton Lane, which runs north from the public highway, with access gates situated on its southern boundary and an emergency gate on the northern boundary. The site’s southern and eastern boundaries are delineated by mature, hawthorn dominated hedgerows of up to 5m in height.
A topsoil storage bund is located in the southwestern corner of the site, with a number of semi-mature trees close to the bund and along the site’s western boundary. Aside from the wellhead and associated pipework, no structures or plant are present and the area is secured by chain link fencing.
The closest residential property, South Grange, lies approximately 300m to the southeast of the site. Again, views of the wellsite from the highway or nearby residential properties are minimised by mature trees lining the highway and Rampton Lane and intervening hedgerows.
2.3. Wellsite 13 The wellsite, centred at SK 786 798, lies 500m to the north of Green Lane, Treswell. It is roughly rectangular in shape, extending to 0.17ha. and lying at an elevation of approximately 20m AOD. The extent of the site is shown on drawing number SLV13-06A which, along with photographs of the site, is reproduced at Appendix 4.
The site is accessed by an unnamed track which runs south from Rampton Lane, which in turn affords access to Green Lane to the south. Access is gained from gates on the eastern boundary, with an emergency gate close to the northwestern corner of the site.
The site is secured by chain link fencing and, aside from the wellhead and associated pipework, no structures or plant are present. Subject to a workover and the re-installation of a nodding donkey, this site may be relatively rapidly brought back into production.
The closest residential property, Brookside Farm, lies approximately 350m to the south however, owing to the topography and established vegetation, there are no direct views of the site from this or any other residential property.
Ashton’s Meadow Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) lies 90m to the north of the site’s northern boundary.
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2.4. Wellsite 8 The wellsite, centred at SK 784 795, lies 250m to the east of Treswell Road, to the north of Treswell village. It is roughly rectangular in shape, extending to 0.18ha. and lying at an elevation of approximately 18m AOD. The extent of the site is shown on drawing number SLV8-06A which, along with photographs of the site, is reproduced at Appendix 5.
It is accessed by a track, known locally as Beckingham Lane, which runs eastwards from the public highway. Aside from the wellhead and associated pipework, no plant is present on the site.
A number of residential properties lie within 200m to the south of the site. As a result of the topography and established hedgerows, the site is not visible from any residential property or the public highway. A builder’s yard has been developed in the last few years in the vicinity of the south western boundary of the site but there is no inter-visibility between the oil well and the builder’s yard due to the presence of a substantial boundary hedge.
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3. OPERATIONS DESCRIPTION
3.1. General Oil is currently produced exclusively from wellsite 7. Following extraction it is stored on-site in a bunded tank pending collection by road tanker. The well site processes are limited to extraction of oil and no oil processing facilities exist on any site.
3.2. Oil Production The oil is brought to the surface by the use of a beam pump commonly known as a nodding donkey, which consists of an electric motor attached to the nodding donkey, which is in turn attached to a system of cranks and arms which converts the rotary mechanism of the motor to a vertical reciprocating motion to drive the pump shaft.
The pump itself is located at the bottom of the borehole and consists of a series of valves which pump the oil which collects into the bottom of the borehole through perforations in the borehole casing. The speed and travel of the pump controls the amount of fluids that are pumped. The nodding donkey operates 24 hours per day 365 days per year apart from routine or breakdown maintenance.
The nodding donkey is mounted on a concrete plinth and over a sump of concrete construction that is referred to as a well cellar and houses the oil well head and isolation valves. The well cellars are of impervious construction and are designed to provide spill containment during well head maintenance operations.
The wells are designed with three concentric casings of different diameters to address bursting, collapse, buckling and tensile loading, with a safety factor designed in for each. The casing design is based on site sub-surface data collected from geological surveys and this helped determine the size, strength and setting depths of the casing.
The area surrounding the well cellars on each site is of concrete construction, with the remaining operational area of the wellsites being surfaced with compacted hardcore.
3.3. Production Rates and Lifetime An independent report undertaken in January 2011 indicated that the field contained reserves were estimated to be 44,000 bbls of oil. Currently the field produces around 2,200 bbls per annum and it is envisaged that the field is capable of supporting this level of production in the foreseeable future. Accordingly this application seeks an extension of twenty years to allow the full exploitation of the remaining economically recoverable reserves.
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3.4. Security and Site Monitoring The sites are unmanned however wellsite 7 receives regular, scheduled visits, whilst those sites which are not currently producing receive less frequent monitoring visits. Unauthorised access to the sites is prevented by security fencing, with the main gates being of sufficient size to allow access by HGVs.
At wellsite 7, security is backed up by an alarm system. In the event of excess pressure at the well head, an automatic shutdown system is in place. In addition to this, a trip switch on the collecting tank prevents overfilling of the tank.
3.5. Surface Water and Waste Disposal Rainwater collecting in the site sumps is periodically pumped to a road tanker for transport to Gainsborough 05 for processing.
All waste materials arising from any site maintenance operations undertaken are removed from site and transported to the Gainsborough 05 for collection and appropriate off-site recovery or disposal.
3.6. Site Maintenance Vegetation growth within the operational areas is kept to a minimum by means of the spot applications of herbicides and all working areas are subject to regular inspections in accordance with IGas Energy’s preventative maintenance system.
3.7. Environmental Permitting The site is subject to a permit issued by the Environment Agency. The Permit, number WP3531LU, relates to; “The loading, unloading or handling of, the storage of, or the physical, chemical or thermal treatment of crude oil” . The Permit is regularly updated resulting from minor site changes and through compliance notices and there is a full audit, including site inspections, at least once a year.
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4. RESTORATION AND AFTERCARE
4.1. Restoration Following the permanent cessation of activities at the site, and in compliance with Condition 3 of the existing permission, all plant and machinery will be removed from the site and the well(s) plugged in accordance with current best practice.
Owing to the dispersed nature of the wellsites and the varied influence of the immediate surrounding areas and habitats, the restoration of each wellsite will be undertaken separately in accordance with a scheme to be agreed with the MPA.
Given the nature of the surrounding area it is envisaged that the majority of the sites will be restored to agriculture however, in cases where the sites are surrounded by established vegetation, a restoration to woodland or similar amenity afteruse may be more appropriate.
4.2. Aftercare An appropriate period of aftercare will be undertaken to ensure the successful regeneration of the sites.
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5. PROPOSED VARIATION OF CONDITION
5.1. Existing Condition Condition 2 currently states that:
The use of the wells for oilfield operations shall cease on or before 31st December 2012 and the wells restored to agricultural use within six months of the cessation of use of that well for oilfield operations. 5.2. Proposed Variation As will all oilfields, it is impossible to predict the potential lifetime of the field with any degree of certainty and its potential lifetime may fluctuate as a result of global economic factors. In order to allow for this uncertainty, it is proposed to retain the oilfield and continue oilfield operations for a further twenty years.
Accordingly this application seeks to vary the wording of Condition 2 to read:
The use of the wells for oilfield operations shall cease on or before 31st December 2032 and the wells restored to agricultural use within six months of the cessation of use of that well for oilfield operations.
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6. TRANSPORT
6.1. Access to Sites Sites 6, 7 and 13 are accessed via Rampton Lane, which provides access directly to Green Lane, the public highway.
The junction of Rampton Lane and Green Lane lies immediately to the east of the bridge over the Catchwater Drain. In the vicinity of the junction, Green Lane is subject to a 40mph speed limit, with a change to the National Speed Limit lying 85m to the east and a 30mph limit through Treswell lying 350m to the southwest.
Green Lane is approximately 7m in width and sightlines in both directions are good. The closest significant junction is that between Green Lane and Rampton Road, which lies 170m to the east.
Access to wellsite 8 is via Beckingham Lane, which leads directly onto Treswell Road, which at this point is subject to the National Speed Limit.
6.2. Transport Routes Tankers leaving wellsite 7 turn right out of Rampton Lane, heading westwards into Treswell, then turn northwards along Treswell Road, to South Leverton. Upon reaching Sturton le Steeple, the tankers make a right turn, continuing northwards to access the A620 at the roundabout immediately west of Bole. Thereafter access to Gainsborough 05 is via the A631.
The same route is utilised by light vehicle visiting the sites for monitoring purposes.
6.3. Transport Movements Aside from the sole active site, transport movements are restricted to general maintenance and inspection visits. Oil and produced water are removed from wellsite 7 by road tanker for transport to Gainsborough 05 for initial processing and storage.
Transport movements associated with general inspection and maintenance of wellsite 7 involves one light van visiting the site twice a day, with the non-producing sites being visited daily.
Major maintenance such as the repair of rods or tubing, or the repair of the bottom hole pump will involve a workover rig being brought to site along with support vehicles. The duration of the work is generally in the order of five working days.
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In addition to the rig being brought to and removed from the site there is generally one HGV in and out per day and up to ten van movements (5 in and 5 out) per day for the workover crew and the support facilities. Unless there are emergency requirements, any maintenance work will be carried out during normal working hours.
HGV movements associated with the removal of oil and produced water from wellsite 7 will be 1 in and 1 out per week and these will be during normal working hours. In addition there will be, on average, a tanker visit the operational site twice per month to clean out the site sumps associated with the well cellars and tank bunds.
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7. NOISE
7.1. Noise A Noise Assessment was undertaken by URS during early 2012 and is reproduced in full at Appendix 6. The assessment considers the cumulative noise impact of the existing operational wellsite (wellsite 7) and potential noise from wellsite 13, should it become operational in the future.
Residential premises have been identified as the principal noise sensitive receptors and a combination of mapping, aerial photography and a site walkover has been undertaken to identify any such properties in the surrounding area.
Noise level predictions have been undertaken, with the prediction methodology assuming downwind propagation, which would be representative of typical worst case noise levels that may arise under downwind conditions. As oil extraction operations are undertaken continuously, the assessment has been undertaken with regard to the night time noise level criterion as this is the time of day when the greatest noise impact would be expected to occur.
The predicted noise levels have been compared with current guidelines at neighbouring identified residential properties and the assessment has indicated that the noise level criterion would not be exceeded at any identified noise sensitive properties.
It is therefore concluded that the existing operations at wellsite 7, including an assumption that wellsite 13 may become operational in the future, would give rise to cumulative noise levels comfortably below the criteria set out in current planning guidance.
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8. LANDSCAPE AND VISUAL IMPACT
8.1. Landscape Character The landscape surrounding the oilfield is outlined in the Bassetlaw Landscape Character Assessment, with the sites lying within the Landscape Character Area known as the Mid- Nottinghamshire Farmlands and more particularly within “Policy Zone 06, Treswell”. The Policy Zone is characterised by arable farmland with trimmed, well maintained hedgerows separating relatively small fields.
The village of Treswell contains a number of listed buildings and the area is crossed by narrow, hedged lanes and includes areas of meadow, one of which is classified as a SSSI (Ashton’s Meadow). Tree cover is generally low although the trees present can provide a sense of wooded views within a landscape that has no significant blocks of woodland. The overall aims of the Policy are to conserve the historic field pattern, tree cover, biodiversity and areas of unimproved grassland.
The Catchwater Drain, which runs immediately to the east of Rampton Lane between wellsites 6 and 7, forms the eastern boundary of Policy Zone 06. Along much of the zone’s boundary there is no physical line marking the change in areas, but a gradual change in elevation, field patterns and flora.
The neighbouring zone, to the east, is the Trent Washlands Character Area “Policy Zone TWPZ21” consists predominantly of large scale arable landscapes, with a smaller scale pastoral landscape around Cottam, Rampton and Church Laneham.
Views within the policy area are dominated by power stations and pylons, and the fields are generally bounded by well-trimmed, mature hedgerows with trees, whilst the roadside hedges are less well maintained. Long distance views north and south across open landscapes are constrained by distance, whilst long distance views east and west are constrained by wooded ridge lines. The landscape condition is described as good with an emphasis to “conserve and reinforce”.
8.2. Visual Impact Long-distance views of the area surrounding the oilfield are dominated by the presence of Cottam and West Burton Power Stations. Closer to the oilfield, a combination of well- established boundary hedgerows, coupled with small areas of mature woodland, serve to limit medium distance views and screen the wellsites.
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The sites themselves are generally unobtrusive, with the majority having limited infrastructure and being virtually indistinguishable from surrounding agricultural land uses.
Owing to the equipment in place, wellsite 7 is more easily distinguished however all plant and equipment is located so as to provide the minimal impact possible and is painted green in order to blend in with its surroundings. As there is no further proposed development outside the existing wellsites, there will be no additional impact on the local landscape.
Wellsite 7 is well screened from the east by a thick, establish hedgerow which borders Rampton Lane, and from the south and southwest by field boundary hedgerows, which screen the site from the public highway and residential properties. Views into the site remain from Rampton Lane immediately to the east of the site, and from the north and northwest.
Wellsite 6 is screened from the east by a hedgerow, which is a northwards continuance of the hedgerow which borders the eastern side of Rampton Lane. The southern boundary of the site is marked by an established, hawthorn dominated hedgerow which serves to limit views of the site from Rampton Lane. A number of semi-mature trees are present close to the southwestern corner of the site, which provide additional screening from Rampton Lane to the west. Views of the site from the north and northwest remain, however there are limited receptors in this direction.
Wellsite 13 is screened from Treswell, to the south, by an established hedgerow, which also extends along the eastern boundary and prevents distant views of the site from Rampton Lane. A number of semi-mature trees border the site to the north and west however long distance views of the site are prevented by a combination of the topography and field boundary hedgerows.
Wellsite 8 is bordered to the south and west by established hedgerows, and field boundary hedgerows to the north and east combine to restrict any views of the site from all but the immediately adjacent field.
The oil well sites lie on the margin of Policy Zone TWPZ21 and, owing to the intervening hedgerows and trees, there is virtually no inter-visibility between the sites and the land forming the Trent Washlands. The oil well sites do not therefore impact on Policy Zone TWPZ21.
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9. FLOOD RISK
9.1. General As set out in the National Planning Policy Framework, inappropriate development in areas at risk of flooding should be avoided by directing development away from areas at highest risk, but where development is necessary, making it safe without increasing flood risk elsewhere.
Section 1: Flood Risk, of the Technical Guidance to the NPPF requires the assessment of the acceptability of any planned development based upon flood risk to the site and the vulnerability of the proposed use. Within this guidance areas are defined in relation to their probability of flooding, as set out in Table 1, below.
Zone Probability of flooding Appropriate Land Uses LOW 1 All uses appropriate 1 in 1,000 year (<0.1%) MEDIUM Water compatible, less vulnerable, more 2 1 in 100 to 1 in 1,000 year fluvial (1% - vulnerable and essential infrastructure 0.1%). 1 in 200 – 1 in 1,000 year tidal HIGH 3a 1in 100 year or greater fluvial (1%) Water compatible and less vulnerable 1 in 200 year or greater tidal (2%) FUNCTIONAL FLOODPLAIN 3b Water compatible 1 in 20 (5%) or greater
Table 1. Flood risk zones. For definitions of appropriate land uses, see NPPF Technical Guidance Table 2.
The NPPF defines appropriate development for differing levels of flood risk through application of the Flood Risk Vulnerability Classification. The categories are defined as Less Vulnerable, More Vulnerable, Highly Vulnerable, Water Compatible Development and Essential Infrastructure.
Table 2 of the NPPF shows the vulnerability classification of listed land use types. This shows that mineral working and waste treatment sites are considered to fall within the ‘Less Vulnerable’ category.
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9.2. Flood Risk Mapping The EA’s flood zone mapping (Figure 1, below) shows indicative flood outlines based on a broad scale assessment of fluvial flood risk only, and does not take into account the protection offered by any defences. Wellsites 6, 8 and 13 lie entirely within Flood Zone 1, as does the greater part of wellsite 7. The southeastern corner of wellsite 7 however lies in flood zones 2 and 3.
Figure 1. Extract from EA Flood Risk Mapping. Sites marked in red, not to scale
A Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) was undertaken on behalf of Bassetlaw District Council by JBA Consulting in 2009. This report aimed to identify and analyse current and future broad scale flooding issues and to refine information on areas that may flood, taking into account all sources of flooding (e.g. pluvial and fluvial) and the impacts of climate change.
The SFRA contains a number of drawings, with drawing number 2008s3509 – 013 (Defended Flood Outlines View 6 of 6) showing all areas of the oilfield to lie outside of the defended flood zones 2 and 3.
9.3. Historic Flooding and Mitigation The floods of June 2007 resulted in the flooding of numerous properties on Cottam Road in Treswell. The properties were affected by flooding from Lee Beck, which backed up as the culvert beneath the highway could not handle the volume of floodwaters.
During 2011, flood relief works were undertaken in the vicinity of the culvert beneath Green Lane, approximately 100m to the south of wellsite 7. These works involved the construction of a relief overflow immediately upstream of the highway culvert, which is designed to carry excessive flows direct to the Catchwater Drain via a field channel and triple pipes under Rampton Lane.
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9.4. Assessment of Flood Risk Owing to the local topography, wellsites 6, 8 and 13 are considered to be at negligible risk of flooding from any source, and the permeable nature of the sites’ surface results in negligible run-off and consequently no risk to any third party properties.
Whilst a small section of wellsite 7 lies within the EA’s Flood Zone 3, more detailed modelling undertaken as part of the SFRA has confirmed the entire site to lie in the SFRA Flood Zone 1. There is no recorded history of flooding at the site and the recent flood mitigation works to the south of the site have combined to reduce any risk of flooding even further.
There is negligible surface run-off from the surrounding agricultural land and the sites are not prone to flooding from surface water run-off from such land or any of the nearby tracks.
Owing to the underlying geology, significant groundwaters are absent beneath the and there is no evidence of historic groundwater flooding. There are no significant artificial water bodies located within the immediate vicinity and no mains sewerage connection to the sites.
The sites contain limited areas of impermeable hardstanding and their retention will not require any additional hardstanding. Surface water run-off will therefore remain at similar levels and there will be no increased risk to any third party properties.
It can therefore be concluded that, overall, the retention of the sites will not lead to any increase in flood risk and, although a small section of wellsite 7 lies within the EA’s Flood Zone 3, data contained within the Bassetlaw SFRA confirms that the site is not at risk of flooding. Furthermore, as it the land use is considered to be ‘less vulnerable’, its location in Flood Zone 3 is deemed as being acceptable.
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10. OTHER POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
10.1. Contamination and Groundwater Protection Operations at all operational sites are carried out under a Pollution Prevention and Control permit issued by the Environment Agency. The Permit No HP3639MT allows the loading unloading or handling of, the storage of, or the physical chemical or thermal treatment of crude oil, the storage of raw materials and the transport of production fluids between Well Site 13 and Well Site 7. Compliance with this permit, along with Star Energy’s in house safety procedures, ensure that the risk of contamination occurring are reduced to a minimum.
10.2. Dust The activities carried out at the site do not give rise to significant levels of dust and operational experience throughout the United Kingdom has shown that plant identical to that installed at the site can operate in close proximity to sensitive receptors without cause for concern.
The only potential for dust nuisance is from vehicles accessing the site however the potential for dust generation is minimised by maintaining all areas accessible by vehicles in an appropriate condition.
10.3. Ecology Operational areas of all wellsites are surfaced with aggregate and are consequently of negligible ecological value. Peripheral grassed areas are maintained at least annually or more frequently if required.
10.4. Statutorily Designated Sites A search of the MAGIC database and Natural England’s ‘Nature on the Map’ has identified Ashton’s Meadow, 90m to the north of wellsite 13, as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The SSSI extends to approximately 3.6 ha is noted as an area of species-rich neutral grassland. The meadow was purchased by the Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust in 1985.
This traditional meadow has a variety of flowers and grasses, including cowslip, green winged orchid, yellow rattle, pignut, adders tongue and oxeye daisy.
Owing to the contained nature of the operations on the sites, the continued use of the oilfield will have no impact upon the SSSI.
No further statutory site have been identified within 500m of any wellsite.
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10.5. Public Rights of Way There are a number of footpaths, bridleways and byways in the area surrounding the oilfield.
The access to wellsite 8, Beckingham Lane, is designated as a bridleway (South Leverton BW10), whilst the access serving sites 6, 7 and 13, Rampton Lane, is designated as a byway (South Leverton BY12).
In additional to these principle rights of way, numerous public footpaths cross the area, providing links between other rights of ways. Whilst the majority of these footpaths do not pass directly by any wellsite, the access to wellsite 13, which leads south from Rampton Lane, is a public footpath (South Leverton FP13) which links Rampton Lane and Beckingham Lane.
The contained nature of the wellsites ensures that the operations have negligible impact upon any right of way and, as no development outside of the existing sites is proposed, this situation will remain.
10.6. Archaeology and Cultural Heritage The application does not call for any additional built development and therefore there will be no impact upon any archaeological resource.
The village of Treswell contains a number of listed buildings however none are considered to be impacted by the oilfield.
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11. CUMULATIVE IMPACT
It is recognised that, although the impact of the individual sites is minimal, the perceived cumulative impact of a number of sites in close proximity to each other could be significant and this is considered below.
The total area of land occupied by all wellsites is 0.8ha. This is set in a landscape of some 25ha. and therefore the oil wells only represent some 3.2% of land use. This small amount of land use is considered to have a negligible impact.
Owing to a combination of topography and established woodland, intervisibility between the sites is limited and in effect there is no cumulative impact arising from the four sites. The transport serving the sites is low in numbers and therefore there is no large scale aggregation of traffic numbers affecting and having a detrimental impact on the area.
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12. PLANNING POLICY
12.1. Policy Framework NCC has responsibility for all mineral planning control within the County and is considered to be the competent authority in respect of this application. The site lies within the Bassetlaw District and, whilst not necessarily relating directly to oil and gas applications, policies contained within the Local Development Framework (LDF) have also been considered where relevant.
In addition to the above, account has been taken of National planning policy in the form of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), which was published on 27th March 2012. The majority of Minerals Planning Guidance Notes and Minerals Policy Statements were cancelled with the publication of the NPPF.
12.2. Minerals Local Plan The Nottinghamshire Minerals Local Plan (MLP) was adopted on 5th December 2005 following several periods of public consultation and a public inquiry. Following a submission by the County Council, the Secretary of State directed that, with seven exceptions, all MLP policies be saved until replaced by new adopted policies. None of the seven exceptions are considered to have any direct relevance to this application.
Of the retained policies, Chapter 13 of the MLP, ‘ Oil, Coalbed Methane and Mine Gas’ is consider to be the most relevant chapter to this application and highlights that, in addition to contributing to the local economy, the Government receives considerable revenues in the form of taxes and royalties from oil production and that, despite the relative insignificance of onshore oil, it remains a cheap and economic resource to exploit when compared to its North Sea counterpart.
At paragraph 13.16 the MLP recognises that, in land-use terms, oil is very economical and the environmental impacts associated with its extraction are normally limited.
Policy M13.3 OIL PRODUCTION states that:
Proposals for the production, processing or transport of oil will be permitted provided that they are: (a) consistent with an overall scheme enabling the full development of the resources; (b) there are no unacceptable impacts on the environment and to residential amenity.
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The operations across the South Leverton oilfield are undertaken in line with current best practice and the retention of the oilfield for a further period of time will ensure that the resources will be developed fully.
At Paragraph 13.29 of the MLP, it is recognised that ‘Boreholes often pass through other underground mineral resources, which can give rise to a number of problems.’
Policy M13.6 ‘BOREHOLES – CONFLICTS WITH OTHER UNDERGROUND MINERAL RESOURCES’ states that:
Where proposals for borehole exploration and production coincide with areas containing other underground mineral resources the County Council will need to be satisfied that their exploitation will not be unreasonably affected. Despite the presence of other potential underground resources, the South Leverton oilfield operates without impact upon any other mineral resource.
POLICY M13.7 RECLAMATION OF OIL AND METHANE SITES
Where planning permission for oil and methane development is granted, conditions will be imposed requiring the site to be restored back to its original use as soon as practical once the development is no longer required. As previously identified, each individual site will be restored to the most beneficial afteruse, with due regard being given to the surrounding area and habitats present.
12.3. Nottinghamshire Emerging Policy NCC is currently preparing new minerals planning guidance in the form of their Minerals and Waste Development Framework (MWDF). The Minerals Core Strategy will set out overall approach to future mineral extraction in the County, with the Minerals Development Control Policies Document being prepared at the same time. These documents will set out policies for controlling development and making sure environmental standards are met.
Evidence gathering is now underway, with an aim of having the finalised MWDF adopted by 2013. Given the relatively early stage of the emerging MWDF, there are currently no emerging policies with direct relevance to this Periodic Review.
12.4. Bassetlaw Local Development Framework Bassetlaw District Council’s Local Plan has now been replaced by the LDF, with the Core Strategy and its Development Control policies and Proposals Map, being adopted by the Council in December 2011.
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The Core Strategy contains broad policies to cover development throughout the District until 2028. As Bassetlaw is not the MPA, the Core Strategy does not contain any policies specific to minerals developments and is therefore of limited relevance to this application.
12.5. National Planning Policy Framework The National Planning Policy Framework, published on 27 th March 2012, sets out the Government’s planning policies for England and how these are expected to be applied. Whilst the Framework does not set any specific policies in relation to the retention of minerals sites such as those at South Leverton, it nevertheless contains guidance on matters which have relevance to the development.
The NPPF is a material planning consideration in the determination of planning applications but does not change the statutory status of the Development Plan as being a starting point for decision making. At the heart of the NPPF is a presumption in favour of sustainable development.
Section 13, ‘ Facilitating the sustainable use of minerals ’, addresses issues which must be assessed when considering minerals applications. The NPPF recognises that minerals are essential to support sustainable economic growth and our quality of life and the importance of ensuring a sufficient supply of material to provide the infrastructure, buildings, energy and goods that the country needs. In addition, it recognises that minerals are a finite natural resource, and can only be worked where they are found.
With particular reference to minerals paragraph 142 notes that ‘minerals are essential to support sustainable economic growth and our quality of life. It is therefore important that there is a sufficient supply of material to provide….energy and goods our country needs’ .
Paragraph 144 states that ‘When determining planning applications, local planning authorities should: give great weight to the benefits of the mineral extraction, including to the economy;……….’
Whilst production from the oilfield is of a relatively low level, it nevertheless contributes to the overall viability of oil extraction throughout the East Midlands, which supports a considerable number of jobs and eases the Country’s reliance on imports.
Accordingly the proposed retention of the oilfield in order to maximise the recovery of an important energy mineral without the need for any further development is considered to be in line with the aims of the NPPF.
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The Technical Guidance accompanying the NPPF provides additional guidance to local planning authorities to ensure the effective implementation of the planning policy set out in the NPPF on development in areas at risk of flooding and in relation to mineral extraction.
This guidance retains key elements of numerous Planning Policy and Minerals Policy Statements and Minerals Planning Guidance Notes, which are considered necessary and helpful in relation to these policy areas.
Where relevant the guidance has been taken into consideration throughout this document, with issues regarding noise, dust and flood risk and other potential environmental concerns being addressed in line with the procedures outlined within the NPPF.
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