Policy information sourced from the Surrey Minerals Plan

MC12 Oil and gas development

Planning applications for drilling boreholes for the exploration, appraisal or production of oil or gas will be permitted only where the mineral planning authority is satisfied that, in the context of the geological structure being investigated, the proposed site has been selected to minimise adverse impacts on the environment. The use of directional drilling to reduce potential environmental impacts should be assessed.

Planning applications for drilling to appraise potential oil or gas fields will only be permitted where the need to confirm the nature and extent of the resource, and potential means of its recovery, has been established. Well sites, including the re-use of wellheads used at the exploratory stage, should be located such that there are no significant adverse impacts.

Commercial production of oil and gas will only be permitted where it has been demonstrated that the surface/above ground facilities are the minimum required and there are no significant adverse impacts associated with extraction and processing, including processing facilities remote from the wellhead, and transport of the product.

For more information please see the Surrey Minerals Plan