"UK firm says shale fracking caused earthquakes"

Reuters:

Shale gas exploration triggered small earthquakes near Blackpool in northwest England earlier this year, UK firm Cuadrilla Resources said, adding to concerns about the safety of a technology that is transforming U.S. energy markets.

First UK shale gas fracking now under way: Cuadrilla

Via Platts:

Cuadrilla Resources Monday afternoon started fracking its Preese Hall shale gas well in Lancashire, a spokesman for the company told Platts Tuesday.

This is the first time fracking has been carried out for shale gas in the UK.

The spokesman said that fracking would take place for a few hours at a time in bursts over the next two or three weeks, with the second operation expected later this week.

The company would then look to study how much gas flowed out of the test well near Blackpool over the following weeks.