Study reveals South's shale gas and oil reserves

A report out today showing the extent of shale oil and gas in Southern England has been greeted with dismay by campaigners opposed to fracking.

The study by the British Geological Survey maps out the likely location of billions of barrels of shale oil to be found in areas across Sussex and Kent.

Ministers believe wide-scale fracking has the potential to drive down household energy bills, as it has in America.

But anti-fracking campaigners at Balcombe and elsewhere say it's destructive and dangerous. Helen Plint reports and speaks to campaigner Charles Metcalfe, Caroline Lucas MP and Robert Gatliff of the British Geological Survey.

Brighton MP Caroline Lucas has been giving her reaction to the publication of a report about possible sites across the south where shale oil and gas may be deposited.

A report by the British Geological Survey (BGS) has found that there is around 4.4 billion barrels of shale oil in parts of the south.

The study of the Weald Basin, which stretches from Wiltshire through to Kent, found that there could be 2.2-8.5 billion barrels of shale oil.

The BGS also said that these numbers are for resources and are not reserves.

Labour remain the largest party on Weymouth & Portland Council with 15 seats after gaining three.

No party is in overall control. The Conservatives have 11 seats (-3) , Liberal Democrats 6 (-1), Independents 3 and UKIP 1.

The British Geological Survey has released a map of the area where Jurassic shale oil is considered to be the most lucrative.

According to the map, areas between Southampton and Hastings, as well as Kent will be affected by "fracking".

A geological expert has said that even if there is an 'oil bonanza' in the south, then the reserves could be difficult to extract.

Professor Andrew Aplin, from Durham University has identified three problems that he thinks could affect the exploitation of reserves identified in the Weald area, which spans Sussex, Hampshire, Kent and Surrey.

He said:

The British Geological Survey (BGS) in association with the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has completed an estimate for the amount of shale oil and shale gas in the Weald Basin in south-east England.

The range of shale oil in place is estimated to be between 2.20 and 8.57 billion barrels (bbl) or 293 and 1,143 million tonnes, but the central estimate for the resource is 4.4 billion bbl or 591 million tonnes.

The case for fracking is yet to be proven on environmental or economic grounds, the national officer of the GMB union has said, reacting to reports on the forthcoming British Geological Survey, which is expected to reveal huge oil reserves across Southern England.

A report published later today from the British Geological Survey is expected to reveal huge reserves oil reserves across Southern England, the BBC reports.

The study covers areas across Sussex, Surrey and Kent, is said to say there are several billion barrels of oil in shale rocks, that could be drilled through the controversial fracking process.

The Times is reporting that the government will offer money to areas outlined in a bid to stave off criticism amid growing concerns over the safety of the procedure.