Cuadrilla was awarded 18 new exploration licences, as part of the UK Government’s 14th Round for onshore oil and gas licences. These onshore oil and gas exploration licences, stretch across the Cleveland Basin in East Yorkshire and Gainsborough Trough in South Yorkshire. All the licences total approximately 1274km² in area. 

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Current activity in these new exploration licence areas is centred on desktop studies. This will give Cuadrilla a very detailed understanding on the geology deep underneath the licence areas, helping to assess where exploration sites can subsequently be located.