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A series of planning applications have been submitted to the county council to install a new oil storage tank and to extend the life of an oilfield near Alton.
The energy company plans to extend the operational lifespan of the site until September 2055, as the current permission for operation is set to expire in September 2025.
Humbly Grove Energy Limited has submitted 11 planning applications to Hampshire County Council to extend the life of the Humbly Grove Oilfield plant in the village of Lasham.
Among the applications, one seeks permission to install a new oil tank, pump and bunding at the Weston Common Gathering Station (WCGS).
In 1984, Humbly Grove Energy received approval for four planning applications. These projects paved the way for the potential development of eight well sites, access roads and interconnected pipelines.
The central WCGS was established at Weston Common to effectively collect and stabilize oil, with the capability to transport it by road or pipeline to the Rail Export Facility in Holybourne, which is no longer operational.
As the current operational developments are set to end on September 30, 2025, a new proposal has been put forward to extend this date to September 30, 2055. This extension aims to maintain the site and allow for the continued extraction of oil and gas.
The energy company has also applied to install a new oil tank, which will be the only proposed development. This tank, designed to hold 1,500 barrels, is set to be located within the oil processing area of the WCGS.
Natural gas and oil have been produced at the Humbly Oil Field and Gas Storage Facility since the discovery of mineral reserves in the early 1980s.
Since 1980, the field has also produced more than 6 million barrels of oil, and its field development plan forecasts that it could make an additional circa 1.5 million barrels.
In 2005, the gas cap of the now-depleted reservoir was tapped, leading to the installation of infrastructure that turned it into one of the largest gas storage facilities in the UK.
With an estimated annual extraction rate of approximately 52,000 barrels, the reservoir is projected to be depleted by 2055.
Public consultation is open until January 3, 2025. To submit your comments, visit the Hampshire County Council website with the HCC/2024/0536 reference number.