Turn up the Aga! Oilmen find ££££millions under Horsington Marsh.
Oil, gas and thermal energy plant will transform the village
The blog has learned of the unprecedented discovery of a massive oil field under Horsington Marsh. Geologists, working in secret for a consortium of oil companies and the county council, have confirmed the existence of substantial oil and gas deposits under the deep clay of the marsh. We understand there is also the possibility of the UK’s third “hot water well”, which will trap geothermal energy and convert it into boiling water for industrial and domestic use. (The others are in Co Durham and Cornwall.)
The find will create an enormous 3250-acre drilling, refining and storage complex in an area to the North East of Horsington straddling the old railway line. The former railway will be used for a pipeline which will link the existing oilfield at Wytch Farm in Poole Harbour with the refinery, and with port facilities at Portishead. It will employ around 1500 people, and spend around £70 million a year in the local community.
It is understood that the road through Horsington village will be widened to take construction traffic from the A 357, and that the White Horse at South Cheriton will be enlarged to accommodate the labour force, many of whom will come from Uzbekistan and the Ukraine. Management will be accommodated at the new Travelodge Hotel complex off the A303 at Wincanton, which will expanded to include a bowling alley, cinema and fast food court.
The exploratory work started in secret after traces of oil were found on the marsh. Geologists, using very sensitive ultrasound seismic probes, posed as British Telecom engineers to avoid suspicion. This explains the unusually large number of maintenance vans seen near the marsh in recent months.
The discovery of oil in the Blackmore Vale is not as unlikely as it sounds. Millions of years ago the whole of southern England was deep forest. “And that’s where oil and coal come from”, said a geologist. Oil exists in significant quantities in Dorset and Hampshire (there is drilling at Bridport, Havant , Rowlands Castle and Avington, Winchester).
The county council was unwilling to comment, but the blog has learnt that an announcement scheduled for Friday April 1st has been shelved for “political reasons”.
More about oil reserves in Southern England
Petroleum Geology of Southern England
What about the local bustards. They will be driven away!
Typical! I am surprised they are not announcing a nuclear power station as well.
RICH, rich at last!……………………………but then a fool and his money are soon parted
once the oil is struck and the refinery built, perhaps we can fill up for nothing!!!!!
and all tax free Mr Osbourne , more FOOL you! LOL
Heard it all before. People even tried to make us believe that Dorset had its own nuclear power station. Ridiculous, winfrith believe it.