Derbyshire has a long and varied history of quarrying and mining. It has significant reserves of oil and gas from unconventional sources like coal bed methane and shale gas.
Fracking has never been carried out in Derbyshire but private companies licensed by the Oil and Gas Authority are investigating the potential for carrying out this process commercially in Derbyshire.
The fracking process involves drilling deep into the ground and injecting water, sand and chemicals at high pressure to create tiny cracks or fractures. Shale gas can then flow up a well to the surface and be collected.
It can be carried out vertically or, more commonly, by drilling down for a distance of around 1.5 miles and then drilling horizontally into the shale.
The national approach to fracking is set by the government, but we also have an important role to play in deciding whether or not to grant planning permission for a fracking well.
Find out more about the government's views on fracking.
Areas of the UK where shale gas applications have been given planning permission include North Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire and Lancashire.
The Oil and Gas Authority granted licences in 11 areas of Derbyshire to 3 companies called Ineos, Warwick and Egdon. This does not mean they have planning permission to carry out fracking in these areas.
Find out which company has been granted licences in Derbyshire and where.
Subject to certain restrictions and giving us prior notification, planning permission is not generally required for the survey as government planning rules state it is 'permitted development'.
No hydraulic fracturing would be carried out as part of the survey and any future development would require full planning permission.
Formal notification from INEOS about the seismic survey, including a map, is attached to this page.
In this section you will find information and regular updates including answers to the questions people most often ask, including: