Study Links Surrey Earthquakes to Oil Extraction at Horse Hill

New research suggests over 100 minor earthquakes in 2018-2019 near Gatwick Airport could plausibly be tied to nearby oil drilling operations.

A University College London (UCL) study used advanced simulations to find a probable connection between oil extraction at Horse Hill and over 100 earthquakes in Surrey during 2018-2019.
The earthquakes, ranging from magnitudes 1.34 to 3.18, caused structural damage to homes and were felt in several towns near Gatwick Airport, including Newdigate and Charlwood.
Previous research by the British Geological Survey (BGS) had ruled the earthquakes as natural events, but the new study highlights potential pressure changes from oil drilling as a trigger.
UK Oil & Gas, the operator at Horse Hill until late 2024, maintains the quakes were unrelated to their activities, citing earlier assessments by BGS seismologists.
The findings come as legal and environmental scrutiny intensifies over oil and gas projects in the UK, with recent court rulings halting operations at Horse Hill and other sites.