Future fracking fears as south Wales drilling bids considered 3 October 2013 Last updated at 08:21 Two councils are being asked to back exploratory gas drilling bids, prompting opponents' fears of potential future extraction through fracking. The Vale of Glamorgan council and Rhondda Cynon Taf have been asked to consider borehole drilling at four separate sites by Coastal Oil and Gas. Three of the locations are in the Vale, while the fourth is at Llantrisant. The plans are recommended for approval. Council officers say it is not an indication on future fracking plans. Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing to give the technique its official term, involves injecting water and chemicals into shale rock at high pressure. The rocks shatter in the process, releasing trapped natural gas. But the process has led to widespread protests in the UK, including in Wales - with demonstrators gathering outside the assembly in Cardiff last week. "This application is for exploration works only and does not entail any ground stimulation, more familiarly known as fracking, nor does it involve directional drilling," stresses the report to Rhondda Cynon Taf's development control committee. Any future proposals for extraction would require a further application for planning permission and the grant of planning permission for mineral exploration does not indicate a presumption in favour of future exploitation of any mineral resources found. Therefore, concerns about fracking, and the perceived consequences of it, are not material in the determination of this application. Iolo ap Dafydd BBC Wales environment correspondent While fracking for oil and gas isn't new in Britain - and continues in dozens of drilling wells - prospecting commercially for shale gas in recent years, is proving more problematic. Even if the UK government is backing the industry, and Carwyn Jones the Welsh First Minister supports this new transition energy source, provided there is proper regulation in place, companies involved in reaching unconventional gas underground are inching forward under a barrage of criticism. There are concerns about the environment, water contamination, noise and pollution. Cintec International's inventions and adaptations could conceivably ease some planning concerns about gas escaping from drilling wells, and water contamination. The south Wales company's fire services-tested plastic, temporary water storage tanks could be a real help in several ways. The PVC membrane is tough, double sided and drop-stitched. The prototype tank I've seen can hold over 14,000 gallons. The tanks pumped full of air onsite, can filter waste water, and re-use it - which avoids having dozens of trucks ferrying back and fore with water to be treated elsewhere. Final approval for the well casing system has to given by the Health and Safety Executive. Campaigners have raised concerns of the impact on the environment, water contamination, and pollution. Wayne Edy runs a commercial deer farm near one of the borehole sites being considered in the Vale of Glamorgan near Llantrithyd. "The big concern is if it does go towards fracking eventually," he said. The UK is a lot smaller country than say the USA where fracking was founded and they pioneered there. They mustn't underestimate the negative effects that come with fracking. New technology The initial boreholes being considered at meetings of the two councils on Thursday evening would be to explore the structure and geography of the sites, and whether they are suitable for shale gas extraction. Coastal Oil and Gas say their approach is being backed with engineering support from a Welsh company, Cintec. It has developed a technique using super-strong Kevlar material, commonly found in bullet-proof armour, to wrap around the drill bore pipes before being filled with concrete to form a barrier against pollution. Cintec has also developed an inflatable water storage system, which would remove the need for water reservoirs to be built on potential fracking sites. Deer park owners in the Vale of Glamorgan are concerned about the possible impact on their herd Gerwyn Williams, director of Coastal Oil and Gas, insisted that the case for shale gas extraction was growing. "Shale gas extraction offers us a secure and viable solution to boost our economy, create significant employment and lead the way towards energy self-sufficiency for the whole of the UK," he said. What is needed now is a better understanding of the industry and the process, in order to enable communities and the wider public to allay concerns and enjoy the process's many benefits. If we do not investigate alternative solutions, fuel supplies will run out.