France’s Total has bought a 40% interest in two shale gas exploration licenses in the UK, the company said Monday, confirming reports over the weekend. The deal marks Total’s entrance into the UK shale gas exploration market, and the licenses 139 and 140 are situated in Gainsborough Trough, East Midlands. The licenses lie on the Bowland Shale region and span a total of 240 square kilometers. Total and fellow French company GDF Suez have both looked to strengthen their shale gas expertise abroad after France banned shale gas exploration using hydraulic fracturing in 2011. GDF Suez announced in October that it had bought stakes in 13 UK shale gas licenses from Dart energy, also in the Bowland Shale region. The transaction announced by Total Monday is a farm-in deal and partners in the licenses will include GP Energy Limited, a subsidiary of Dart Energy […]