Fracking in Northwich has moved one step closer with Ineos revealing plans to move into its next phase.
The company said it plans to carry out seismic surveys as it determines the most promising location to explore for oil and gas.
It comes after Ineos was awarded acreage by the Government in Yorkshire, the East Midlands and Cheshire.
A spokesman for INEOS said: “INEOS holds licences to explore for shale gas in areas of the UK including Cheshire.
“However, our process to determine the best places for extraction is still at an early stage.
“We are nearing completion of our desktop studies and this means that in the next 18 months we will carry out 3D imaging surveys to build up a better picture of local geology.