The company is also planning to apply for consent to drill, hydraulically fracture and test the gas flow at about six exploration wells in the Fylde area in Lancashire.
Cuadrilla also intends to apply for planning consent to drill about three vertical exploration wells, to collect additional rock samples, in order to improve knowledge on the subsurface geology.
Cuadrilla Resources chief executive Francis Egan said the company is carrying exploratory work to produce natural gas from the shale in commercial quantities.
"The British Geological Survey last week confirmed the exciting scale of Lancashire’s gas resource, and we look forward to working closely with local communities and regulators as our exploration work progresses," Egan added.
