The UK Oil & Gas Authority (OGA) has awarded a further 132 new licenses to frack oil and gas, during the second tranche of the 14th onshore oil and gas licensing round.
The first tranche of the 14th round was announced in August and awarded 27 licenses.
Of the total 159 licensing blocks being offered, around 75% are for unconventional shale oil or gas and subject to additional regulations for fracking.
Launched on 28 July 2014, the 14th onshore licensing round received a total of 95 applications from 47 companies covering 295 ordnance survey blocks.
OGA chief executive Andy Samuel said: "This round enables a significant amount of the UK’s shale prospects to be taken forward to be explored and tested.
The oil and gas regulator will now issue Petroleum Exploration and Development Licences (PEDL) over the offered blocks, after agreeing on specific details.
The companies will now start planning future strategies for exploration activities for their licenses. These activities, however, are subject to further local planning, safety, environmental and other approvals.
UK Energy Minister Andrea Leadsom said: "Last month we set out the vital role gas will play in the UK’s transition to a low-carbon future.
"The licences offered today move us a step closer – driving forwards this industry which will provide secure, home grown energy to hardworking families and businesses for decades to come.
"As the Task Force for Shale Gas report found earlier this week, with the right standards in place fracking can take place safely."
Selected firms include Cuadrilla, GDF Suez, Hutton Energy, UK Oil and Gas, and Aurora Energy Resources, among others.
Ineos received most number of licenses with 21.
Ineos chairman Jim Ratcliffe said: "At INEOS, we believe shale gas could revolutionise UK manufacturing and we have the resources to make it happen, the skills to extract the gas safely and the vision to realise that communities must share in the rewards for it to be successfully developed."
Commenting on the offering, UK Onshore Oil and Gas, which represents the industry, chief executive Ken Cronin said: "Today we are dependent for nearly 50% of our oil and gas from overseas and that is going to rise to over 75% in the next 15 years without further onshore production."
The latest offer also follows the recent approval by the MPs supporting oil and gas fracking under the national parks.
Greenpeace Energy campaigner Hannah Martin said: "Just days after an historic agreement at the Paris climate summit to move towards a renewable energy future – the UK Government’s gung ho approach to a new fossil fuel industry is bizarre and irresponsible."
Image: UK expects the shale gas to play a vital role in its transition to a low-carbon future. Photo: courtesy of INEOS.