Fort Worth-based natural gas company Titan Operating drilled seven wells off Pleasant Run Road last year and plans to begin the new year with fracking the wells.

Hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking," uses a mixture of sand, water and chemical additives to fracture shale formations and recover gas.

"Titan Operating anticipates fracking to begin Jan. 31 and last approximately two to three weeks," said Chris Hammack, vice president of operations, in an email.

Work on Colleyville's first drill site began in March, and Titan has until November 2015 to drill up to 14 gas wells there. Titan's proposed pipeline route and special use permit were approved in 2010, but a final route has not yet been approved.

Ron Ruthven, Colleyville's community development director, said residents near the site will be given advanced notice when fracking is about to begin. He does not anticipate the noise levels from fracking will exceed the noise levels encountered from drilling.

While Titan awaits progress on a pipeline that could bring its gas to market, gas companies wanting to drill in Southlake waited during most of 2011.

The Southlake City Council last year froze drilling applications to give staff time to update the city's drilling ordinance, addressing new technology and environmental concerns. The moratorium expired in mid-November.

No new applications have been filed with the city since the moratorium has been lifted, Southlake Mayor John Terrell said.

"The price of gas is currently so low, I don't think we'll see a whole lot of activity," Terrell said.