§ 16. Mr. G. Macdonaldasked the Secretary for Mines what progress has been made as a result of the Petroleum (Production) Acts, 1934 and 1935; the number of licences issued, with the areas concerned; and whether any prospecting has resulted satisfactorily?
§ Mr. LloydSince the issue towards the end of 1935 of the first licences under the Petroleum (Production) Act, 1934, the work of prospecting for oil in this country has been actively proceeding. A total of 98 prospecting licences has been issued, and 77 of these, covering an area of 11,800 square miles, are in force. In all, 16 deep test boreholes have been put down and three more are at present being drilled. In addition a great deal of geological and geophysical work has been carried out. As to the results of the prospecting, oil and natural gas have been encountered in 2040 boreholes near Edinburgh, and natural gas in a borehole near Whitby. Recently oil has been encountered in a deep borehole at Eakring, Nottinghamshire, and also smaller quantities at a shallower depth near Formby, Lancashire. It is too early as yet to assess the full significance of these discoveries.