Celtic Sea Oil Exploration

HC Deb 02 August 1978 vol 955 cc335-6W

Mr. Park

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the current position in oil exploration in the Celtic Sea.

Dr. Mabon

In addition to continuing seismic survey work, six exploration wells

				1980	1985	1990	1995	2000
Coal	…	…	…	35	35	36	35	34
Oil	…	…	…	38	37	35	32	27
Natural gas	…	…	…	20	21	20	19	10
Nuclear and hydro	…	…	…	7	7	8	11	19
Policy gap	…	…	…	—	—	1	3	10
Total	…	…	…	100	100	100	100	100

The policy gap represents a residual energy requirement which could be filled by coal production or new nuclear plant over and above the levels of supply postulated in the Green Paper. Alternatively, this demand could be met by additional energy imports.

and two scientific boreholes have been drilled in the United Kingdom part of oil exploration in the Celtic Sea.