§ Mr. John Ellisasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will give details of how much gas is being flared off in the North Sea daily how much has been flared off in each of the past three years; and what is his policy in this matter.
§ Dr. Mahon:The amount of gas flaring associated with North Sea oil production varies greatly from day to day according to operating circumstances. Average rates set alongside North Sea oil production have been:
Gas flared Million cubic feet /day Oil produced 000 barrels/day Gas flared percentage by weight of oil produced 1975 3 23 2 1976 70 237 6 1977 330 851 7 1978* 386 1,039 7 *January-October Flaring of gas requires my consent, and this is given only if I am convinced that assenting to companies' applications or modifications thereof is consistent with the national interest through maximising the economic recovery of all hydrocarbons. From 1980 the level of gas flaring should decline as gas injection and gas collection schemes come into operation.