§ Mr. Stanbrookasked the Secretary of State for Energy what are the Government's latest forecasts of the level of United Kingdom petroleum production.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithThe latest forecasts for United Kingdom petroleum production in the years 1986 to 1990 are as follows:
Million tonnes 1986 120–135 1987 110–130 1988 100–125 1989 90–120 1990 85–115 As in previous years, these forecasts represent a range of levels of possible petroleum production for each year. The ranges make allowance for the considerable technical and geological uncertainties which influence the rate of oil production from both mature and recently developed fields.
The figures comprise stabilised crude oil and natural gas liquids. Production of the latter has built up rapidly in the last few years as follows:
Million tonnes of NGLs 1981 1.5 1982 2.9 1983 4.1 1984 4.7 1985 *5.1 *Provisional. NGLs are expected to account for some 5 million tonnes annually of total petroleum production to 1990. Total production in 1985 of stabilised crude and NGLs is estimated to have been 127.5 million tonnes.