§ 28. Mr. BatisteTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many(a) new drillings have been made and (b) new finds have been discovered in the North sea over the last three years; if he will split the figures between oil and gas, what percentage these new workings represent of the total output: and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonThe total number of wells drilled on the United Kingdom continental shelf since 1985 is as follows:
Year Number 1985 290 1986 198 1987 256 Note: 251 offshore wells have been drilled so far this year (to end September). The total for the corresponding period in 1987 was 184. (Figures include exploration, appraisal and development drilling).
The total number of significant offshore oil and gas discoveries announced in the last three years is as follows:
Oil Gas 1985 14 8 1986 6 9 1987 8 11 A further three significant discoveries, all of them oil, had been made by the end of September this year.
Significant discoveries since 1 January 1985 represent 28 per cent. of those made since the commencement of offshore exploration in 1964.
The high level of drilling activity during 1988 reflects the continuing confidence of the oil industry in the United Kingdom continental shelf. Current activity is at a level not far short of the record years of 1984 and 1985 when 290 wells were drilled.
Table 1 Calculated Costs for Heating a Standardised 2-bedroom House (by region and type of fuel) Gas Electric Coal Oil West Country £115–200 £130–240 £115–215 £95–165 (195–280) (205–315) (255–355) (160–230) South East £120–210 £140–255 £130–240 £100–170 (200–290) (215–230) (280–390) (165–235) North East £140–240 £160–295 £120–220 £115–195 (260–320) (235–370) (240–340) (180–260) Scotland £140–245 £165–300 £135–250 £115–195 (260–325) (240–375) (270–385) (180–260) Basis for Calculations:
1. Costs are calculated for a standardised house on the same basis as the last published (February 1986) set of monergy guides, with fuel prices updated to April 1988.
2. The house used is the 'small semi-detached' as in the guides.
3. Figures given first are for space heating only, the range representing the 'poor insulated' and 'well insulated' cases. The bracketed figures include water heating also.
4. No standing charges or maintenance costs are included.
5. The calculations are based on standard wet central heating systems for gas, coal and oil. For electric heating storage radiators using Economy