§ Mr. Maddenasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will publish in the Official Report the number of rigs which are currently exploring for oil and gas in the North Sea, the number in operation in January in each of the past seven years, and the total number in each of the past seven year on an annual basis.
§ Mr. John Smith29 mobile drilling platforms are operating on the whole of the United Kingdom sector of the North Sea. The following table shows the numbers of platforms operating during the years 1968–1974:
Number of platforms operating Year January Over the year 1968 9 13 1969 6 14 1970 7 12 1971 4 13 1972 6 21 1973 10 25 1974 18 37
§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) of the 27 drilling rigs operating in the North Sea how many are engaged on drilling exploratory, and development, wells;
(2) how many rigs are engaged in exploratory drilling in the south North Sea basin.
§ Mr. John SmithAll of the 27 mobile drilling platforms operating in the United Kingdom sector of the northern North Sea are engaged in exploratory operations. Development drilling is usually carried out from permanent drilling platforms. Two mobile drilling platforms are currently carrying out exploratory drilling in the southern basin.