§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Energy when he intends to reach a decision on the North Sea gas-gathering pipeline in the interests of petrochemical development; and what availability of feedstock he estimates will be available by 1985.
§ Dr. Mabon:No final decision on a new gas-gathering trunk line is possible until there is reasonable certainty on the quantities and timing of gas to go into the line. I am keeping a close watch on developments relating to the availability of such gas. As I said in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for 21W Dunbartonshire, West (Mr. Campbell) on 20th July, I have invited interested parties to comment by the end of the year on the report on this subject by Gas Gathering Pipelines (North Sea) Limited, published in July as Energy Paper Number 30.
An estimate of the quantities of heavy natural gases, reasonably certain to be available from the United Kingdom sector, which may be used as petrochemical feedstock, was given on page 6 of the 1978 "Brown Book" as follows:
Estimated Production in 1985 (thousand tonnes) Ethane 1,000 Propane 2,500 Butane 1,500 These figures included gas transported in both oil and gas pipelines, but excluded gas which would be within British Gas's normal specification.
Other estimates of availability from the United Kingdom sector of the northern North Sea, including that from more hypothetical sources, are given in pages 77 and 78 of Energy Paper Number 30.