§ Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of Stats for Energy what have been the annual depleton rates for offshore oil and gas each year since 1970; what is planned each year to 1985; and what estimate is made of how long the oil and gas will last.
§ Mr. GrayOffshore oil and gas production from 1970 to date is as follows:
oil million tonnes natural gas billion cubic metres Total to end 1970 — 18.6 1971 — 18.3 1972 — 26.5 1973 — 28.9 1974 — 34.8 1975 1.1 36.3 1976 11.6 38.4 1977 37.3 40.3 1978 52.8 38.5 1979 76.5 39.2 1980 (expected) (80) (38) Latest forecast of oil production (including onshore) are:
million tonnes 1981 85 — 105 1982 90 — 120 1983 95 — 130 1984 95 — 135 1985 Not available Gas production forecasts are not available.
Production of oil and gas from the United Kingdom continental shelf is expected to last well into the next century.
§ Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for Energy how many new oil arid gas finds have been made each year since 1970.
§ Mr. GrayThe numbers of significant* oil and gas discoveries in each year since 1970 are as follows: 226W
Oil Gas and gas condensate 1970 1 3 1971 3 2 1972 2 5 1973 8 1 1974 12 4 1975 22 3 1976 11 2 1977 5 2 1978 3 — 1979 5 1 * The term "significant" relates to the flow rates achieved in well tests, and this is not necessarily an indicator of the potential commerciality of the discovery.