HL Deb 11 December 1980 vol 415 cc866-8WA
Lord Balogh

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many exploration wells and production (including projection) wells were sunk in the British Continental Shelf in each of the years 1968 to 1980.

The Earl of Gowrie

The numbers of exploration, appraisal and production wells drilled on the United Kingdom Continental Shelf in each of the years 1968 to 1980 are as follows:

Exploration Appraisal* Production**
1968 37 7 36
1969 44 8 27
1970 22 2 28
1971 24 4 34
1972 33 8 36
1973 42 19 21
1974 67 33 20
1975 79 37 21
1976 58 28 54
1977 67 38 96
1978 37 25 96
1979 33 16 107
1980 29 21 114
(To 29th November)

*Wells drilled in the vicinity of a discovery to help determine its extent and before a decision on whether or not to develop it is taken.

**Wells drilled from a development platform, either to produce oil or gas or to assist production, for example, by the injection of water or gas to maintain the reservoir pressure.

House adjourned at twenty-one minutes past seven o'clock.