HC Deb 18 January 1982 vol 16 cc9-10W
Mr. Skeet

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what investment was undertaken in the North Sea following licensing rounds five and six; and how this compared with earlier rounds.

Mr. Gray

The only capital expenditure incurred in the North Sea to date relates to fields in production or under development, all of which were discovered under licences issued before the fifth round.

Mr. Skeet

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the success ratio of drilling in areas in the North Sea following each of the seven rounds of licensing to the latest date for which figures are available.

Mr. Gray

The information needed to answer this question is not readily available and would need considerable effort to collate it and would incur costs disproportionate to the value of the answer.

Mr. Skeet

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many drilling rigs were operating in the North Sea at the date of each new round of licensing.

Mr. Gray

Information on rig locations during the first four licensing rounds, held prior to 1972, could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

For the last three rounds the figures are:

5th round August 1978 26 rigs
6th round December 1979 23 rigs
7th round March 1981 28 rigs