§ 21. Dr. J. Dickson Mabonasked the Secretary of State for Energy what is his estimate of the daily production rate of oil from the 26 fields in the United Kingdom sector of the North Sea in the calendar year 1990.
§ Mr. LawsonOur current estimate is that oil production in 1990 from the 26 existing developments in the United Kingdom sector of the North Sea is likely to be between 1.4 and 2 million barrels per day.
§ 24. Mr. Eggarasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the progress of development in the North Sea.
§ Mr. John MooreOil production from the United Kingdom sector of the North Sea is currently slightly in excess of 2 million barrels per day; 20 oil fields are in production and a further six under development. The United Kingdom should remain at least self-sufficient into the 1990s on current expectations of demand and production from existing developments. The eighth round of licensing, announced on 17 May, is designed to open up previously unexplored areas to provide opportunities for further gas exploration in the southern North Sea.