§ Mr. Needhamasked the Secretary of State for Energy what are the Government's latest forecasts for the level of United Kingdom petroleum production.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithThe latest forecasts for United Kingdom petroleum in the years 1984 to 1988 are as follows:
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Million tonnes 1984 110–130 1985 110–130
Million tonnes 1986 100–125 1987 85–115 1988 80–115 As in previous years, these forecasts represent a range of levels of possible production for each year. The ranges make allowance for delays which may be caused by the technical and geological problems which operators can face in the North Sea.
The figures comprise stabilised crude oil and natual gas liquids. Production of the latter has built up rapidly in the last few years as follows:
Million tonnes of NGLs 1981 1.5 1982 2.9 1983 *4.1 * provisional NGLs are expected to account for some 5 million tonnes annually of total petroleum production in 1984 to 1989.
Total production in 1983 of stabilised crude and NGLs is estimated to have been 114.9 million tonnes.