HC Deb 24 April 1985 vol 77 cc469-70W
Mr. Gordon Brown

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what was the level of exports of products derived from North sea crude oil expressed as a percentage of North sea crude production in each year since 1979.

Mr. Buchanan-Smith

The United Kingdom refinery industry uses a mixture of North sea and other crude oils in refinery operations. Petroleum products are thus derived from a complex process of mixing, refining and blending, of which North sea crude oils are a major component. Total United Kingdom product exports by weight expressed as a percentage of total crude production since 1979 are as follows:

Product Exports as Percentage of United Kingdom Crude Oil Production
Year Percentage
1979 17.4
1980 18.5
1981 14.5
1982 13.5
1983 13.2
1984 11.8

Source: Energy trends, March 1985, Table 11.

Note: These figures include a very small amount of United Kingdom non-North sea crude.

Mr. Gordon Brown

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what was the number of obligatory wells required as conditions in the allocation of licences in rounds 1 to 5; and what so far has been the number actually drilled.

Mr. Buchanan-Smith

The position, round by round, is:

Licensing Round Obligatory Wells (firm & conditional) Obligatory Wells Drilled
1 98 92
2 45 37
3 49 37
4 225 174
5 52 33

The period within which the obligatory wells have to be drilled has not yet been completed for all fifth round licences.

Mr. Gordon Brown

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what was the amount of North sea crude oil refined in Britain each year since 1980; and if he will express that amount as a percentage of North sea crude oil production.

Mr. Buchanan-Smith

The amounts of North sea crude oil refined in Britain since 1980 were as follows—all figures in million tonnes—

Million Tonnes
1980 39.84
1981 37.77
1982 40.29
1983 44.82
1984 *45.35
* Provisional.

The amounts of North sea crude oil refined in Britain as a percentage of North sea crude oil production are as follows:

Percentage
1980 50.5
1981 42.9
1982 40.2
1983 40.5
1984 37.4

Source: Energy Trends March 1985. Table 11. UK Basis (Excludes natural gas liquids as distinct from crude oil)

Back to