§ Mr. Robert Atkinsasked the Secretary of State for Energy what are the Government's latest forecasts of the level of United Kingdom petroleum production.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithThe latest forecasts for United Kingdom petroleum production in the year 1985 to 1989 are as follows:
million tonnes 1985 120–135 1986 110–130 1987 95–125 1988 85–120 1989 80–115 As in previous years, these forecasts represent a range of levels of possible petroleum production for each year. The ranges make allowance for the considerable technical and geological uncertainties which influence the rate of oil production from both mature and recently developed fields.
The figures comprise stabilised crude oil and natural gas liquids (NGLs). 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 1984 *4.8 * (provisional). NGLs are expected to account for some 5 million tonnes annually of total petroleum production in 1985 to 1989.
Total production in 1984 of stabilised crude and NGLs is estimated to have been 125.9 million tonnes.