§ Mr. Powleyasked 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 years 1987 to 1991 are as follows:
million tonnes 1987 115–130 1988 105–125 1989 95–120 1990 85–115 1991 70–105 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 and natural gas liquids. Production of the latter has built up rapidly in the last few years as follows:
million tones of NGLs 1981 1.5 1982 2.9 1983 4.1 1984 4.7 1985 5.1 1986 15.8 1 Provisional. NGLs are expected to account for some 6 to 8 million tonnes annually of total petroleum production to 1991.
Total production in 1986 of stabilised crude and NGLs is estimated to have been 126.9 million tonnes.