HC Deb 13 January 1988 vol 125 c299W
Mr. Patnick

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the current levels of drilling activity on the United Kingdom continental shelf.

Mr. Peter Morrison

The total number of well starts during 1987 was 298. This is 12 per cent. above the level of 1986 when 266 wells were drilled.

A breakdown of these figures is as follows:

1986 1987
Offshore
Exploration 73 69
Appraisal 40 63
Total 113 132
Onshore
Exploration 37 31
Appraisal 18 7
Total 55 38
Development
Offshore 85 126
Onshore 13 2
Total 98 128