Offshore Oil and Gas

HC Deb 19 July 1995 vol 263 c1557W

Mr. Cox

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what has been the total revenue received by the United Kingdom Government from the selling of offshore oil or gas licenses since 1979. [34760]

Mr. Eggar

Since 1979, tender receipts from offshore licensing have totalled £154 million, of which £33 million was received from the 8th round in 1982–83 and £121 million from the 9th round in 1984–85.

Mr. Dafis

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what information he has on the use already made of pseudo-oil-based drill muds in oil and gas exploration in the Celtic sea. [35531]

Mr. Page

Information is submitted to my Department in respect of the fluids to be used in the drilling of any well on the UK continental shelf, including the Celtic sea. In the case of pseudo-oil-based muds, that information relates to the characteristics of the particular mud and the amount of pseudo-oil on the drill cuttings.