Estimates of shale gas and oil in Scotland published
30 Jun 2014 04:12 PM
The British Geological Survey’s report of
the resources in the Midland Valley, Scotland, suggests a modest amount of gas
and oil in place.
The
British Geological Survey’s report of the resources in the Midland
Valley, Scotland, suggests a modest amount of gas and oil in place. The central
estimate of shale gas in place is 80 trillion cubic feet. The central estimate
for shale oil in place is 6 billion barrels of oil.
This does not mean that this amount could be extracted
as exploratory drilling is needed to determine how much of the gas can be
technically and commercially recovered. This is expected to be substantially
lower than the total amount of gas and oil in place, and the Midland
Valley’s estimates are particularly uncertain because the area has fewer
historic wells and less seismic data than previous study areas. The complex
geology of the area and historic mine workings means that exploratory drilling
and testing is even more important to determine how much can be
recovered.
The
estimates compares to a central estimate for the Bowland shale (in the north of
England) of 1,300 trillion cubic feet of gas in place and a central estimate of
4.4billion barrels of oil in place in the Weald basin (in the South of
England).
Business and Energy Minister Michael Fallon
said:
“Making the most of Britain’s home grown
energy is crucial to keep job and business opportunities, widen tax revenues
and reduce our reliance on foreign imports.
“We know that shale gas alone won’t be able
to supply all of our energy needs, but the environmentally responsible
exploration of shale gas could contribute to our energy mix.
“Only the broad shoulders of the United Kingdom
can attract investment in new energy sources and maintain the UK’s
position as one of the world’s great energy hubs – generating
energy and generating jobs.
“The UK’s energy security is among the best
in the world, backed by a large consumer and tax base that can afford to
support our world-leading energy industries and make us such an attractive
place to invest.”
Professor Mike Stephenson, Director of Science and
Technology at the British Geological Survey said:
“The central estimate of shale gas in place is 80
trillion cubic feet and the central estimate for shale oil in place is 6
billion barrels of oil but reserves cannot be calculated at this stage before
drilling and testing take place. The Midland Valley of Scotland has complex
geology and a relative lack of data compared to the previous DECC-BGS
Bowland-Hodder and Weald Basin studies”
Shale gas development will not come at the expense of
the environment. DECC’s regulatory roadmap sets out over 20 potential
steps an operator may have to take to get an exploratory site agreed, as it
applies in the different nations of the UK.
Notes to Editors: