UK oil, gas production figures diverge

Feb. 6, 2001
Oil and gas production in the UK moved in opposite directions last year, as total energy production fell 2.5% from the year before, according to Department of Trade and Industry data. Oil production dropped 7.9% in 2000 due to summer maintenance in the North Sea that lasted longer and had a greater impact than last year. Gas output rose 9.5%.


By the OGJ Online Staff


LONDON, Feb. 6�Oil and gas production in the UK moved in opposite directions last year, as total energy production fell 2.5% from the year before, according to preliminary Department of Trade and Industry data.

Oil production dropped 7.9% in 2000 due to summer maintenance in the North Sea that lasted longer and had a greater impact than last year. Gas output rose 9.5%.

Year-end figures were mirrored by those of the fourth quarter, when oil production fell 8% while natural gas production climbed 9.5%, with four new fields coming on stream.

Overall indigenous primary fuel output in 2000 was 2.7% lower than in 1999, totaling 289.7 million tonnes of oil equivalent.

Consumption of primary fuels, including deliveries into consumption, was 231.7 million tonnes of oil equivalent, 1% higher than in 1999. Consumption of gas rose 4%, largely due to its use to generate electricity, while oil fell 1.7%. Total use of petroleum in 2000 was 78.6 million tonnes, 2.1% lower than the year before.

Total motor spirit deliveries for 2000 were slightly lower at 1.8%, but deliveries of unleaded petrol�which accounts for 93% of all motor spirit deliveries�climbed 4.3%. Derv fuel deliveries fell by 0.9%, while deliveries of other gas diesel oils, chiefly used for heating purposes, rose 1.3%. Fuel oil deliveries fell 22.2% due to "the general move away from fuel oil as a source of energy by industry and electricity generators" during 2000. Deliveries of other products increased 5.3% with higher deliveries of aviation turbine fuel�up 6.2%, and burning oil�up 10.4%�being partly offset by falling deliveries of liquefied petroleum gases�down 3%.

DTI noted that prices of motor spirits and diesel have dropped in the month to mid-January�a reflection of the "large" fall in crude oil prices in December�but that overall in 2000 prices of motor fuels rose, again due to fluctuations in the crude price.