Estimates of shale gas and oil in Scotland published
The British Geological Survey鈥檚 report of the resources in the Midland Valley, Scotland, suggests a modest amount of gas and oil in place.
The British Geological Survey鈥檚 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鈥檚 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:
鈥淢aking the most of Britain鈥檚 home grown energy is crucial to keep job and business opportunities, widen tax revenues and reduce our reliance on foreign imports.
鈥淲e know that shale gas alone won鈥檛 be able to supply all of our energy needs, but the environmentally responsible exploration of shale gas could contribute to our energy mix.
鈥淥nly the broad shoulders of the United Kingdom can attract investment in new energy sources and maintain the UK鈥檚 position as one of the world鈥檚 great energy hubs 鈥� generating energy and generating jobs.
鈥淭he UK鈥檚 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.鈥�
Professor Mike Stephenson, Director of Science and Technology at the British Geological Survey said:
鈥淭he 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鈥�
Shale gas development will not come at the expense of the environment. DECC鈥檚 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.