The Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) has today (10 September 2020) published the UK Oil and Gas Reserves and Resources as at end 2019. It provides an estimate of the UK Continental Shelf’s (UKCS) remaining recoverable petroleum resources. The report estimates that there remains in the range 10 to 20 billion barrels or more of oil equivalent (boe), including discovered and undiscovered petroleum resources.

Official government forecasts suggest that oil and gas will remain an important and critical part of our energy mix for the foreseeable future, as we transition to net zero.

Managing the basin’s declining production to maximise value from the UKCS is still vital to meet our energy demands as long as they exist, as well as reducing reliance on imports and their associated carbon footprint. The OGA believes that maximising the economic recovery of the UK’s remaining oil and gas need not be in conflict with the energy transition and that the industry has the skills, technology and capital to help unlock the solutions required to help the UK achieve net zero.

The report finds:

  • The UK’s petroleum reserves remain at a significant level. The OGA’s estimate for proven and probable (2P) UK reserves as at end 2019 is 5.2 billion boe, slightly lower than as at end 2018 despite reserve additions. On the basis of current production projections, this could sustain production from the UKCS for another 20 years or more.
  • In 2019, 270 million boe (mmboe) were added to 2P reserves and about 600 mmboe were produced which equates to a reserve replacement ratio of 45%. Less than 100 mmboe were matured by the granting of consent to 6 new field developments, lower than 100 mmboe as a result of consent to 7 field development plan addenda, and about 110 mmboe as a result of other infield activities, improved field performance and field-life extensions. The replacement rate of proven and probable reserves by resource maturation from new field developments has been limited.
  • The UK’s contingent resource level is significant with a central estimate of discovered undeveloped resources of 7.4 billion boe. Much of this resource is in mature developed areas and under consideration for development. The maturation of contingent resources presents a significant opportunity for the continued development of the UK’s petroleum resources. This will require substantial investment in both new field developments and incremental projects.
  • In aggregate, UKCS petroleum reserves and discovered resources are both approximately 70% oil and 30% gas, when expressed in oil equivalent terms.
  • Exploration success in 2019 delivered an addition of 240 million boe to the total of contingent resources
  • The mean prospective resources in mapped leads and prospects are estimated as 4.1 billion boe. This is supplemented by an additional mean prospective resource of 11.2 billion boe estimated to reside in plays outside of mapped leads and prospects. These estimates when expressed in boe terms are unchanged since the end 2018 estimates.

The UK Oil and Gas Reserves and Resources as at end 2019 is now available to download.

Notes

  • Reserves are discovered, remaining volumes that are recoverable and commercial. They can be proven, probable or possible, depending on confidence level.
  • Contingent resources are estimated to be potentially recoverable from known accumulations, but are not yet considered mature enough for commercial development.
  • Prospective resources are undiscovered, potentially recoverable, resources in mapped leads and prospects that have not yet been drilled.
  • Following recent successful annual licensing rounds, as previously announced, the OGA is taking a temporary pause from annual licence round activity and will not run a licence round in what would have been the 2020/21 period. This will allow relinquishments to take place so more coherent areas may be reoffered in future, giving industry time to deliver on work commitments in the existing portfolio of licences. Industry is encouraged to use the pause to acquire data and carry out studies in preparation for the next round. The OGA will engage with industry on the timing and nature of the next offshore licensing round
  • The UK Government recently announced a review into the future of the offshore licensing regime as part of the wider aim of achieving net zero emissions by 2050. (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-launches-review-into-future-offshore-oil-and-gas-licensing-regime). The review will ensure the Government has the information needed to plan for future oil and gas production in the UK, in a way that is aligned with tackling climate change. Initial findings and next steps will be published in the upcoming Energy White Paper.

 

For more information, please contact:

Tel: +44 (0) 300 020 1072

Email: oga.pressoffice@nstauthority.co.uk