Oil and gas industry in the United Kingdom

This article sets out the role of the UK oil and gas industry in the economy, energy supply and technology. It also covers the industry’s safety and environmental record and its prospects for the future.

Location

99% ^[1] of UK oil and gas production occurs under the seas surrounding the UK, from the seabed known as the UK continental shelf (UKCS).

Exploration and Appraisal

Seismic surveying

Before an exploration well is drilled, vessels scan the seabed collecting seismic data, which indicates the location of rock formations that are likely to contain oil or gas.

Drilling

Since 1965, 3,970^[2] exploration and appraisal wells have been drilled on the UKCS. In 2008, 109 wells were drilled; in the first six months of 2009, exploration and appraisal fell by 52%^[3] compared with the same period in 2008.

Discoveries

In 2008, 300–400 million barrels (48,000,000–64,000,000 m³) of oil and gas equivalent (boe) were discovered. The average size of the oil and gas fields discovered between 2000 and 2008 was 26 million boe,^[4] compared with an average of 248 million boe in the ten years from 1966.^[4]

Associated expenditure

Over four decades since the 1960s, the industry has spent £58 billion (2008 money)^[5] on exploration drilling. In 2008, £1.4^[5] billion was spent finding new oil and gas reserves.

Seismic and well data

Since 1995, Common Data Access Ltd (CDA)^[6] has provided data management services to the industry. It runs the Well DataStore, an online collection of members’ well data, and the DEAL website, which allows public access to data and information about the industry’s exploration and production activities on the UKCS. In 2009, CDA launched the Seismic DataStore, an online receptacle for seismic data collected since the 1960s.

Production

Infrastructure

Almost all of the UK’s oil and gas production comes from offshore, where there is a network of 14,000 km of pipelines linking 107 oil platforms, 181 gas platforms and a large number of subsea installations. There are 383 producing fields, including 17 new ones which started production in 2008.^[7]

Production ranking

In 2008, the UK was the 14th largest oil and gas producer in the world (10th largest gas producer and 19th largest oil producer).^[8] In EU terms, the UK is the largest producer of both oil and gas and, within Europe as a whole, is second only to Norway in each case.

Production level

Oil and gas production from the UK sector of the North Sea peaked in 1999, but the UK remains a substantial producer today. Over the last four decades, 39 billion boe have been extracted on the UKCS.^[9] In 2008, the combined production of oil and gas was 1 billion boe (549 million barrels (87,300,000 m³) of oil and 68 billion cubic metres of gas). This represented a fall of 5% compared with 2007 (6% oil and 3% gas), a slight improvement on the decline rate in 2002-2007 which averaged 7.5% per annum.^[3]

Role in supplying energy to the UK

Just over three quarters of the UK’s current primary energy demand is met by oil and gas. In 2008, oil produced on the UKCS satisfied almost all domestic consumption (97%) while gas produced in the UK met about three quarters of demand.^[2] In 2020, it is estimated that 70% of primary energy consumed in the UK will still come from oil and gas, even upon achievement of the Government’s target to source 15% of energy from renewable sources.^[3] This will be a combination of oil and gas produced domestically and imports. The UKCS has the potential to satisfy 40% of the UK’s oil and gas demand in 2020, if investment is sustained.^[3]

Associated expenditure

Over the last four decades, a total of £210 billion (2008 money)^[3] has been invested in developing new resources. In 2008, this figure was £4.8 billion,^[2] a 20% decrease since 2006. An additional £147 billion (2008 money)^[2] has been spent on producing the oil and gas and in 2008, operating costs were £6.8 billion, an increase on 2007.

Tax contribution

Oil and gas production from the UKCS has contributed £271 billion (2008 money) in tax revenues over the last forty years.^[10] In 2008, tax rates on UKCS production ranged from 50 – 75% , depending on the field. The industry paid £12.9 billion^[10] in corporate taxes in 2008-9, the largest since the mid-1980s, because of high oil and gas prices. This represented 28% of total corporation tax paid in the UK.^[10] It is expected that tax revenues from production will fall to £6.9 billion in 2009-10^[10] based on an oil price of $47 per barrel, providing 20% of total corporation taxes. In addition to production taxes, the supply chain contributes another £5-6 billion per year in corporation and payroll taxes.^[3]

Support to UK balance of trade

In 2008, the UK’s balance of trade in goods and services was in deficit by £44 billion.^[11] If the UK did not produce oil and gas, its dependency on imported fuel would have been higher and the balance of trade deficit would have nearly doubled to £84 billion.^[3]

Employment

Number of jobs

In 2008, some 450,000 jobs throughout the United Kingdom were supported by the servicing of activity on the UKCS and in the export of oil and gas related goods and services around the world.^[3] The exploration for and extraction of oil and gas from the UKCS accounted for around 350,000 of these; this comprised 34,000 directly employed by oil and gas companies and their major contractors, plus 230,000 within the wider supply chain. Another 89,000 jobs were supported by the economic activity induced by employees’ spending. In addition, a thriving exports business is estimated to support a further 100,000 jobs.^[3]

Regional distribution

Whilst the oil and gas industry provides work across the whole of the UK, Scotland benefits the most, with around 195,000 jobs, or 44% of the total. 21% of the workforce is from South East England, 15% from the North of England, and 12% from the East of England . Each £billion spent on the UKCS supports approximately 20,000 jobs.^[3]

Companies database

Set up in 1996, First Point Assessment Limited (FPAL)^[12] is the key tool used by oil and gas companies to identify and select current and potential suppliers when awarding contracts or purchase orders. The organisation operates as a neutral, industry-steered organisation, improving efficiency in the oil and gas supply chain. FPAL currently matches the needs of over 70 purchasing organisations with the capabilities of over 2,400 suppliers.

Tax contribution

Jobs in the UK oil and gas industry are highly skilled and well rewarded. 2008 salaries averaged circa £50,000 a year across a broad sample of supply chain companies, with the Exchequer benefiting by £19,500 per head in payroll taxes.^[3]

Skills and training

Set up in 2007, OPITO - The Oil & Gas Academy^[13] supports the efforts and resources that employers throughout the UK are currently investing in workforce development to ensure that the UKCS remains at the forefront of offshore expertise and technology. The organisation allows the industry to consolidate and improve its work in generating and developing the talent needed to sustain the long-term future of the UKCS and export learning internationally. The Academy works with schools, colleges and universities on a shared agenda of encouraging greater uptake of mathematics, science and engineering subjects. The organisation also supports the development of safety, technical and leadership skills within the industry in response to identified need. Training standards and quality assurance on training delivery both here and around the world are also being advanced through the Academy.

OPITO also governs the standards to which the offshore training providers deliver courses to, an example of this is the 3 day Basic Offshore Safety Induction and Emergency Training (more commonly known as the BOSIET). Within Europe's oil and gas capital, Aberdeen, there are a number of training providers, with Falck Nutec being one of the most well-known and respected firms in this arena.

Technology and Innovation

UKCS technology

The operating environment in the waters around the UK is harsh and demanding. To overcome the challenges of recovering oil and gas from increasingly difficult reservoirs and deeper waters, the North Sea has developed a position at the forefront of offshore engineering, particularly in subsea technology. Many new oil and gas fields in the UK are small, technically complex and economically marginal. Often recovery from these fields is achieved by subsea developments tied back to existing installations and infrastructure, over varying distances measured in tens of kilometres. Innovative technology is also a critical component in the recovery of reserves from high pressure, high temperature (HPHT), heavy oil and deep water fields.

Exports

UK exports of oil-related goods and services have been estimated at more than £5 billion a year in value.^[3] This amount is a reflection of how well established the UK’s supply chain is internationally. The competence of its people and the quality of its technology, particularly subsea, are very much in demand in oil and gas provinces around the world.

Industry collaboration

The Industry’s Technology Facilitator (ITF)^[14] identifies needs and facilitates the development of new technology to meet those needs through joint industry projects with up to 100% funding available for promising solutions. Since its creation ten years ago, ITF has helped oil and gas producers, service companies and technology developers to work collaboratively, developing 137 technology projects.

Health and Safety

Safety vision

Set up 1997, Step Change in Safety^[15] is the UK based cross-industry partnership with the remit to make the UK the safest oil and gas exploration and production province in the world. Its initial aim was to reduce the injury rate by 50%, which was achieved in 2003. Step Change in Safety’s work is now focused in three areas: recognising hazards and reducing risk, personal ownership for safety and asset integrity. Communication between Step Change in Safety and the industry is through elected safety representatives, offshore installation managers and supervisors, safety professionals and company focal points. These individuals are consulted on what needs to be done and are charged with ensuring that the Step Change programme is implemented.

Regulator

The Health & Safety Executive (HSE)^[16] is the UK offshore oil and gas industry regulator and is organised into a number of directorates. The Hazardous Installations Directorate (HID) is the operational arm responsible for major hazards. A dedicated Offshore Division within HID is responsible for the enforcement of regulations in the offshore oil and gas industry.

Statistics

HSE publishes fatal, major and over-3-day injuries as well as dangerous occurrences under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) 1996 . RIDDOR does not apply to events that are reportable under the Air Navigation (Investigation of Air Accidents involving Civil and Military Aircraft or Installations) Regulations 1986;^[17] The Civil Aviation (Investigation of Air Accidents) Regulations 1989; and The Merchant Shipping Act 1988, and Orders and Regulations made or to be made there under – therefore, industry-related aviation and marine accidents which are covered by any of the above regulations are not included in the RIDDOR-derived statistics. In 2007/8 and 2008/9, there were no fatalities, compared with two in 2006/7 and 2005/6. During 2008/9, 30 major injuries were reported compared with 44 in 2007/8. This resulted in a combined fatal and major injury rate of 106 per 100,000 workers, down from 156 and 146 in 2007/8 and 2006/7 respectively. The number of over-3-day injuries has fallen this year by 5% to 140, representing an over-3-day injury rate of 496 per 100,000 workers.

Asset integrity

Asset integrity is the ability of an oil and gas asset to perform its required function effectively and efficiently whilst protecting health, safety and the environment. Asset integrity management is the means of ensuring that the people, systems, processes and resources that deliver integrity are in place, in use and will perform when required over the whole lifecycle of the asset. In 2004, the HSE highlighted the infrastructure on which work was required to maintain integrity and £4 billion was subsequently spent in the area of asset maintenance.^[18] In 2009, the HSE confirmed that the key issues identified earlier had been resolved. Specific initiatives now encourage industry wide engagement and continued investment in asset integrity.

Aviation safety

Aberdeen is the busiest heliport in the UK with 47,000 flights in 2008 transporting workers to and from offshore installations on the UKCS.^[19] Between 1977 and the end of 2006, just over 56 million passengers were transported by helicopter from all UK heliports to and from offshore installations on the UKCS. More than 6.5 million sectors were flown, taking nearly 3 million flying hours. During this time, seven fatal helicopter accidents claimed the lives of 94 offshore workers and flight crew.^[20] Government data for the period 1995 to 2004 show that with the exception of rail, the yearly passenger casualty rate for offshore helicopter travel is much better than most forms of land-based passenger transport and of a similar order to travelling by car.^[20] Offshore helicopter passengers are equipped for their journey with survival suits and other aids and undergo survival training.

Other mariners’ safety

The Fisheries Legacy Trust Company’s (FLTC)^[21] main function is to help keep fishermen safe in UK waters. It does this by building a trust fund (based on payments from oil and gas producers) which can be used to maintain comprehensive, up-to-date information on all seabed hazards related to oil and gas activities for as long as they remain, and to make this data available for use by fishing vessel plotters found on-board in wheelhouses all around the UK coastline.

Environment

Environmental vision

The industry’s vision which guides the environmental management process is to understand and manage environmental risks to achieve demonstrable no harm levels by 2020.

Atmospheric emissions

UK oil and gas installations participate in the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) which aims to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and combat the threat of climate change. Carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere in three ways during production operations: combustion of fuel for power generation, flaring (a process used to burn off unusable waste gas or flammable gas and liquids for safety reasons) and direct process emissions. Over the years, carbon dioxide emissions in tonnes have steadily decreased with a 10% reduction in 2007 compared with 2000.^[20] In 2007, 17 million tonnes of carbon dioxide were emitted.

Marine discharges

Discharges into the sea can occur either through accidental release (eg. oil spill) or in the course of normal operations. In 2007, 59 tonnes of oil in total^[20] was accidentally released into the marine environment, which, in open sea, will have a negligible environmental impact.

Waste

Types of waste generated offshore vary and include drill cuttings and powder, recovered oil, crude contaminated material, chemicals, drums, containers, sludges, tank washings, scrap metal and segregated recyclables. The majority of wastes produced offshore are transferred onshore where the main routes of disposal are landfill, incineration, recycling and reuse. Drill cuttings are also re-injected into wells offshore.

Future of the UKCS

Production

39 billion barrels (6.2×10⁹ m³) of oil and gas have been produced on the UKCS and up to 25 billion barrels (4.0×10⁹ m³) are left.^[3] Therefore the UK could still be producing significant amounts of oil and gas for decades to come. It is estimated that in 2020, UK production could still meet 40%^[3] of the nation’s demand for oil and gas.

Decommissioning

The principal legislation for decommissioning offshore infrastructure when production ceases is OSPAR Decision 98/3 on Disposal of Disused Offshore Installations. Under OSPAR legislation, only installations that fulfil certain criteria (on the grounds of safety and/or technical limitations) are eligible for derogation (that is, leaving the structure, or part of, in place on the seabed). All other installations must be totally removed from the seabed. During the next two decades, the industry will begin to decommission many of the installations that have been producing oil and gas for the past forty years. There are approximately 470 installations to be decommissioned, including very large ones with concrete sub-structures, small, large and very large steel platforms, and subsea and floating equipment, the vast majority of which will have to be totally removed to the shore for dismantling and disposal. Some 10,000 kilometres of pipelines, 15 onshore terminals and around 5,000 wells are also part of the infrastructure planned to be gradually phased out, although some, or parts, of the onshore terminals will remain because they are import points for gas pipelines from Norway and the Netherlands. Decommissioning is a complex process, representing a considerable challenge on many fronts and encompassing technical, economic, environmental, health and safety issues. Expenditure is therefore projected to be £19 billion by 2030, rising to £23 billion by 2040, for existing facilities. New facilities could add another £2-3 billion to the decommissioning cost, raising the total to circa £25 billion.^[3]

Technology

Exports

The export of oilfield goods and services developed by the UK over forty years are in demand around the world. In 2008, approximately £5 billion^[3] was earned through such exports. As energy demand around the world grows, so too will the need for technology and expertise required to satisfy it.

Transfer to other industries

Marine technology, skills and expertise pioneered in oil and gas are important in the design, installation and maintenance of offshore wind turbines and hence have found roles in the continuing evolution of renewable energy. The industry has led the way in the development of drilling, remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and geophysical technology. All three areas of expertise are used by scientists and engineers elsewhere, whether examining Antarctic ice core samples, raising sunken ship wrecks or studying the plate tectonics of the ocean floor.

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)

To prevent carbon dioxide building up in the atmosphere it can be captured and stored. CCS combines three distinct processes: capturing the carbon dioxide at a power station or other major industrial plant, transporting it by pipeline or by tanker, and then storing it in geological formations. Some of the best natural repositories are depleted oil and gas fields, such as those in the North Sea. The oil and gas industry’s knowledge of undersea geology, reservoir management and pipeline transport will play an important role in making this technology work effectively.

References

1. ^ Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) Oil and Gas website
2. ^ ^{a b c d} [1]
3. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p} [2]
4. ^ ^{a b} [3]
5. ^ ^{a b} [4]
6. ^ [5]
7. ^ [6]
8. ^ [7]
9. ^ [8]
10. ^ ^{a b c d} [9]
11. ^ [10]
12. ^ [11]
13. ^ [12]
14. ^ [13]
15. ^ [14]
16. ^ [15]
17. ^ [16]
18. ^ [17]
19. ^ [18]
20. ^ ^{a b c d} [19]
21. ^ [20]