UK Oil and Gas Peaks

Global peaks in oil and natural gas production are the aggregates of the national peaks. 

There are claims that there are still ample reserves in the North Sea of both oil and gas, so it is of interest to plot the respective UK's national production and consumption figures from the BP Statistical Review 2012.

From the plot UK Oil it is evident that a national peak in oil production occurred in 1999 and that production in 2011 was just 38% of that in 1999. Crude oil consumption matched production in 2005, but since has declined by 14.6%. In 1999 40% of the UK's oil production was exported, while in 2011 29% of the UK's oil consumption was imported.

The decline in the UK's crude oil consumption by 14.6% since 2005 means that national road and air movements have declined since then by around 12%, taking account of perhaps a 2% increase in efficiency.

From the plot UK Gas  it is evident that a national peak in gas production occurred in 2000 and that production in 2011 was just 43% of that in 2000. Natural gas consumption exceeded production in 2004, but since has declined by 18%. In 2000 12% of the UK's natural gas production was exported, while in 2011 42% of the UK's gas consumption was imported. 

Comment

In retrospect it would have been better to have restrained the UK's oil and gas production when cheap supplies of both were available. From 1999 and 2000 for oil and gas respectively, production has declined by 62% and by 57%. The UK is now dependent on expensive imports, while it could have made use of cheaper imports previously. 

John Busby 15 June 2012