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 2013.

From the plot "UK Oil Production and Consumption" it is evident that a national peak in oil production occurred in 1999 and that production in 2012 was just 33% of that in 1999. Crude oil consumption matched production in 2005, but since has declined by 18.7%. In 1999 40% of the UK's oil production was exported, while in 2012 34% of the UK's reduced oil consumption was imported.

The decline in the UK's crude oil consumption by 18.7% since 2005 means that national road and air movements which declined by 2011 by around 12%, will have declined further. The consumption was perhaps reduced by an  increase in engine efficiency.

From the plot "UK Gas Production and Consumption" it is evident that a national peak in gas production occurred in 2000 and that production in 2012 was just 38% of that in 2000. Natural gas consumption exceeded production in 2004, but since has declined by 20%. In 2000 12% of the UK's natural gas production was exported, while in 2012 48% 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 67% and by 62%. The UK is now dependent on expensive imports, while it could have made use of cheaper imports previously. 

John Busby 27 June 2013