Gas Production from the UK Continental Shelf: An Assessment of Resources, Economics and Regulatory Reform

The decline in indigenous gas production in Europe is an important issue as the region struggles to address its security of supply issues. Understanding the future of gas output is therefore of critical importance and having first addressed the future of the Norwegian Continental Shelf Marshall Hall now turns his attention to the UKCS. In this detailed and informative paper he not only provides an assessment of the resources still available in UK waters and the economics of their production, but also assesses regulatory issues and government policy that could promote increased output in future. He analyses projections of future UK gas production and provides important context for the assessment of the UK’s offshore gas potential. At a time when gas continues to play a vital role in the country’s energy mix, especially as coal is phased out, we believe that this paper is an important contribution to the debate around the future of gas in the UK.

By: Marshall Hall