Activity Survey 2015

Following recent trends, the CNS was again the most active region for E&A activity in 2014, where over half of the E&A wells were drilled. This confirms the prevailing view that the CNS area is one of the most prospective regions of the UKCS. The SNS remained the second most active region with six wells drilled as companies targeted near-field opportunities; whereas activity in the IS region decreased to only one well in 2014, after a high point of six wells in 2013. There are no E&A wells planned in the IS region for 2015. Although four appraisal wells were drilled in the W of S region in 2014, there was no capital to fund exploration activity in the area. Despite estimates that there could be in excess of two billion boe of YTF resources in the W of S region, the high costs associated with drilling in the area and recent lower success rates may be contributing to a decline in activity.

1

2

3

Figure 16: Exploration and Appraisal Drilling by Region

4

70

Irish Sea/West of England W of S

60

SNS CNS NNS

5

50

40

6

30

20

7

10

Number of Wells Drilled including Sidetracks

0

8

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

Source: Oil & Gas UK, DECC

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