(A) Offshore exploration drilling(1) : exploration wells started in each geographical area
| 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995(5) | 1996 | 1997 | ||
| East of England | 26(1) | 35 | 34(1) | 22 | 15 | 14 | 21(1) | Southern N Sea | 12(2) | 12 | 16 |
| East of Scotland | 44(1) | 39(2) | 82(2) | 54(1) | 42(1) | 24 | 20(1) | Central N Sea(6) | 24(5) | 31(1) | 24(2) |
| East of Shetland | 15(1) | 15 | 29(3) | 16 | 10(1) | 5(1) | 5 | Northern N Sea | 4 | 13(2) | 13 |
| West of England/Wales | 5 | 3 | 8(1) | 8 | 7 | 5 | 8 | West of England/Wales | 5 | 8 | 2 |
| West of Shetland(3) | 1 | 2 | 6 | 5 | - | 2 | 8(1) | West of Shetland | 14 | 7 | 6 |
| Channel/SW Approaches | 2 | - | - | 2 | - | 1 | - | Channel/SW Approaches | 1 | 1 | |
| Total all areas(2) | 93(3) | 94(2) | 159(7) | 107(1) | 74(2) | 51(1) | 62(3) | 60(7) | 72(3) | 61(2) |
(B) Offshore appraisal drilling(1) : appraisal wells started in each geographical area
| 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995(5) | 1996 | 1997 | ||
| East of England | 23(2) | 17(1) | 19(1) | 11(1) | 9(3) | 9(1) | 12(4) | Southern N Sea | 12(5) | 4 | 9(4) |
| East of Scotland | 37(8) | 41(2) | 30(5) | 43 (11) | 31(6) | 41(9) | 11(2) | Central N Sea(6) | 16(6) | 16(2) | 9(1) |
| East of Shetland | 23(4) | 30(11) | 15(5) | 18(7) | 7(2) | 5(2) | 5(3) | Northern N Sea | 1(1) | 14(2) | 14(6) |
| West of England/Wales | - | - | 1 | 3 | 2(1) | 4 | 1 | West of England/Wales | - | 2(1) | |
| West of Shetland(3) | - | - | - | 4 | 8(4) | - | 8(1) | West of Shetland | 9 | 4(2) | 3(1) |
| Channel/SW Approaches | 1 | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | Channel/SW Approaches | - | - | |
| Total all areas(2) | 84(14) | 89(14) | 65(11) | 79(19) | 57(16) | 59(12) | 37(10) | 38(12) | 40(7) | 35(12) |
(C) Offshore development drilling(1): development wells started in each geographical area
| 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995(5) | 1996 | 1997 | ||
| East of England | 47 | 51(11) | 35(3) | 40(2) | 47(4) | 27(3) | 39(11) | Southern N Sea | 39(8) | 13(5) | 20(6) |
| East of Scotland | 48(1) | 34(3) | 35(8) | 60(9) | 79(12) | 58(11) | 88(19) | Central N Sea(6) | 110(18) | 104(25) | 100(36) |
| East of Shetland | 72(5) | 63(8) | 50(5) | 41(8) | 37(11) | 71(14) | 67(17) | Northern N Sea | 78(14) | 117(34) | 129(33) |
| West of England/Wales | - | 7 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 7(1) | West of England/Wales | 13(2) | 14(2) | 1(1) |
| West of Shetland(3) | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | West of Shetland | 4 | 13(2) | 7(2) |
| Total all areas(2) | 167(6)(4) | 155(12) | 124(16) | 144(19) | 167(27) | 162(28) | 202(48) | 244(42) | 261(68) | 257(78) |
(D) Onshore drilling : numbers of wells drilled
| 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | ||
| Exploration | 16 | 16 | 12 | 11 | 6 | 2 | 3 | Exploration | 2 | 6 | 12(2) |
| Appraisal | 3 | 1 | 1 | - | - | - | - | Appraisal | - | 1 | 2(2) |
| Development | 28 | 28 | 23 | 3 | 8 | 9 | 13 | Development | 19 | 28 | 26(9) |
| Total(2) | 47 | 45 | 36 | 14 | 14 | 11 | 16 | 21 | 35 | 40(13) |
1 Sidetracked wells are shown in brackets. Sidetrack wells are only counted where the intent was to acquire new geological data (sidetracks drilled due to mechanical problems with the original well are not counted).
2 From 1988, the first figure is the total number of wells including the number of geological sidetracks. The actual number of geological sidetracks included in the total is the second figure shown in brackets. Previously published figures have been amended.
3 'West of Shetland' includes 'West of Scotland'.
4 Total includes one relief well drilled in Piper field.
5 The figures for offshore activity are no longer collated by geographical area as has been done in past years. The tables and diagrams from 1995 reflect the geological approach to grouping wells broadly by sedimentary basin area, as described in Chapter 5. The major areas of change are the outer Moray Firth which is now partly included in the Northern North Sea rather than 'East of Scotland', and the Central North Sea which was previously split between 'East of Scotland' and 'East of England': the figures for these areas are thus not directly comparable with previous years.
6 Central North Sea includes inner and most of the outer Moray Firth areas.
NB. The year in which a well is drilled is determined by its start date.
To download this table click the appropriate format: Excel 4 or CSV file.
Title
| Table of Contents
Chapter 1
| Chapter 2
| Chapter 3
| Chapter 4 |
Chapter 5 |
Chapter 6
| Chapter 7
| Chapter 8
| Chapter 9
Appendix 1
| Appendix 2
| Appendix 3
| Appendix 4
| Appendix 5
| Appendix 6
| Appendix 7
| Appendix 8
Appendix 9
| Appendix 10
| Appendix 11
| Appendix 12
| Appendix 13
| Appendix 14
| Appendix 15
| Appendix 16
| Appendix 17
Plate 1
| Plate 2W
| Plate 2E
| Plate 3W
| Plate 3E
| Plate 4W
| Plate 4E
| Plate 5W
| Plate 5E
| Plate 6
| Plate 7
Plate 8W
| Plate 8E
| Plate 9W
| Plate 9E
| Plate 10W
| Plate 10E
| Plate 11
| Plate 12