Scotland on verge of onshore exploration boom

Scotland is on the verge of an onshore oil and gas exploration boom, as shale oil and gas companies Shell, Chevron, Statoil, Halliburton and Cuadrilla will bid for DECC licences later this year to explore the potential vast onshore reserves.

This latest finding comes from an investigation carried out by oilandgaspeople.com together with independent North Sea oil and gas industry experts. The investigation included interviews with industry experts and DECC officials.

Renewed interest

Despite past onshore oil and gas finds, onshore has been largely neglected, however now this investigation has found that activity is ramping up quickly as DECC is set to announce new reserve estimates in later 2014, which has renewed interest from the exploration majors.

As the British Geological Survey is set to complete a major new survey of the area, DECC is now poised to offer oil and gas exploration blocks on an unprecedented scale covering large areas of mainland Scotland. There is now a strong momentum towards uncovering the significant reserves that many experts believe exists within the geology of the area.

Scottish Midland Valley

The investigation found that the whole of the Scottish Midland Valley will become open to oil and gas exploration licences in the DECC 14th onshore oil and gas exploration round. The Scottish Midland Valley is the principle onshore hydrocarbon province.

Surveys have already revealed gas and oil petroleum systems in Scottish Midland valley around Salsburgh and Marshall Meadows. The middle Devonian sediments of Orcadian basin – includes 180 m of rich, mature Lacustrine source rocks Oracdian basin, which suggest considerable shale gas potential and significant reserves.

Energy companies, including Dart Energy, estimate that there are 370 billion ft³ of shale gas recoverable in just two areas of central Scotland.

Coal bed methane exploration

The investigation found that exploration would also start into establishing reserves of coal bed methane in the Scottish Midland Valley Basin. The Basin consists of early Carboniferous strata including the controlling faults of Pentland, Ochil and Campsie Faults.

Coal bed methane exploration will cover the Coal valley and Forth valleys, Airth and Fife. High values have already been found in the Bannockburn seams.

Comments

Kevin Forbes, CEO of Oilandgaspeople.com, commented: “The investigation has found new evidence that significant exploration for onshore oil and gas will take place across mainland Scotland in the immediate future.

“Significant new activity is now taking place with DECC licences covering large areas of Scotland on an unprecedented scale now up for grabs. With the geology consistent with large reserves, it is not surprising that the new round of DECC licensing looks set to be one of the most competitive ever.”

Adapted from press release by Katie Woodward

Read the article online at: https://www.oilfieldtechnology.com/exploration/11092014/scotland-onshore-exploration-expected-to-boom-1435/