Reserves

The DTI view of UK reserves as at the end of 2003 is described in the following sections. This analysis is based on data collected from operators during January and February 2004. A total of 652 fields and potential developments or past discoveries were reviewed, both offshore and onshore.

Index to UK Oil and Gas Reserves website sections

  1. Introduction
  2. UK Oil Reserves and Ultimate Recovery 2004
  3. UK Gas Reserves and Ultimate Recovery 2004
  4. Estimates of UK Potential Additional Reserves 2004
  5. Pie Charts Showing Potential for UK Reserves Growth
  6. Estimate of UK Undiscovered Resources
  7. Summary Table Giving Ranges of UK Reserves and Undiscovered Resources

Introduction

UK reserves are presented in a similar fashion to previous years but this year, for the first time, using terminology more closely aligned to that used in the oil and gas industry. This has been done to improve general understanding and ensure consistency. Key terms are defined as follows:

Term

Definition

Ultimate recovery

Total recovery from a field, i.e. reserves plus past production.

Reserves

Discovered, remaining reserves which are recoverable and commercial. Can be proven, probable or possible depending on confidence level (as described below).

Potential additional reserves

Discovered reserves that are not currently technically or economically producible.

Undiscovered resources

Undiscovered potentially recoverable resources in mapped leads.

Reserves are categorised as being ‘proven’, ‘probable’ or ‘possible’ based on confidence levels, as follows:

Reserves

Description

Proven

Reserves which on the available evidence are virtually certain to be technically and commercially producible, i.e. have a better than 90% chance of being produced.

Probable

Reserves which are not yet proven, but which are estimated to have a better than 50% chance of being technically and commercially producible.

Possible

Reserves which at present cannot be regarded as probable, but which are estimated to have a significant but less than 50% chance of being technically and commercially producible.

This data was last updated on : July 2004 and is due to be updated on : June 2005

If any errors are found or if you have any comments or other queries please contact:

Joy Gray
email: joy.gray@dti.gsi.gov.uk
phone: +44 (0) 20 7215 5083
fax: +44 (0) 20 7215 5070
or

John Webber
email: john.webber@dti.gsi.gov.uk
phone: +44 (0) 1224 254069
fax: +44 (0) 1224 254018

Back | Title | Table of Contents
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
Index Map | Plate 1 | Plate 2W | Plate 2E | Plate 3W | Plate 3E | Plate 4W | Plate 4E | Plate 5 | Plate 6
Plate 7 | Plate 8W | Plate 8E | Plate 9W | Plate 9E | Plate 10W | Plate 10E | Plate 11 | Plate 12 | Legend