Geological Society Memoir 52 records the extraordinary 50+ year journey that has led to the development of some 458 oil and gas fields on the UKCS. It contains papers on almost 150 onshore and offshore fields in all of the UK’s main petroliferous basins. These papers range from look-backs on some of the first-developed gas fields in the Southern North Sea, to papers on fields that have only just been brought into production or may still remain undeveloped, and includes two candidate CO2 sequestration projects. These papers are intended to provide a consistent summary of the exploration, appraisal, development and production history of each field, leading to the current subsurface understanding which is described in greater detail. As such the Memoir will be an enduring reference source for those exploring for, developing, producing hydrocarbons and sequestering CO2 on the UKCS in the coming decades. It encapsulates the petroleum industry’s deep subsurface knowledge accrued over more than 50 years of exploration and production.

The history of the European oil and gas industry reflects local as well as global political events, economic constraints and the personal endeavours of individual petroleum geoscientists as much as it does the development of technologies and the underlying geology of the region. The first commercial oil wells in Europe were drilled in Poland in 1853, Romania in 1857, Germany in 1859 and Italy in 1860. The 23 papers in this volume focus on the history and heritage of the oil and gas industry in the key European oil-producing countries from the earliest onshore drilling to its development into the modern industry that we know today. The contributors chronicle the main events and some of the major players that shaped the industry in Europe. The volume also marks several important anniversaries, including 150 years of oil exploration in Poland and Romania, the centenary of the drilling of the first oil well in the UK and 50 years of oil production from onshore Spain.

This volume contains the proceedings of the 75th anniversary of Progress in Oil Field Science and Technology as gathered at the symposium in London on 12th July 1988.

This report examines the impact shale gas drilling in the UK could have on water supplies, energy security and greenhouse gas emissions. The inquiry found no evidence that the hydraulic fracturing process involved in shale gas extraction - known as 'fracking' - poses a direct risk to underground water aquifers provided the drilling well is constructed properly. The MPs, nevertheless, urge the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) to monitor drilling activity extremely closely in its early stages in order to assess its impact on air and water quality. Shale gas extraction could reduce the UK's dependence on imported gas, but it is unlikely to have a dramatic effect on domestic gas prices. The UK's onshore and, particularly, offshore shale gas resources could be substantial and the development of the offshore shale gas industry in the UK should be encouraged. Greenhouse gas emissions from gas are lower than from coal, but are still much higher than many low-carbon technologies. The presence of methane in shale gas, a greenhouse gas far more potent than carbon dioxide, has raised concerns. However, methane would only be released through leaks from the well or pipelines and the MPs are confident that this can be easily minimised through regulation and enforcement. Shale gas could reduce carbon dioxide emissions globally by encouraging a switch from coal to gas for electricity generation, but it will not be sufficient to meet long term emissions reductions targets and avoid the worst effects of global climate disruption.

Monograph explaining the treatment of the subject followed by a compendium of all the relevant statutes.

2011 Updated Reprint. Updated Annually. UK Mining Laws and Regulations Handbook