North Sea Oil - Case Study Flashcards
When did North Sea oil and gas extraction begin?
North Sea oil and gas extraction began in 1975.
How many barrels of oil have been extracted from the North Sea so far?
40 billion barrels of oil have been extracted from the North Sea.
What percentage of North Sea oil reserves has already been extracted?
More than 50% of the reserves have already been extracted.
How many barrels of oil are estimated to be left in the North Sea?
Between 15 and 24 billion barrels are estimated to be left.
How much has the North Sea oil and gas reserves benefitted the UK government?
The reserves have benefitted the UK government by £300 billion.
When was the Gannet Oil and Gas Field discovered?
The Gannet Oil and Gas Field was discovered in 1973.
When did production of the Gannet Oil and Gas Field start?
Production of the Gannet Oil and Gas Field started in 1993.
Which company runs the Gannet Oil and Gas Field?
The Gannet Oil and Gas Field is run by Shell.
How is oil from the Gannet Oil and Gas Field transported?
Oil is pumped via Fulmar A onto Teesside.
How is gas exported from the Gannet Oil and Gas Field?
Gas is exported to Gannet diverter and piped via Fulmer gas pipeline to St Fergus, north of Aberdeen.
What advantage does the UK have due to its own fossil fuel supply?
The presence of its own fossil fuel supply has enabled the UK to develop at an even faster rate without the need to import the product from abroad.
What percentage of its own natural gas does the UK produce?
The UK produces 60% of its own natural gas, making it less reliant on foreign energy.
What is a benefit of the offshore oil industry in the UK?
Thousands of people are employed in the offshore oil industry, particularly in areas of historic high unemployment like Aberdeen.
How has the UK government benefited from the oil industry?
The UK government has benefited directly through tax revenue.
What is the positive multiplier effect related to the oil industry in the UK?
There is a positive multiplier effect as new industries grow along the East coast to provide resources for the rigs and utilize the oil/gas at source.
What was the Piper Alpha disaster?
The Piper Alpha disaster of 1988 killed 167 workers and caused insured losses of £1.7 billion.
What happened to a helicopter in 2016?
A helicopter used to transport workers to the rigs went down in 2016, resulting in the loss of 13 people.
How did oil prices affect employment from 2014 to 2017?
Oil prices fell in 2014, leading to a decrease in employed workers from around 450,000 to just over 300,000 in three years.
What environmental damage can oil leaks cause?
Oil leaks can cause significant environmental damage; for example, the Gannet Alpha platform leaked more than 200 tonnes of oil in 2011.
What is a concern regarding oil reserves?
Oil is non-renewable, and reserves will eventually run out.
