Call to extract the UK's remaining gas supplies

The offshore energy industry has warned that pressure on gas supplies has shown that more should be done to extract the UK’s remaining supplies.

Oil and Gas UK, the trade body, said that improved storage facilities should be a priority.

They also warned against downplaying the remaining potential of gas supplies in British waters.
Energy policy manager David Odling said there could be 1.5 trillion cubic metres of gas yet to be recovered.

He said this could make a significant difference to the country’s energy security for the next ten years and beyond.

The industry is seeking improved incentives through the tax regime to encourage companies into extracting more from older oil and gas fields.

It secured some of what it wanted in the Pre-Budget Report.

It is thought that a fifth of Britain’s gas resource lies under waters to the west of Shetland, which are more difficult to reach than the North Sea, and would cost an estimated