UK North Sea gas may buck decline trend
Record investment in UK North Sea gasfields could reverse a decade-long downward production trend, according to consultancy Wood Mackenzie
Gas production has been falling since the beginning of 2000, as fields mature, but large new developments mean the next few years could see output rise again. “We forecast the decline in UK gas production to be arrested in the next three to four years, because of gasfield developments west of Shetland, before the declines continue again from 2015,” said Graham Freedman, senior gas and power analyst at Wood Mackenzie. The consultancy predicts UK North Sea gas production to climb this year and rise to 51.1 billion cubic metres a year (cm/y) in 2015, 10% above output last year. “The main projects coming on stream in 2012 and 2013 are Devenick, Breagh and Jasmine, which should add around 5 billi
Also in this section
22 April 2026
The failure of OMV Petrom’s keenly watched exploration campaign at Bulgaria’s Han Asparuh block highlights the Black Sea’s uneven track record, despite major successes like Neptun Deep and Sakarya
22 April 2026
Sustained strikes on ports, terminals and refineries are testing the resilience of Russia’s oil export system, yet rapid repairs, rerouting and surging prices mean the campaign has yet to deliver a decisive blow
21 April 2026
After overcoming a COVID-induced demand collapse with several years of successful market management, geopolitical events have conspired to provide the pact’s biggest test to date
21 April 2026
The regime’s policy of using nuclear ambiguity as a deterrent may have failed but it has realised it has other cards to play, while its neighbours are reappraising their approach to security
