Wow, Wow, Wow -- UK Imports Exceed Production -- First Time Since 1978

Link here to Rigzone.com.

Energy statistics released by a UK government department Thursday showed that the country's imports of crude oil exceeded UK production for the first time since 1978.

The Department of Energy and Climate Change said that provisional data for 2011 showed that primary energy production fell by a record 14 percent, compared to 2010, to 136.3 million tons of oil equivalent, following sharp falls in output from the UK Continental Shelf as a result of maintenance activity and slowdowns.

There was no mention of the increased taxes on North Sea production.

Meanwhile, 2011 saw large increases in imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG), with imports from Qatar at similar levels to those for pipeline gas from Norway.

 

DECC added that UK gas demand was at its lowest level since 1995 due to a combination of milder weather and reduced use by generators.

Much could be said of this, but I'll wait. I'm behind on blogging and reading e-mail.