Operators started drilling (spudded) 19 onshore oil and gas wells in 2014, four more than in 2013, but 10 down on 2011. Click here for 2013 figures and charts.

Based on information from the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), 10 of the 2014 spudded wells were in Dorset, drilled by Perenco UK Ltd at the Wytch Farm field or nearby at Wareham.

Location of onshore oil and gas wells spudded in 2014

Click here for an interactive version of this map

IGas spudded three wells in north-west England, while Dart (acquired by IGas during the year) drilled one each in Cheshire and Nottinghamshire. No wells were spudded in Scotland or Wales in 2014, or by Cuadrilla, one of the big names of 2013.

Counties where onshore oil and gas wells were spudded in 2014

Operators of onshore oil and gas wells spudded in 2014

According to DECC, only one well (IGas at Ellesmere Port) targeted shale gas. 13 were described as conventional oil and gas wells and four were said to be targeting coal bed methane.

Onshore oil and gas wells spudded between 200 and 2014

Details of onshore oil and gas wells spudded in 2014

Cheshire

Churton-1, drilled by Dart Energy (Europe) Ltd, for coal bed methane, PEDL188

Ellesmere Port 1, drilled by IGas, for shale gas, PEDL184

Doncaster

Markham Coal Mine Vent 1, drilled by Alkane Energy UK Ltd, for mine gas, PEDL169

Dorset

Wareham C9 and Wytch Farm A13, A13Z*, F26, F27, F27Z,  G4, K16, K16Y, K16Z, all drilled by Perenco UK Ltd for conventional oil and gas, PL089

Leicestershire

Burton-on-the-Wolds-1, drilled by Egdon Resources UK Ltd, for conventional oil and gas, PEDL201

Lincolnshire

Wressle 1, drilled by Egdon Resources UK Ltd, for conventional oil and gas, PEDL180

Nottinghamshire

Lound 1, drilled by Dart Energy (Europe) Ltd for coal bed methane, PEDL200

Salford

Irlam 1, drilled by IGas for coal bed methane, PEDL193

Irlam 1Z, drilled by IGas for coal bed methane, PEDL193

Surrey

Horse Hill 1, drilled by Horse Hill Developments Ltd for conventional oil and gas, PEDL137

*Wells marked Z are usually lateral wells off a vertical

Click here for 2013 figures and charts