DrillOrDrop’s review of the latest UK onshore production data, for March 2023, reveals the lowest monthly oil volume and daily extraction rate for 12 years, while flared gas was at a record high.
Key figures
Daily production: Oil: 12,359 barrels per day (bopd). Gas: 8 standard cubic feet per day (mmscf/d)
Volume: Oil: 60,908 m3. Gas: 8,308 thousand cubic meters (ksm3)
Weight: Oil: 50,358 tonnes. Gas: 6,409 tonnes.
Onshore contribution to UK total production: 1.72% of total oil and 0.87 % of gas
Volume of flared gas at UK onshore oilfields: 1,266ksm3
Volume of vented gas at UK onshore oilfields: 135ksm3
The data in this post was compiled and published by the North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) from reports by oil companies. This is published about three months in arrears. All the charts are based on the NSTA data.
Details
Daily production
- Daily oil production in March 2023, at 12,359 bopd, was the lowest since February 2011
- The rate was down 15% compared with the previous month
- Gas daily production was also down after five stable months
Volume and weight
- The March 2023 oil production figures (8,308 ksm3 and 6,409 tonnes) were the lowest since February 2011
- Onshore oil volume and weight were down 5% on February 2023, despite three extra days in March
- Gas volume and weight were up 10% compared with the month before – possibly reflecting the longer month
Contribution to UK production
- Onshore oil’s contribution to the UK total fell by 13% in March 2023 compared with the previous month, down from 1.98% to 1.72%
- Onshore gas’s contribution to the UK total rose 9% in March compared with February 2023, up from 0.8% to 0.875%
Flaring and venting
- The volume of flared gas from UK onshore oil fields in March 2023, at 1,266ksm, was the highest since monthly records began in October 2016
- Two fields, Singleton and Wressle, were responsible for 84% of the UK onshore flared gas
- According to the data, Wressle has flared 3,453m3 since it began production in July 2022
- The volume of vented gas in March 2023 was the eighth highest monthly total since records began
Top producing fields
Oil top 20
Ranking risers: Humbly Grove, Long Clawson, Scampton North, Whisby, Horse Hill, Bletchingley
Ranking fallers: Wareham, Glentworth, Cold Hanworth, Beckingham, Corringham
The UK’s biggest onshore oil producer, Wytch Farm, saw production fall 10% in March compared with February 2023, from 40,848 tonnes to 36,727 tonnes . The pipeline leak into Poole Harbour in late March may have contributed to the fall. But in February 2023, the field had seen a 5% fall compared with January. The field’s contribution to UK onshore oil production fell again, to 72.9% in March, from 76.9% in February. Production was also down at Wytch Farm’s neighbouring oilfield at Wareham.
The newest UK onshore producing oil field, at Wressle, in North Lincolnshire, reported a rise in production in March compared with February. But this could be accounted for by the longer month. The field’s contribution to UK onshore production rose from 5.36% in February to 6.25% in March.
Production was up in the Weald at sites operated by IGas fields at Singleton and Stockbridge and at Humbly Grove, operated by EP UK Investments.
Gas top 10
Ranking risers: Maltby Coal Mine Vent, Bevercotes Coal Mine Vent, Markham Main Coal Mine
Ranking fallers: Albury, Warsop Main Coal Mine Vent
Monthly gas volume and weight at Angus Energy’s Saltfleetby field in Lincolnshire rose 10% in March, compared with February but failed to match the monthly levels reported from October 2022 to January 2023.
Production at the IGas site at Albury, in Surrey, rose 22% in March, compared with February, but volume remained below the recent peaks in December 2022 and January 2023. The site fell in the rankings behind Maltby Coal Mine Vent , where production also rose.
Non-producers
Oil
There was no production at 14 UK onshore oil fields in March 2023.
The non-producing fields were:
- Angus Energy: Lidsey, Brockham
- Britnrg Limited: Newton-on-Trent
- Egdon Resources: Dukes Wood, Fiskerton Airfield, Keddington, Kirklington, Waddock Cross
- IGas: Avington, Egmanton, Nettleham, Palmers Wood, Scampton, South Leverton,
Gas
No dry gas production was reported from the following onshore fields in March 2023:
Airth, Doe Green, Elswick, Florence Coal Mine Vent, Gedling Coal Mine Vent, Hatfield Moor Gas Storage Injection, Humbly Grove Gas Storage, Kings Mill Hospital Coal Mine Vent, Kirby Misperton, Kirkleatham, Mansfield Coal Mine Vent, Malton, Marishes, Pickering, Sherwood Vent.
Operators
Oil
All the onshore oil operators, except Perenco (Wytch Farm) and Europa saw production rise or remain stable in March, compared with February 2023. Perenco’s share of UK onshore production fell from 78.79% in February to 74.68% in March.
IGas oil production rose 16% in March, compared with February. This was more than would have been expected by the longer month.
Gas
Angus Energy saw gas production rise but its share of UK onshore gas production fell slightly. Infinis Energy, which operates most of the coal mine vents, again increased its production, though its share was down slightly.
IGas plc increased both its weight and share of UK onshore gas production in March compared with February. The weight of gas and contribution to UK production was down at Velox Power. Scottish Power UK returned to the table after a month of no reported production at Hafield in February 2023.
2022 onshore oil data archive
August 2022 – see note about revised data
July 2022 – see note about revised data
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