Operators started drilling (spudded) 15 onshore oil and gas wells in 2013, two down on 2012 and 14 fewer than in 2011.

Based on information from the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), five of the 2013 spudded wells were in Dorset, drilled by Perenco UK Ltd at Wytch Farm field.

Location of wells spudded in 2013

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UK counties where oil and gas well were spudded in 2013

Cuadrilla drilled two wells at Balcombe: the vertical Balcombe 2 and the lateral Balcombe 2Z. Rathlin Energy drilled one well at Crawberry Hill and another at West Newton, while Dart Energy drilled two wells at Airth in the Forth Valley.

Viking Gas drilled two wells in North Yorkshire: Ebberston Moor B1 and Kirby Misperton 8. Alkane Energy also drilled two wells, one in Knowsley and one in Staffordshire.

Operators of UK onshore wells spudded in 2013

According to DECC, none of the wells targeted shale gas. 12 were described as conventional oil and gas wells, one was said to be targeting coal bed methane and one mine gas.

Details of wells spudded in 2013

Clackmannanshire

Airth 13 and 14, drilled by Dart Energy (Forth Valley) for coal bed methane, PEDL133

Dorset

Wytch Farm B11, B11Y, B11Z*, K14 and K15 drilled by Perenco UK Ltd for conventional oil and gas, PL089

East Riding of Yorkshire

Crawberry Hill 1, drilled by Rathlin Energy (UK) Ltd, conventional oil and gas, PEDL183

West Newton 1, drilled by Rathlin Energy (UK) Ltd, conventional oil and gas, PEDL183

Knowsley

Cronton 4, drilled by Alkane Energy UK Ltd, for mine gas, PEDL191

North Yorkshire

Ebberston Moor B1, drilled by Viking Gas Ltd for conventional oil and gas, PL077

Kirby Misperton 8, drilled by Viking Gas Ltd for conventional oil and gas, PL080

Staffordshire

Nooks Farm 1Z, drilled by Alkane Energy UK Ltd for conventional oil and gas PEDL141

West Sussex

Balcombe 2, drilled by Cuadrilla Resources Ltd for conventional oil and gas, PEDL 244

Balcombe 2Z*, drilled by Cuadrilla Balcombe Ltd, for conventional oil and gas, PEDL 244

*Wells marked Z are usually lateral wells off a vertical