North Sea oil, the UK economy and macroeconomic adjustment – an overview, theoretical and simulation analysis

OPEC Review ◽  
1992 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 151-183 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles Harvie
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rhodri P. Hughes ◽  
Dyfrig A. Hughes

Background: Social distancing policies aimed to limit Covid-19 across the UK were gradually relaxed between May and August 2020, as peak incidences passed. Population density is an important driver of national incidence rates; however peak incidences in rural regions may lag national figures by several weeks. We aimed to forecast the timing of peak Covid-19 mortality rate in rural North Wales.Methods: Covid-19 related mortality data up to 7/5/2020 were obtained from Public Health Wales and the UK Government. Sigmoidal growth functions were fitted by non-linear least squares and model averaging used to extrapolate mortality to 24/8/2020. The dates of peak mortality incidences for North Wales, Wales and the UK; and the percentage of predicted mortality at 24/8/2020 were calculated.Results: The peak daily death rates in Wales and the UK were estimated to have occurred on the 14/04/2020 and 15/04/2020, respectively. For North Wales, this occurred on the 07/05/2020, corresponding to the date of analysis. The number of deaths reported in North Wales on 07/05/2020 represents 33% of the number predicted to occur by 24/08/2020, compared with 74 and 62% for Wales and the UK, respectively.Conclusion: Policies governing the movement of people in the gradual release from lockdown are likely to impact significantly on areas–principally rural in nature–where cases of Covid-19, deaths and immunity are likely to be much lower than in populated areas. This is particularly difficult to manage across jurisdictions, such as between England and Wales, and in popular holiday destinations.


2020 ◽  
pp. SP494-2019-61
Author(s):  
Stuart G. Archer ◽  
Tom McKie ◽  
Steven D. Andrews ◽  
Anne D. Wilkins ◽  
Matt Hutchison ◽  
...  

AbstractThe Triassic of the Central North Sea is a continental succession that contains prolific hydrocarbon-bearing fluvial sandstone reservoirs stratigraphically partitioned by mudstones. Within the Skagerrak Formation of the UK sector, hydrocarbon accumulations in the Judy, Joanne and Josephine Sandstone members are top sealed by the Julius, Jonathan and Joshua Mudstone members, respectively. However, UK and Norwegian stratigraphic correlations have been problematical for decades, largely due to biostratigraphic challenges but also due to the non-uniqueness of the lithotypes and because the cross-border stratigraphic nomenclature differs and has yet to be rationalized. This study focuses on mudstones rather than sandstones to unify cross-border correlation efforts at a regional scale. The mudstone members have been characterized by integrating sedimentological, petrophysical and geophysical data. The facies are indicative of playa lakes that frequently desiccated and preserved minor anhydrite. These conditions alternated with periods of marshy, palustrine conditions favourable for the formation of dolostones. Regional correlations have detected lateral facies changes in the mudstones which are important for their seismically mappable extents, resulting palaeogeographies and, ultimately, their competency as intraformational top seals. Significant diachroneity is associated with the lithological transitions at sandstone–mudstone member boundaries and although lithostratigraphic surfaces can be used as timelines over short distances (e.g. within a field), they should not be assumed to represent timelines over longer correlation lengths. Palaeoclimatic trends are interpreted and compared to those of adjacent regions to test the extent and impact of climate change as a predictive allogenic forcing factor on sedimentation. Mudstone member deposition occurred as a result of the retreat of large-scale terminal fluvial systems during a return to more arid ‘background’ climatic conditions. The cause of the member-scale climatic cyclicity observed within the Skagerrak Formation may be related to volcanic activity in large igneous provinces which triggered the episodic progradation of fluvial systems.


1991 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 111-116 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. M. Stewart ◽  
A. J. G. Faulkner

AbstractThe Emerald Oil Field lies in Blocks 2/10a, 2/15a and 3/1 lb in the UK sector of the northern North Sea. The field is located on the 'Transitional Shelf, an area on the western flank of the Viking Graben, downfaulted from the East Shetland Platform. The first well was drilled on the structure in 1978. Subsequently, a further seven wells have been drilled to delineate the field.The Emerald Field is an elongate dip and fault closed structure subparallel to the local NW-SE regional structural trend. the 'Emerald Sandstone' forms the main reservoir of the field and comprises a homogeneous transgressive unit of Callovian to Bathonian age, undelain by tilted Precambrian and Devonian Basement Horst blocks. Sealing is provided by siltstones and shales of the overlying Healther and Kimmeridge Clay Formations. The reservoir lies at depths between 5150-5600 ft, and wells drilled to date have encountered pay thicknesses of 42-74 ft. Where the sandstone is hydrocarbon bearing, it has a 100% net/ gross ratio. Porosities average 28% and permeabilities lie in the range 0-1 to 1.3 darcies. Wireline and test data indicate that the field contains a continouous oil column of 200 ft. Three distinct structural culminations exist on and adjacent to the field, which give rise to three separate gas caps, centred around wells 2/10a-4, 2/10a-7 and 2/10a-6 The maximum flow rate achieved from the reservoir to date is 6822 BOPD of 24° API oil with a GOR of 300 SCF/STBBL. In-place hydrocarbons are estimated to be 216 MMBBL of oil and 61 BCF of gas, with an estimated 43 MMBBL of oil recoverable by the initial development plan. initial development drilling began in Spring 1989 and the development scheme will use a floating production system. Production to the facility, via flexible risers, is from seven pre-drilled deviated wells with gas lift. An additional four pre-drilled water injection wells will provide reservoir pressure support.


1991 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 117-126
Author(s):  
J. BREWSTER

AbstractThe Frigg Field was the first giant gas field to be discovered in the northern North Sea. Its position on the boundary line between the UK and Norway called for international cooperation at an early stage in development. The Lower Eocene reservoir sands have extremely good poroperm characteristics but the heterogeneities within the sands control the water influx from the immense Eocene and Palaeocene aquifers below.


2003 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 453-466 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Gunn ◽  
J. A. MacLeod ◽  
P. Salvador ◽  
J. Tomkinson

AbstractThe MacCulloch Field lies within Block 15/24b in the UK Central North Sea and is located on the northern flank of the Witch Ground Graben. It was discovered by Conoco well 15/24b-3 in 1990.MacCulloch Field is a four-way dip closure at Top Paleocene over a deeper Mesozoic structure. The reservoir consists of Upper Balmoral Sandstones containing 32-37° API oils derived from Kimmeridge Clay Formation shales and sealed by shales belonging to the Sele Formation. The field contains recoverable reserves of 60-90 MMBOE.Reservoir quality is generally very good, with an average porosity of 28% and core permeabilities (Kh) between 200 mD and 2D. AVO anomalies and a seismic flat spot are associated with oil filled reservoir and the oil-water contact in certain areas of the field.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document