North Sea drilling down

DRILLING activity in the North Sea is at record low levels, industry experts have warned.

Forty-one development wells were drilled during the first six months of 2018 compared to 47 during the first six months of last year.

Industry body Oil & Gas UK said there had been a decline in the number of fields getting the goahead, and new fields were smaller in size. Experts warned this could lead to lower production levels.

The North Sea has been hammered since the slump in the oil price and its reserves are dwindling after decades of production.