Value of output rises by 15.2%

The value of Scottish North Sea oil and gas has risen, driven by an increase in production and prices, according to new figures.

Official statistics show oil and gas production in Scotland was around 74.7million tonnes of oil equivalent in 2016-17, up 2.9% compared to the previous year.

The figure represents 82% of total UK production and is at its highest level since 2011-12.

The approximate sales value was £17.5billion, up 15.2% from £15.2billion in 2015-16.

Statisticians attributed the rise in production revenues to the increase in production and also a rise in prices towards the end of 2016 and in the first quarter of 2017.

Operating expenditure, excluding decommissioning, was estimated to be £5.9billion, similar to the previous year despite the increase

“Scotland’s oil and gas industry has a bright future”

in production. Capital expenditure was down from £10.1billion to around £8billion.

Energy Minister Paul Wheelhouse said: “Scotland’s oil and gas industry has a bright future, and it is encouraging to see this continued increase in production which has risen by a total of 25% over the last two years.

“These figures show that confidence is continuing to return to the sector after a number of challenging years.

“I do recognise that this remains a difficult time for the industry and its workforce.

“And the Programme for Government launched last week clearly outlines that even in the context of our low carbon transition, harnessing the resources of the North Sea will be vital to the Scottish economy for decades to come.”