United Kingdom Continental Shelf

In this article, we will explore the fascinating world of United Kingdom Continental Shelf in detail. From its origins to its impact on modern society, this topic has captured the interest of people of all ages and walks of life. Over the years, United Kingdom Continental Shelf has evolved in various ways, influencing culture, technology, science, and much more. Through an exhaustive analysis, we will delve into the most relevant aspects of United Kingdom Continental Shelf, analyzing its importance and implications in today's world. With a critical and reflective perspective, we will examine the multiple facets of United Kingdom Continental Shelf and its relevance in the contemporary context, offering the reader an informed and enlightening perspective on this exciting topic.

The UK Continental Shelf (UKCS) is the region of waters surrounding the United Kingdom, in which the country has mineral rights. The UK continental shelf includes parts of the North Sea, the North Atlantic, the Irish Sea and the English Channel; the area includes large resources of oil and gas. The UK continental shelf is bordered by Norway, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, and the Republic of Ireland. A median line, setting out the domains of each of these nations, was established by mutual agreement between them: - see the Continental Shelf Act 1964.

Responsibility for the mineral rights of the UKCS rests with the Oil and Gas Authority part of Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), which awards licences to oil companies to produce hydrocarbons from specific areas and regulates how much they can produce over what period.

The UKCS is divided into numbered rectangular Quadrants, each one degree of latitude by one degree of longitude.[1] Each Quadrant is further subdivided into 30 numbered Blocks (each 10 minutes latitude by 12 minutes longitude, thus each Quadrant has 5 blocks East-West by 6 blocks North-South), as shown below.[2]

Key to block numbers
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15
16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25
26 27 28 29 30

This numbering system then forms the identification for a particular oil or gas development. For example, the Harding oilfield, which is located in a fairly northern position, is in Quadrant 9, Block 23, denoted "9/23" (9/23b specifically to differentiate it from the Gryphon oilfield). The numbering of Quadrants follows several series: 1-58 (the original North Sea sequence); 71-75, 82-89, 91-113 (south-west of the UK and bordering France and the Republic of Ireland); 124-135, 137-144, 147-155, 157-166, 168-176 (the Atlantic west of Scotland); 204-225 (the North Sea north of Shetland and bordering Norway); 337-339, 341-349, 351-359 and 362-369 (the Atlantic west of the 124-176 sequence).

While the depth of the UK Continental Shelf varies significantly, the shallowness of the North Sea at an average depth of 95m has facilitated the development of offshore oil drilling and wind farms.

References

  1. ^ "UK Continental Shelf Quadrants".
  2. ^ Department of Trade and Industry (1994). The Energy Report. London: HMSO. p. 155. ISBN 0115153802.
  • Oil and Gas - DECC website concerned with energy production on the UKCS
  • UK Promote - DECC website marketing opportunities on the UKCS.
Wikious
Boobota
Sagapedia