Scottish shale amount ‘modest’

Figures published in the BGS report ‘The Carboniferous Shales of the Midland Valley of Scotland’ suggest shale gas in place of 80 trillion cubic feet, while the estimate for shale oil in place is 6 billion barrels of oil.

However, these are central estimates of a range between 49.4 trillion to 134.6 trillion cubic feet of gas, with shale oil estimates ranging anywhere from 3.2 billion barrels of oil to 11.2 billion.

We know that shale gas alone won’t be able to supply all of our energy needs

Michael Fallon MP

However, it does not mean that these amounts could be extracted - as exploratory drilling is first needed to determine how much of the gas can be technically and commercially recovered, the report says.

Estimates for shale recovery are expected to be substantially lower than the total amount of gas and oil in place, and the Midland Valley’s estimates are particularly uncertain because the area has fewer historic wells and less seismic data than previous study areas.

Energy minister Michael Fallon said: “We know that shale gas alone won’t be able to supply all of our energy needs, but the environmentally responsible exploration of shale gas could contribute to our energy mix.”

The central estimates in the Midland Valley region compare to a central estimate for the Bowland shale in North West England of 1,300 trillion cubic feet of gas in place, and a central estimate of 4.4 billion barrels of oil in place in the Weald basin in the south of England.

BGS director of science and technology Mike Stephenson said: “The central estimate of shale gas in place is 80 trillion cubic feet and the central estimate for shale oil in place is 6 billion barrels of oil but reserves cannot be calculated at this stage before drilling and testing take place.

“The Midland Valley of Scotland has complex geology and a relative lack of data compared to the previous DECC-BGS Bowland-Hodder and Weald Basin studies.”