Report: Sharp Drop in UK Offshore Drilling May Carry Warning

摘要

Drilling offshore the UK plunged by more than half in the second quarter of 2011 compared to last year, despite strong oil prices, and could be an early warning sign that the UK’s shifting fiscal regime will dent future investment, financial services group Deloitte says. Drilling activity slumped by 52% year-onyear, with three exploration and eight appraisal wells spudded on the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS) in the three months to Jun. 30, Deloitte said in a report published on Thursday. In the first six months, drilling fell by 43%, as just 20 exploration and appraisal wells were sunk versus 35 last year — the lowest midyear level of activity in nine years.