Shrinking exploration acreage poses risk to gas supply

Shrinking exploration acreage poses risk to gas supply
Gavin Evans
Government officials are looking at ways to keep offshore exploration acreage available so that the country can ensure it has sufficient gas supplies as it transitions to a lower-carbon economy.Acreage has already dropped by more than a quarter since the government’s surprise ban on new offshore exploration in April 2018.Officials warn that the normal process of relinquishing part of a permit – part of the lifecycle of existing permits – will see the 71,000 square-kilometres currently permitted offshore more than halved within two years. It wil...

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