UK oil output seen rising in next few years -study
Britain's North Sea oil output, long in decline, is likely to increase in the next few years, according to research published on Wednesday, reflecting the impact of rising investment, high prices and tax breaks.
Oil output will reach 1.4 million barrels per day (bpd) in 2017 based on an oil price of $90 a barrel, the University of Aberdeen study predicted.
Last year, production fell more than 17 percent to average 1.04 million bpd.
"Oil production should revive from recent levels for a period of several years, particularly with the higher-price scenario, where the increase could be substantial," the study by Alexander Kemp and Linda Stephen concluded.
The finding is relatively upbeat on the near-term prospects for UK output.
While the industry is benefiting from a rise in investment, other experts have predicted a slowing of the rate of decline rather than an increase.
The report came before the UK government's Autumn Statement on the economy later on Wednesday and at a time when the North Sea is seeing something of a mini-revival.
In March, the government announced tax breaks that have provided an incentive for companies to do more work in the North Sea.
UK natural gas output is also expected to rebound in the next few years, based on a gas price of 55 pence per therm as well as $90 oil, to reach over 5 billion standard cubic feet per day in 2015, the study said.
Britain was among the world's top 10 oil producers in the 1990s, but output has declined from a peak of
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