Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what his most recent estimate is of UK gas reserves; and what independent sources his Department uses to validate those estimates.

BEIS is guided by the Oil and Gas Authority’s (OGA) estimate of UK gas reserves. The 2016 range of estimates of UK gas reserves is from 207 billion cubic metres (bcm) to 446 bcm with a central estimate of 333 bcm. In addition, there are contingent resources in significant discoveries where development plans are under discussion. These are estimated to range between 26 bcm and 89 bcm. The OGA collects data directly from operators and also has access to proprietary estimates of remaining commercial reserves from specialist energy consultancy Wood Mackenzie.