A photographic print of Industry, Fuel & Power, Oil - Including Gas - From Sea Bed, North Sea Explorations

FOR FIRST PUBLICATION IN DAILIES OF FRIDAY 9TH OCTOBER 1964 ERF. G. OCTOBER 1964 NORTH SEA GEOPHYSICAL OPERATIONS BRITISH PETROLEUM HAS BEEN AWARDED PRODUCTION LICENCES BY THE MINISTRY OF POWER, COVERING SOME 2,200 SQUARE MILES IN AREA, TO SEARCH FOR AND PRODUCE OIL AND NATURAL GAS UNDER THE NORTH SEA ADJACENT TO THE UNITED KINGDOM. THE AREAS LIE OFF THE COAST OF DURHAM, YORKSHIRE AND LINCOLNSHIRE. THE COMPANY HAS DRAWN UP PLANS FOR ITS OWN SUBSTANTIAL DRILLING PROGRAMME. THE B.P. AREA HAS BEEN DIVIDED INTO THREE PRODUCTION LICENCES, IN EACH OF WHICH ONE DEEP TEST WILL INITIALLY BE DRILLED; THE PROGRAMME FOR FURTHER TEST DRILLING WILL BE DRAWN UP AS DICTATED BY EXPERIENCE. IT IS EXPECTED THAT EACH WELL WILL BE ABOUT 12,000 FEET IN DEPTH AND WILL COST AT LEAST £500,000. DRILLING OPERATIONS WILL COMMENCE AS EARLY AS PRACTICABLE IN 1965. GEOPHYSICAL WORK HAS ALREADY BEGUN IN ORDER TO AID SELECTION OF DRILLING LOCATIONS. PHOTO SHOWS: ON BOARD THE SURVEY VESSEL "TEXIN" - SIGNALS FROM EACH SHOCK WAVE, WHICH APART FROM BEING RECORDED ON TAPE, ARE PHOTOGRAPHICALLY REPRODUCED AS AN IMMEDIATE VISUAL CHECK. THE EFFECT OF THE SHOCK WAVES ARE RELAYED BY THE "STREAMER" FROM THE DEPTH CHARGES ECHOED FROM THE ROCK FORMATION BELOW THE SEA BED. THE "STREAMER" IS RUN OUT ASTERN OF THE SHIP AND IS SOMETIMES WELL OVER A MILE LONG. G.10014