Detailed guide: Oil and gas: onshore maps and GIS shapefiles

By HM Government

Updated: Oil and gas; Various onshore maps and shapefiles - (updated)

Overview

All data below was mapped and is held by DECC in National Grid coordinates.

13th round of onshore licensing

• 
  13th round licences offered
  (PDF, 893KB, 1 page)
  


• 
  13th round acreage on offer
  (PDF, 741KB, 1 page)
  

Current fields and licences

Wallmap displaying current fields and licences (updated 07 January 2014)

PDF, 1.2MB, 1 page

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.
Request a different format.

If you use assistive technology and need a version of this document
in a more accessible format please email
correspondence@decc.gsi.gov.uk
quoting your address, telephone number along with the title of the
publication ("Wallmap displaying current fields and licences (updated 07 January 2014)").

Historical maps (approximations scanned from previous documents)

Licensed areas as at 28/02/1969

PDF, 582KB, 1 page

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.
Request a different format.

If you use assistive technology and need a version of this document
in a more accessible format please email
correspondence@decc.gsi.gov.uk
quoting your address, telephone number along with the title of the
publication ("Licensed areas as at 28/02/1969").

Onshore GIS shapefiles

GIS mapping software is required to view the following zipped files.

• 
  13th round licences offered
  (ZIP, 88.8KB)
  

Other shapefiles

Shapefile
What it covers
Last updated
Hydrocarbon fields
oil and gas fields in the UK – indication of hydrocarbons, not accurate reflection of reservoir boundaries
07 January 2014
Coastline
low-resolution coastline of mainland Britain
-
National grid
10k and 100k onshore grids
-
Onshore licences
grid of blocks and part blocks displaying licensed areas
07 January 2014
Field determinations
taxation boundary that determines a hydrocarbon field
05 March 2012
Wells
surface locations of all UK onshore and offshore wells
07 January 2014
Strategic Environmental Assessment areas
areas considered for environmental protection and sustainable development
-
Coal mine methane vents
recovery of gas from mine workings for safety and power generation
06 November 2012

Historical shapefiles (approximations scanned from previous documents)

• 
  Licensed areas as at 28/02/1969
  (ZIP, 38.4KB)
  


• 
  Mining licences as at 1969
  (ZIP, 9.26KB)
  


• 
  Exploration licences awarded up to 1979
  (ZIP, 31.1KB)
  


• 
  Production licences awarded up to 1979
  (ZIP, 46.1KB)
  

Mapping

Onshore licence coordinates are defined using the National Grid referencing system, which is a metric grid on a Transverse Mercator projection. National Grid coordinates are expressed as distances measured in metres east and north from the grid origin, which is located west of the Isles of Scilly. The National Grid defines a series of 100km squares, each of which is further subdivided into 10km squares. The 100km squares are identified by two letters, e.g. SE or TL. The 10km squares are identified by the letters of the 100km square within which they lie, plus a number from 00 to 99 as follows:

09
19
29
39
49
59
69
79
89
99
08
18
28
38
48
58
68
78
88
98
07
17
27
37
47
57
67
77
87
97
06
16
26
36
46
56
66
76
86
96
05
15
25
35
45
55
65
75
85
95
04
14
24
34
44
54
64
74
84
94
03
13
23
33
43
53
63
73
83
93
02
12
22
32
42
52
62
72
82
92
01
11
21
31
41
51
61
71
81
91
00
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90

Example: If this diagram showed the SE block, then square 46 would be referred to as SE46.

DECC refers to each 10km square as a block. A licence may cover a whole block, part of a block, or several blocks or part-blocks.

• map of the UKCS illustrating the relationship between the National Grid and quadrants


• the Ordnance Survey website offers further information on the For more information on the National Grid.

The system of quadrants and blocks used in offshore licensing does extend onshore, but we only use it for well numbering (see Petroleum Operations Notice 12 for details).

Disclaimer

This data is supplied on a best effort basis only, utilising available information as provided by the original operators. While every effort is made to ensure the information is correct and up-to-date, the Department does not accept any liability for any direct, indirect or consequential loss or damage of any nature, however caused, which may be sustained as a result of reliance upon such information.

If any errors are found or if you have any comments or other queries please contact:

Toni Harvey
Senior Geoscientest, UK Onshore

Telephone: 0300 068 6037
Email: toni.harvey@decc.gsi.gov.uk