RE: West newton16 May 2022 10:36
....you're new round here aren't you?
Unfortunately it takes on average over 10 years from the award of a licence though to production.
In between that you have to do Seismic, a CPR, exploration drilling, analysis of exploration well results, appraisal drilling of any discovery, analysis of appraisal, field development planning (FDP), riding of (expensive) production equipment, development drilling, sorting out export of hydrocarbons to market with associated infrastructure....TEHN bank the cash and make 'disgusting profits' while people are starving and polar bears are dying etc etc
ALL of the above steps are subject to planning permission refusals for arbitrary reasons (see West Newton) and inspection/scrutiny of engineering and operations.
Millions and millions of pounds, on the off chance you might discover oil/gas and someone might then let you produce it, then someone might let you sell what you produce, then if you're lucky someone might let you keep some of the money so you can start at the beginning again with another exploration licence.
Simples. Licence to print money innit.