The Scottish government’s predictions for North Sea oil recovery are up to 60% too high according to a leading oil industry figure.
A recent white paper produced by the Scottish government claims that 24 billion barrels of oil remain recoverable from the North Sea, but Sir Ian Wood has warned that this figure is 45% to 60% too high.
He believes that there are around 16 billion barrels of recoverable oil left, and estimated production will fall to around a sixth of its current levels by 2050.
The former chief executive of the Wood Group said he was reluctant to be drawn into the debate on Scottish independence, but warned that an independent Scotland could significantly lose out in terms of energy economics.
Voters in Scotland will go to the polls on 18 September, where they will be asked if Scotland should be an independent country.
