UK energy minister calls for accelerated UKCS development.

A push to move UK North Sea acreage into the hands of operators inclined to conduct immediate exploration and development work drew early attention from government and industry officials at the Offshore Europe conference held in Aberdeen early last week.

Brian Wilson, UK Minister of State for Industry and Energy, challenged the oil and gas industry "to unlock the hundreds of fields lying unexploited on the UK continental shelf (UKCS)."

He said the area has 250 "fallow fields" and 250 unused licenses.

"No one should doubt the government's resolve that licenses should be in the hands of companies who want to develop them. Hundreds of fallow fields and …