100 billion barrels worth of oil found near Gatwick Airport

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Britain could be on the verge of an oil revolution after scientists discovered 100 billion barrels at a site near Gatwick Airport.

The discovery at the Weald Basin is around 25 times what was previously estimated with experts claiming it has the potential for daily oil production.

Geologists found 158 million barrels per square mile and it is estimated up to 15 per cent could be recovered.

Red dot is the oil site, green is Gatwick Airport Credit: Google Maps

In 15 years the site could provide up to 30 per cent of the UK's oil demand.

UK Oil and Gas Investments announced the surprise discovery today after commissioning US firm Nutech Ltd, which specialises in petrophysical analysis and reservoir intelligence, to study the site.

The rocks at the 30-mile deep site are naturally fractured, so there wouldn't be any need for fracking, it was claimed.

Credit: PA

Stephen Sanderson, from UKOG, described the site as a "possible world class potential resource". In a statement, he said: