Yeah, I read something that Salmond said if it were a No, it's really a once-a-generation kind of referendum.

I'm sure westminster would like it to be but its hard to see how if the SNP are again elected to be the majority government of the devolved parliament on a referendum pledge just how westminster could justify saying you cant have another one.

Exactly. Do Westminster have to agree to have it happen?

Scottish West Coast untapped oil and gas reserves worth trillions

here

bit of a vague article but there's a few comments of note.

"The findings show that the current predictions of extensive untapped reserves of oil and gas could be underestimated by 100%. The West Coast alone could provide oil and gas for at least 100 years with an estimated value of more than £1 trillion."

"Analysis from DECC further backs up the reports finding. Its recent Strategic Environmental Assessment identified the following areas as priority for further exploration: Rockall Basin, Outer Hebrides Platform and parts of the Hatton Basin and Hatton High.

The investigation also found that oil companies had evidence that there was significant potential for large oil finds in the Faroe-Shetland Basin. Geological evidence found that it contains more large undrilled structural traps that the North Sea.

The investigation also found that the industry had evidence of a large and significant oil field off the West coast of Lewis that could dwarf many of the larger finds around the world. Surveys have already proven that thick Permo-Triassic sandstones exist in the area, a key indicator that oil is present in large quantities."

"The British Geology Survey specialist, Howard Johnson, team leader on Continental Margins, stated that: “There is no doubt that there are considerable reserves of oil and gas in the British North Atlantic sector, an extensive Palaeogene Igneous Province is well documented on the conjugate continental margins of NW Europe…..including the British North Atlantic sector. That there is a working petroleum system in at least parts of the UK Atlantic Frontier areas can be demonstrated by finds such as the Benbecula gas discovery in the NE Rockall Basin.”


we're a' doomed

If you can extract it. It might be a long long wait (assuming shale oil is the holy grail of untapped energy it is supposed to be) until the price of oil rises high enough to make it worthwhile for the oil companies to invest in extraction from these very challenging areas. If it was worth it now then they would be doing it now n'est-ce pas?

they are, see my previous posts. And this is not just Shale oil but pretty much the same geology that produces oil in the North Sea and elsewhere

There are a lot of fields due to come online in the next couple of years precisely because they are now economical.

Could, might, potential, possible, predicting.

A Korean acquaintance asked me yesterday why Scotland wants to become independent. Trying to come up with a succint answer of the elevator-moment type, most of what I can remember say consisted of "lying wanker of a politician", "hoodwinking", "North Sea oil" and "opportunist twat". I think he got my drift.

Come on, Wee eck is a genius, he knows better than any of the experts who are being so negative and bullying. If you're not for team Scotland then you are obviously a traitorous bastard who belongs in westminstershire with those English tory bastards.

I wonder if Wee Eck will allow the Orknies/Shetlands a vote on Independence from Scotland?

I have lived there and they do want it, they do not consider themselves to be Scots. The Scots parliament has already refused that option. Sauce for the goose?

Date Lodged: 29 April 2014
Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to hold three separate referenda in Shetland, Orkney, and the Western Isles on Thursday 25 September 2014, one week after the Scottish independence referendum, asking the people of each island group whether they would prefer their island group to:
· to become an independent country, or
· to stay in Scotland
and, in the event of a yes vote in the referendum on Scottish independence, to have the following additional option:
· to leave Scotland and stay in the remainder of the UK


5 August 2014: The Committee agreed to close the petition under Rule 15.7 on the basis that that the Scottish Government has indicated that it does not support what the petition seeks and that there is insufficient time to arrange such referenda within the timescale called for in the petition.

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Ge...s/islandgroups

I may have missed this bit, but how is nationality going to be decided? If EU (and some Commonwealth) citizens residing in Scotland get to vote in the referendum, then the logical extension is that they become Scottish nationals in the event of a Yes vote. However, that aside, which Brits get to become Scottish nationals, and do those who were entitled to vote and decide to stay resident automatically become Scottish and lose their British nationality? I can't see the last bit happening, but is nationality going to be decided purely on residence?

Will I be eligible for a 'Scottish' passport (if that's what they end up being called, which I assume will be the case).

Will my Dad, having not lived in Scotland for 45 years have to give up his British one and take a Scottish passport?

That will be partly down to the UK government to decide whether they allow Dual citizenship with Scotland. May also be an issue with the EU.

It's covered in the white paper, on this page (scroll to bottom):

Scotland's Future