Uncertainties face the UK if Scotland says yes to independence

Mayer Brown looks at some of the possible implications of Scottish independence on the energy sector

On Thursday, residents of Scotland will vote for or against independence. The broad-ranging implications of a yes vote cannot be understated, particularly for oil and gas companies operating in the UK North Sea. Many key industry players have publicly aired their views on independence, including BP chief executive Bob Dudley, who has warned of the "big uncertainties" that would face North Sea operators in the event of a yes vote. The oil and gas industry is the UK's biggest commercial industrial investor, it supplies almost half of the UK's total primary energy needs and employs hundreds of thousands of people. The most up to date estimates are that the North Sea's remaining commercial reser