Shale gas: Dart and Total in £30m deal The oil and gas industry is launching a major study today into the supply chain and skills needed to launch Britain's shale gas industry, just a day after French energy giant Total unveiled a £30 million deal to buy stakes in Dart Energy's acreage south of the Border. The UK Onshore Operators Group trade body and the UK Government's Department for Business, Innovation & Skills will fund the report, which will be compiled by accountancy firm EY. Business and energy minister Michael Fallon said: "This study will establish the UK's capability and help support the on-going work of the oil and gas industrial strategy to create jobs, encourage investment and increase exports." News of the report comes a day after Total revealed that it is buying a 40 per cent stake in two of Dart Energy's shale gas licences in Lincolnshire. Total will pay $1.6 million (£1m) in costs relating to previous work and will fund a $46.5m (£28.3m) exploration programme. Following the deal, Dart will retain a 17.5 per cent stake, with Egdon Resources UK and Island Gas each holding 14.5 per cent stakes and eCorp Oil & Gas UK maintaining a 13.5 per cent holding. Glynn Williams, a partner at Epi-V, an oil and gas services investor backed by Lloyds Development Capital, said: "It will take billions to fund the development of the UK shale industry and Total's announcement is a further significant step in making it a reality. The entry of a major such as Total into the UK shale arena will give a significant boost to the nascent shale gas supply chain and help to give operators and service suppliers the confidence to commit the substantial levels of investment in personnel and equipment required.