SUBSCRIBE
PROFILE

Court overturns Shell and Equinor’s North Sea oil and gas field licenses

A Scottish court has overturned the licenses granted by British authorities to Shell and Equinor to develop two oil and gas fields in the North Sea, prompting a delay in their exploitation and requiring new environmental assessments.

Share:

Comprehensive energy news coverage, updated nonstop

Annual subscription

8.25$/month*

*billed annually at 99$/year for the first year then 149,00$/year ​

Unlimited access • Archives included • Professional invoice

SUBSCRIBE - 99$/year

OTHER ACCESS OPTIONS

Monthly subscription

Unlimited access • Archives included

5.2$/month*
then 14.90$ per month thereafter

FREE ACCOUNT

3 articles offered per month

FREE

*Prices are excluding VAT, which may vary depending on your location or professional status

Since 2021: 35,000 articles • 150+ analyses per week

The Court of Session in Scotland has overturned the licenses granted by British authorities to oil giants Shell and Equinor to develop two North Sea projects. The ruling came after Greenpeace and the Uplift organization contested the licenses, arguing that the approvals were granted unlawfully because they did not account for the indirect greenhouse gas emissions generated by the projects. The two companies will now need to submit new applications and reassess the environmental impact of their projects.

THE AFFECTED PROJECTS

The Jackdaw gas field, located 250 km off the Scottish coast, was granted its approval in 2022. Shell, the owner of the project, had invested £800 million in its development and planned to begin production this year. On the other hand, Equinor, operating the Rosebank oil field, had seen its project approved in 2023. This field is considered the largest untapped oil reserve in the UK, with reserves estimated at 300 million barrels of oil. Drilling was scheduled to start between 2026 and 2030.

REACTIONS FROM SECTOR STAKEHOLDERS

Shell expressed disappointment, highlighting that Jackdaw would be an essential contributor to the UK’s gas supply, capable of heating 1.4 million homes. The company called for swift action to allow operators to continue developing their North Sea projects. Equinor, for its part, welcomed the court’s decision, noting that the annulment would allow the company to continue working on the Rosebank project while awaiting new approvals and re-evaluating greenhouse gas emissions according to updated environmental guidelines.

POLITICAL AND LEGISLATIVE IMPLICATIONS

This ruling comes amid shifting political dynamics in the UK. The recently elected Labour government announced in August that it would not defend these projects in court. The Ministry of Energy Security and Net Zero has indicated it will revise its environmental guidelines in response to the Supreme Court ruling. Prime Minister Keir Starmer also reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 81% by 2035 compared to 1990 levels.

  • Popular on energynews.pro
SLB net income drops to $739mn despite revenue boost from ChampionX integration
Fire temporarily halts operations at BP’s 440,000 bpd Whiting refinery
Tariffs threaten US energy and digital strategy
Asian LNG activity hits seasonal high despite muted demand
EDF considers targeted asset sales to boost financial flexibility
Caracas demands full payment for gas extracted from the Dragon field
Venezuela demands full financial compensation for any gas exports from the offshore Dragon field, reactivated following U.S. authorisation granted to Trinidad and Tobago.
Vistra acquires 2.6 GW gas portfolio from Lotus Infrastructure
Vistra Corp. finalises the purchase of seven natural gas power plants totalling 2.6 gigawatts, strengthening its presence in key US electricity markets.
Tidewater sells gas processing facility to Parallax for $5.5mn
Tidewater Midstream and Infrastructure has finalised the sale of its non-core Sylvan Lake site to Parallax Energy Operating for $5.5mn, with limited impact on its 2025 results.
U.S. natural gas exports to Mexico reach record high
U.S. gas deliveries to Mexico reached 7.5 billion cubic feet per day in May, driven by rising demand in the power sector and new cross-border interconnections.
Sonatrach restarts Skikda unit to boost LNG exports
The Algerian national company has restarted a key liquefaction unit in Skikda, strengthening its export capacity amid massive investment in the gas sector.
Qatar and the United States call on the European Union to ease sustainability rules
Doha and Washington warn Brussels about the consequences of EU sustainability requirements on liquefied natural gas exports, as the continent’s energy security remains under pressure.
Azule Energy confirms gas condensate discovery at Volans-1X well in Namibia
The Volans-1X exploration well revealed a 26-metre productive zone in the Orange Basin, marking another hydrocarbon find for Azule Energy partners in 2025.
Predator Oil & Gas launches sale process for its Guercif gas asset in Morocco
Faced with the absence of commercially viable results on the Guercif permit, Predator Oil & Gas has initiated a sale process while continuing technical evaluation of the gas potential.
Oxford Energy Institute forecasts +120 bcm in global gas demand at $6/MMBtu by 2035
According to the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies, a stable gas price of $6/MMBtu would boost global demand by 60 billion m³ in the short term and 120 billion m³ by 2035, mainly driven by Asia.
Karachaganak cuts production after drone strike on Russian gas facility
Kazakhstan’s Karachaganak gas field has reduced output by nearly one-third following an incident at a key Russian gas processing plant targeted by a Ukrainian drone strike.
Kinetiko confirms record flow rates at its LNG pilot project in South Africa
Kinetiko Energy reports production levels above economic thresholds at two Mpumalanga wells, strengthening the technical viability and development potential of its liquefied natural gas project.
National Fuel acquires CenterPoint’s Ohio gas assets for $2.62bn
National Fuel Gas Company acquires CenterPoint Energy’s natural gas distribution business in Ohio, doubling the size of its regulated portfolio and expanding its footprint in the US Midwest.
North American LNG export capacity to reach 28.7 Bcf/d by 2029
The United States, Canada and Mexico together plan a 151% increase in liquefied natural gas export capacity, representing more than half of expected global additions by 2029.
EU approves ban on Russian gas imports by end of 2027
European Union member states have approved the principle of a full ban on Russian natural gas imports, set to take effect by the end of 2027.
CMA CGM orders six LNG container ships from India’s Cochin Shipyard
CMA CGM becomes the first international container shipping company to commission LNG-powered ships from an Indian shipyard, all to be registered under the Indian flag.
KLN advances on WHPA offshore gas project in Libya worth HK$10bn
KLN strengthens its industrial project portfolio with progress on the WHPA platform in Libya, a major offshore site valued at over HK$10bn ($1.28bn), aimed at supporting regional gas supply.
Venture Global to release Q3 earnings on November 10
US LNG producer Venture Global will report its Q3 2025 financial results before markets open, followed by a conference call for investors.
NextDecade secures $6.7bn funding for fifth LNG train in Texas
NextDecade confirmed a final investment decision for Train 5 at Rio Grande LNG, backed by full $6.7bn funding, marking its second decision in a month.
Sudan engages Belarus to revive damaged energy infrastructure
Sudan seeks partnership with Belarus to rehabilitate its energy grid amid prolonged humanitarian, economic and logistical crisis.
Petronas offers five LNG spot cargoes for late 2025 delivery
The Malaysian group launched three tenders to sell up to five liquefied natural gas cargoes in November and December, sourced from its Bintulu and PFLNG Dua facilities.

All the latest energy news, all the time

Annual subscription

8.25$/month*

*billed annually at 99$/year for the first year then 149,00$/year ​

Unlimited access - Archives included - Pro invoice

START - 99$/year

Monthly subscription

Unlimited access • Archives included

5.2$/month*
then 14.90$ per month thereafter

*Prices shown are exclusive of VAT, which may vary according to your location or professional status.

Since 2021: 30,000 articles - +150 analyses/week.