popular articles

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.

Please share:

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.

Register free of charge for uninterrupted access.

Publicite

Recently published in

Equinor signs €24 billion gas supply deal with Centrica through 2035

Norwegian group Equinor has sealed a gas supply deal with Centrica, covering nearly 10% of the United Kingdom’s annual demand over ten years.
MCF Energy Ltd. has provided an operational update on the Kinsau-1A well in Lech, Germany, indicating significant progress in preparing drilling operations for the third quarter of 2025.
MCF Energy Ltd. has provided an operational update on the Kinsau-1A well in Lech, Germany, indicating significant progress in preparing drilling operations for the third quarter of 2025.
Basin Electric Power Cooperative signed a 15-year power supply contract with Panamint Capital for the full output of the Cottage Grove power plant starting in December 2027.
Basin Electric Power Cooperative signed a 15-year power supply contract with Panamint Capital for the full output of the Cottage Grove power plant starting in December 2027.
New Zealand Energy Corp. (NZEC) reported its financial results for the first quarter of 2025, posting a net loss of $994,550 while focusing on production recovery and gas storage development projects.
New Zealand Energy Corp. (NZEC) reported its financial results for the first quarter of 2025, posting a net loss of $994,550 while focusing on production recovery and gas storage development projects.

Hull Street Energy strengthens presence in Illinois with J-Power asset acquisition

Hull Street Energy has finalised the acquisition of electricity generation assets from J-Power USA near Joliet, consolidating its Milepost Power fleet to nearly 3,500 MW of installed capacity.
Energy company ONEOK has acquired full ownership of Delaware Basin JV, consolidating its natural gas gathering and processing assets in the Permian Basin for a total amount of $940mn.
Energy company ONEOK has acquired full ownership of Delaware Basin JV, consolidating its natural gas gathering and processing assets in the Permian Basin for a total amount of $940mn.
The Trump administration is seeking Asian partners to advance a $44 billion Alaska pipeline project aimed at exporting liquefied natural gas to the Indo-Pacific region.
The Trump administration is seeking Asian partners to advance a $44 billion Alaska pipeline project aimed at exporting liquefied natural gas to the Indo-Pacific region.
Gunvor USA and PureWest Energy partner to deliver certified low-carbon gas backed by traceability technology and aligned with international standards.
Gunvor USA and PureWest Energy partner to deliver certified low-carbon gas backed by traceability technology and aligned with international standards.

ExxonMobil commits to unconventional resource development in Azerbaijan

ExxonMobil has signed a memorandum of understanding with state-owned Socar to explore unconventional oil and gas resources in central Azerbaijan, strengthening its long-standing presence in the Caspian Sea region.
European Union gas reserves are progressing slowly as LNG imports reach an all-time high in May, amid supply tensions and rising prices.
European Union gas reserves are progressing slowly as LNG imports reach an all-time high in May, amid supply tensions and rising prices.
Gazprom increased its daily natural gas exports to Europe via the TurkStream subsea pipeline, reaching 46 million cubic metres per day in May, according to Reuters calculations.
Gazprom increased its daily natural gas exports to Europe via the TurkStream subsea pipeline, reaching 46 million cubic metres per day in May, according to Reuters calculations.
Naftogaz will fund the purchase of new drilling platforms through a €36.4mn loan from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, following a sharp decline in gas production due to Russian strikes.
Naftogaz will fund the purchase of new drilling platforms through a €36.4mn loan from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, following a sharp decline in gas production due to Russian strikes.

Natural Gas: A Competitive Energy Solution Compared to Renewables Through CCS

Natural gas combined with carbon capture achieves emission levels comparable to wind and solar power, positioning itself as an economical alternative to renewables despite intermittency and high battery storage costs.
Flex LNG has finalised a $175 mn lease financing for its Flex Courageous vessel, generating $42 mn in net proceeds as part of a financial restructuring plan announced earlier this year.
Flex LNG has finalised a $175 mn lease financing for its Flex Courageous vessel, generating $42 mn in net proceeds as part of a financial restructuring plan announced earlier this year.
Sempra Infrastructure has received approval from U.S. authorities to export 13.5 Mtpa of liquefied natural gas to countries without free trade agreements, marking a key step in developing the Port Arthur LNG Phase 2 terminal.
Sempra Infrastructure has received approval from U.S. authorities to export 13.5 Mtpa of liquefied natural gas to countries without free trade agreements, marking a key step in developing the Port Arthur LNG Phase 2 terminal.
EOG Resources finalises a $5.6bn acquisition of 675,000 net acres from Encino Acquisition Partners, consolidating its strategic position in the Utica formation and increasing its dividend by 5 %.
EOG Resources finalises a $5.6bn acquisition of 675,000 net acres from Encino Acquisition Partners, consolidating its strategic position in the Utica formation and increasing its dividend by 5 %.

Natural gas demand for power generation drops in the United States in May 2025

In May 2025, natural gas demand for electricity generation in the United States declined, influenced by cooler weather conditions and a significant increase in solar generation.
Cheniere has signed a long-term gas supply agreement with Canadian Natural Resources to support the planned expansion of its Sabine Pass liquefaction terminal in Louisiana from 2030.
Cheniere has signed a long-term gas supply agreement with Canadian Natural Resources to support the planned expansion of its Sabine Pass liquefaction terminal in Louisiana from 2030.
Cnooc will immobilise its Hai Yang Shi You 301 barge in July, temporarily reducing LNG bunkering capacity in China, where only five units handle supply.
Cnooc will immobilise its Hai Yang Shi You 301 barge in July, temporarily reducing LNG bunkering capacity in China, where only five units handle supply.
The Iraqi federal government initiates legal proceedings against the autonomous region of Kurdistan regarding gas contracts signed with American companies, while Washington reaffirms its support for these strategic energy agreements.
The Iraqi federal government initiates legal proceedings against the autonomous region of Kurdistan regarding gas contracts signed with American companies, while Washington reaffirms its support for these strategic energy agreements.

China Adopts Henry Hub Indexation in American LNG Contracts

Several Chinese companies have signed long-term contracts to purchase liquefied natural gas indexed to the U.S. Henry Hub, despite heightened trade tensions and the recent application of specific tariffs on American hydrocarbons.
Jereh integrates artificial intelligence solutions into its oil operations, increasing fracturing efficiency by 36% through an autonomous electric system tested in the Sichuan Basin.
Jereh integrates artificial intelligence solutions into its oil operations, increasing fracturing efficiency by 36% through an autonomous electric system tested in the Sichuan Basin.
The Australian government has authorized an extension of the major North West Shelf gas project until 2070, sparking economic, cultural, and environmental debates both domestically and on international liquefied natural gas markets.
The Australian government has authorized an extension of the major North West Shelf gas project until 2070, sparking economic, cultural, and environmental debates both domestically and on international liquefied natural gas markets.
Pacific Energy’s Canadian subsidiary plans to produce liquefied natural gas with one of the lowest carbon intensities in the sector, using low-emission technologies and local carbon credits.
Pacific Energy’s Canadian subsidiary plans to produce liquefied natural gas with one of the lowest carbon intensities in the sector, using low-emission technologies and local carbon credits.

Advertising