Britain sits on proven and prospective gas resources that could meaningfully extend domestic supply for years or decades, not as an infinite bonanza, but as a practical bridge or hedge against import volatility.

The “lost” label stems less from geological exhaustion and more from political and regulatory choices that have frozen projects like Glendronach and others.

Whether these fields get developed depends on balancing immediate security/affordability needs against long-term decarbonization targets.

Pragmatic development of ready-to-go reserves, alongside efficiency gains and reliable low-carbon firm power, offers a more secure path than hoping imports and weather-dependent generation suffice indefinitely.

The physics of energy supply hasn’t changed: reliable power requires dispatchable sources, and gas remains one of the cleaner, flexible options in the near term.

Glendronach gas field (west of Shetland): Discovered about eight years ago, it could begin supplying gas within 2–3 years if approved. It exemplifies fields ready for development but held back.

51 known fields in British waters, according to Offshore Energies UK (OEUK), that could connect to existing pipelines and produce gas for UK homes and industry.

Estimates of lost or stranded potential: One analysis cited suggests an equivalent of 1.5 billion barrels of oil (roughly 250 billion cubic metres of gas) left undeveloped — enough for 3–4 years of UK gas needs. Broader figures point to 3.25 billion barrels of oil equivalent languishing due to policy and regulatory hurdles.

West of Shetland potential: Serica Energy’s Chris Cox has referenced up to five trillion cubic feet of recoverable gas resources in the area, theoretically enough to supply every UK household for five years.

Onshore example: Egdon Resources’ preliminary findings of a major gas field under Lincolnshire (around Gainsborough) with ~425–480 billion cubic metres — potentially covering UK annual consumption for nearly a decade, with claims of £112 billion GDP boost and thousands of jobs.

The piece argues that domestic production could be sustained at higher levels (e.g., ~140 million barrels of oil equivalent per year) but is projected by the North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) to drop sharply to around 40 million by 2035 under current trends.

The article directly criticizes Ed Miliband (as Energy Secretary in the Labour government) and the decision to ban new oil and gas exploration licenses. This builds on earlier moves, including the end of new licensing rounds, court challenges on climate grounds (e.g., requiring assessment of downstream emissions from burning the fuel), and a broader “net zero” push that has made investment riskier.

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The lost gas fields that could power Britain for decades

Ed Miliband’s ban on exploration has put the UK’s wealth of unexploited energy assets in limbo

Far out under rough Atlantic waters lies the Glendronach gas field. The Telegraph has the story.

Discovered eight years ago off the coast of Shetland, the reservoir has the potential to start pumping gas into the system within two to three years, heating homes and supporting industry.

However, the reality is radically different.

Despite being one of the largest unexploited energy assets in UK waters, Glendronach’s fate is far from secure.

The gas is there, as is the technology to extract it.

But Britain’s politicians have pushed Glendronach and others like it into a limbo that could prove permanent.

Facing rising taxes and windfall levies – imposed by the Conservatives and increased by Rachel Reeves – investors are pulling their money out of the North Sea. Ed Miliband’s ban on exploration has only made matters worse.

Glendronach is just one of dozens of gas and oil fields lying under British waters that are now at risk.

Hundreds of miles away in the southern North Sea, the Glengorm gas field – which could provide Britain with millions of cubic metres of gas – has also faced difficulties. Today, its economics are too uncertain for it to be progressed.

Jackdaw and Rosebank, the UK’s most controversial virgin fields, are similarly in doubt. Last week, Miliband put operator Adura’s permit applications on hold. Jackdaw is capable of providing 6pc of the UK’s gas within months.

According to Offshore Energies UK, there are 51 known fields in British waters that could feed gas into UK pipes. Their progress has been halted not by geology but by politics and taxes.

Another 60 projects – mostly extensions to existing fields – have been held back for the same reason, says Ben Ward, market intelligence manager at the trade body.

It means, in total, an equivalent of 3.25 billion barrels of oil have been left to languish in the ground, accounting for both oil and gas projects.

Oil is largely exported, so its main benefits are in jobs and taxes. However, the gas would be flowing straight into our pipes, supporting us through the latest energy crisis. So how much are we missing out on from those frozen fields?

Ward’s estimate is 1.5 billion barrels’ worth, equating to 250 billion cubic metres of gas, or between three and four years of UK needs. That lost production, he points out, does not mean we use less gas – it just means we have to import more.

“UK domestic gas production could be sustained at 140 million barrels of oil equivalent a year,” Ward says. “But projections from the North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA), the industry regulator, now suggest it will fall to around 40 million by 2035.

“This matters a lot to the UK. The gas in those fields could reduce our reliance on imported liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the 25pc predicted by 2030, under current policies, to single digits.”

The blocked projects are just one part of the picture. There are many more potential sources of gas and oil lying under UK waters, industry experts say.

Read the full story here.