Unconventional oil and gas

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Unconventional oil and gas differs from conventional oil and gas not in the nature of the oil or gas itself, but in the type of rock from which such oil and gas has been extracted and the method by which such extraction takes place.

Historically, oil and natural gas has been found in underground reservoirs trapped between geological strata. Vertical wells are drilled into these reservoirs to allow the oil and/or gas to flow out under pressure (or with the use of pumps or compression tools as the pressure within the reservoir declines). Unconventional oil and gas derives from tiny connected pore spaces that contain oil or gas within the rock strata themselves. The oil and gas is essentially trapped within these pore spaces and is unable to flow naturally and requires

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Latest Energy News

European Parliament committees approve ban on Russian gas and oil imports

The European Parliament’s Committees on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) and on International Trade (INTA) have jointly adopted draft legislation to ban imports of Russian natural gas, including pipeline and liquefied natural gas (LNG), from 1 January 2026, with limited exemptions for pre-existing contracts until mid-2026 and early 2027. The proposal also prohibits the storage of Russian-origin gas in EU facilities and extends the ban to Russian oil and petroleum products from the same date. It introduces stricter customs verification of production origin, mandatory authorisation and audits, and measures to prevent circumvention through re-labelling, transit via third countries, or shadow fleets. The Committees removed a clause allowing temporary suspension of the ban for energy security reasons and added penalties for breaches. The draft was approved by 83 votes to 9, with 1 abstention, and negotiations with the Danish Presidency of the Council were authorised. This initiative aims to protect the EU from the weaponisation of energy supplies by the Russian Federation, which intensified following its 2022 invasion of Ukraine and the ensuing manipulation of European gas markets.

Commission and High Representative present new EU global climate and energy strategy

The European Commission and the High Representative have presented a new international strategy for securing Europe’s place in global markets titled EU global climate and energy vision. The strategy uses diplomacy to protect the EU’s core interests, promote fair transition standards and address new security threats. It adds an external dimension to the Clean Industrial Deal and aims to expand the EU’s clean technology manufacturing capacity to 15% of the global market while strengthening industrial competitiveness in line with the Clean Industrial Goal—seeking to fulfil the objectives set out in the Paris Agreement. The European Commission has also published a Questions and Answers page to provide further clarity on the objectives and implementation of the vision

Ofgem consults on licence modifications to implement RESP

Ofgem has launched a consultation on proposed licence modifications designed to implement the Regional Energy Strategic Plan (RESP). The focus is on four specific licence areas: the electricity system operator licence, the gas system planner licence, the standard conditions of the electricity distribution licence, and part D of the standard special conditions of the gas transporters licence. The consultation will close on 28 November 2025.

EA concludes consultation on radioactive waste disposal facilities guidance

The Environment Agency (EA), alongside with the Natural Resources Wales (NRW) and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA), has concluded a consultation on updated guidance for regulating near-surface and geological disposal facilities for solid radioactive waste. The consultation, which ran from 12 November 2024 to 28 February 2025, invited stakeholders to comment on the draft Guidance on requirements for authorisation (GRA) for England, Wales and Northern Ireland and the Staged Regulation Guidance for England, with a separate Scottish consultation addressing near-surface disposal only. The updated guidance replaces the 2009 GRAs and 2012 supplements, providing concise, accessible requirements for environmental permitting, aligning with current UK government policy, international standards and regulatory experience, and clarifying the expectations for operators throughout the development, operation and closure of disposal facilities. A total of 43 responses were received from industry, public bodies and community stakeholders, all published with personal information removed, and these will inform amendments to the guidance, which is expected to be published in 2026 alongside a summary of consultation outcomes. The guidance supports the safe, secure and environmentally protective disposal of solid radioactive waste and reflects the agencies’ commitment to transparency, public engagement and consistent regulation across the UK.

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