英国批准北海Jackdaw气田投产：本月底开始供气，峰值可增英国天然气产量约6%
伦敦——英国政府10月21日（周三）批准北海Jackdaw气田投产。能源大臣米娅塔·法恩布勒（Miatta Fahnbulleh）同意监管机构北海过渡管理局（NSTA）授予开发与生产许可；据行业媒体World Oil报道，该许可是在近海石油环境与退役监管局（OPRED）牵头的环境评估之后于10月21日授予的。政府称，该气田本月底起将开始向英国供应天然气。
英国政府在声明中说，Jackdaw在产量峰值时预计可将英国国内天然气产量提高约6%，在其最长11年的开采期内支撑英国的天然气供应，「提振我们的能源安全，保护数百个工作岗位，并为英国经济增加估计29亿英镑」。声明还宣布，财政大臣约翰·希利（John Healey）设立新的「能源财富基金」，以北海油气税收收入投资可再生与低碳能源项目，首期注资20亿英镑。
法恩布勒在声明中说：「在仔细考虑所有相关因素后，我同意监管机构可以授予Jackdaw的生产许可；得益于技术精湛、不可或缺的北海工人，该气田将从今年冬天开始向英国供应天然气。这一决定将以国产天然气支持国家的能源安全，并帮助减少英国对进口的、排放更高的燃料的使用，同时我们继续向可再生能源与核能转型。这一决定与我们具有法律约束力的气候承诺相容，我们仍坚定致力于终止新的油气许可，并在2050年实现净零排放。」
运营方Adura是壳牌英国与挪威国家石油公司英国子公司各占一半的合资企业。Adura称，Jackdaw是一项21亿英镑的投资，峰值产量所产天然气可供相当于约140万户英国家庭取暖。Adura首席执行官尼尔·麦卡洛克（Neil McCulloch）说：「Jackdaw本身就是一份可观的收获：21亿英镑的投资，峰值时足够为约140万户家庭供暖。」
Jackdaw位于阿伯丁以东的北海海域。伍德麦肯兹（Wood Mackenzie）估计其储量约6,800万桶油当量；《泰晤士报》称其为英国已知最大的未开发天然气储藏。Jackdaw与更大的Rosebank油田最初于2022年由上届保守党政府批准，之后苏格兰一家法院在环保挑战后推翻了两份许可；2025年1月的司法复核暂停了Jackdaw的原许可，法院认定燃烧该气田天然气产生的排放（范围三排放）未按最高法院2024年Finch判例的要求得到充分评估。新一轮公众咨询于今年8月结束。法恩布勒表示，Rosebank的决定将单独作出，还需要「再多一点时间」，麦卡洛克则表示Adura希望Rosebank的批准随之而来。
环保团体谴责这一决定。据《独立报》报道，绿色和平英国（Greenpeace UK）的阿米·麦卡锡（Ami McCarthy）称此举表明化石燃料游说者对英国能源政策仍有「毒性十足的影响力」，并称该项目只会创造27个全职岗位。法恩布勒在苏格兰广播电台的节目中承认，新天然气不会降低今年冬天的家庭账单；据《独立报》报道，她说：「不会。关键考虑是中东冲突引发的能源危机。能源安全确实很重要。」
UK Approves Jackdaw Gas Field in the North Sea; First Gas Expected This Month, Peak Output to Lift Domestic Production by About 6%
LONDON — The UK government approved production at the Jackdaw gas field in the North Sea on Wednesday, October 21. Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh agreed that the regulator, the North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA), could grant development and production consent, which World Oil reported was granted on October 21 following an environmental review led by the Offshore Petroleum Regulator for Environment and Decommissioning (OPRED). The government said Jackdaw will begin supplying gas to the UK from the end of this month.
In its statement, the government said Jackdaw is expected to increase domestic gas production by around 6% at its peak, supporting UK gas supply over a lifespan of up to 11 years, "boosting our energy security, protecting hundreds of jobs, and adding an estimated GBP 2.9 billion to the UK economy." The statement also announced a new Energy Wealth Fund, announced by Chancellor John Healey, which will use tax revenues from North Sea oil and gas to invest in renewable and low-carbon projects, starting with an initial GBP 2 billion injection.
"Following careful consideration of all relevant factors I have agreed that the regulator can grant consent for gas to be produced at Jackdaw, which will begin to supply the UK with gas from this winter thanks to the highly skilled and vital North Sea workers," Fahnbulleh said. "This decision will support the country's energy security with homegrown gas this winter and help minimise the UK's use of imported higher emission fuels as we continue our transition to renewables and nuclear. The decision is compatible with our legally binding climate commitments, and we remain resolute in ending new licences for oil and gas and achieving net zero by 2050."
The operator, Adura, is a 50/50 joint venture between Shell UK and Equinor UK. Adura said Jackdaw is a GBP 2.1 billion investment whose peak output could supply enough gas to heat the equivalent of about 1.4 million UK homes. "Jackdaw represents a significant prize in its own right: GBP 2.1 billion of investment and enough gas to heat the equivalent of around 1.4 million UK homes at peak production," Adura CEO Neil McCulloch said.
Jackdaw lies in the North Sea east of Aberdeen. Wood Mackenzie estimates its reserves at about 68 million barrels of oil equivalent, and The Times described it as the UK's largest known untapped gas reservoir. Jackdaw and the larger Rosebank oil field were first approved by the previous Conservative government in 2022, but a Scottish court overturned both licences after environmental challenges; a judicial review in January 2025 suspended Jackdaw's original consent after the court found that emissions from burning the field's gas (scope 3 emissions) had not been fully assessed, as the Supreme Court's 2024 Finch ruling requires. Fresh public consultations closed in August this year. Fahnbulleh said a decision on Rosebank will be made separately and will take "a bit longer"; McCulloch said Adura hopes Rosebank's approval will now follow.
Environmental groups condemned the approval. Greenpeace UK's Ami McCarthy called it evidence of "the toxic grip fossil fuel lobbyists still hold over our energy policy" and said the project would create only 27 full-time jobs, The Independent reported. Fahnbulleh acknowledged on BBC Radio Scotland that the new gas would not lower household bills this winter. "No, it won't," she said, according to The Independent. "The key consideration was an energy crisis triggered by the conflict in the Middle East. Energy security is really important."
来源：GSM·美国（原文链接）
图片来源：图：北海油气钻井平台（资料图）。照片：Gary Bembridge，CC BY 2.0，经Wikimedia Commons。An oil and gas drilling rig in the North Sea (file photo). Photo: Gary Bembridge, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
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