An oil and gas field near Gatwick Airport is set to be back in production in early 2027.
The project is expected to cut the UK’s growing reliance on imported energy after new owner, energy B bought a 18.1% stake.
Oil and gas was discovered at the well, known as HH-1, back in 2014 and when tested two years later, it flowed a combined 1,688 barrels a day.
At the time, this was a record for a new UK onshore discovery, while substantial quantities of gas were also discovered.
David Lenigas, Chairman of energy B, said: “Britain is far too exposed to geopolitical events on the other side of the world. The UK has some of the lowest gas storage in Europe. The more oil and gas we produce at home, the better placed we are to ride out the next price shock.
“Historically, all of Gatwick’s oil has gone to the Fawley refinery near Southampton, which helps supply jet fuel to Heathrow, Gatwick and Birmingham airports. The Gatwick energy site can once again be a home-grown contributor to Britain’s energy security.”
The site entered its long-term production phase in 2020 and has since produced around 211,650 barrels. However, production was then paused 2024 after the Supreme Court ruled that Surry Country Council’s planning consent had not assessed emissions.
A new planning application with those emission assessments included was submitted in May 2026.
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