A vast natural gas field has been discovered beneath Lincolnshire, with the potential to supply the UK’s energy needs for a decade while creating thousands of jobs and boosting economic growth, according to Egdon Resources.
The company, which made the discovery, plans to officially unveil its findings at an upcoming energy conference. Preliminary assessments indicate that the field—centered around Gainsborough—could significantly benefit the national economy by driving job creation, increasing tax revenues, and lowering energy costs.
If further drilling confirms the estimated reserves, the discovery could reignite discussions around fracking, setting the stage for a potential policy debate within the government. Fracking, a method used to extract gas by injecting high-pressure fluid into rock formations, is currently banned in the UK following concerns over seismic activity. Developing the field would require lifting this ban, as well as reversing a recent halt on new oil and gas licenses.
Egdon Resources has spent years analyzing the site through test drilling and geological assessments. The company, now owned by US-based energy firm Heyco, commissioned Deloitte to evaluate the economic impact of the discovery. Their analysis suggests that developing the gas field could contribute up to £112 billion to the UK’s GDP, generate £34 billion in tax revenue, and create tens of thousands of jobs. Additionally, using domestic gas instead of imports could cut carbon emissions by an estimated 218 million tonnes.
The Gainsborough Trough, a geological formation long believed to contain fossil fuel reserves, dates back around 300 million years when much of the UK was submerged near the equator. Over time, organic material accumulated and transformed into oil and gas under immense pressure. While the area already hosts small-scale oil wells, Egdon’s drilling reached deeper layers—about two kilometers underground—revealing an estimated 480 billion cubic meters of recoverable gas. This is nearly seven times the UK’s annual gas consumption, meaning the reserve could sustain the country’s energy needs for a decade.
The discovery is notably larger than Shell’s North Sea Jackdaw project, which holds around 38 billion cubic meters of gas. Situated in sparsely populated rural Lincolnshire, the field extends west toward Sheffield and north toward Doncaster. Egdon CEO Mark Abbott described the discovery as “potentially world-class,” noting that the extraction process would require minimal land use compared to large-scale solar farms.
The announcement comes as the UK grapples with rising energy costs and increasing reliance on imported gas. The country currently consumes around 75 billion cubic meters of gas per year, with domestic production declining. Imports from Norway and LNG shipments from the US and Qatar now play a major role in meeting demand, exposing the UK to price fluctuations in global markets.
While some policymakers argue that domestic gas production is essential for energy security and economic stability, others remain firmly opposed to fracking. The government has reiterated its commitment to banning the practice, emphasizing that the UK’s long-term energy strategy prioritizes clean and renewable sources.
The full findings will be presented at the Lincolnshire Energy Conference at the University of Lincoln later this month, where Egdon executives will outline the potential of the discovery and its implications for the UK’s energy future.