Greenpeace is looking into taking legal action against the UK Government after it granted Shell a permit at the Jackdaw field, off the coast of Aberdeen.
The move follows Westminster approving a new permit for gas extraction. The field is estimated to have the potential to produce 6.5% of Britain’s gas output.
It was initially rejected in October on environmental grounds, but appears to have got the go-ahead due to concerns around the UK's reliance on Russian imports of gas.