The North Sea's oil and gas production peaked in 1999 and has since decreased by more than half, leading to renewed political interest in extraction. During a recent visit, US President Donald Trump encouraged UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to increase drilling, while Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch promised to maximize extraction efforts. However, experts like Dr. Mark Ireland from Newcastle University caution that geological challenges will limit any significant increase in production, even if exploration licensing rules are relaxed. The remaining fields are smaller and more technically demanding to drill. Additionally, new projects will face competition from easier extraction opportunities in regions like the Middle East and North Africa, raising doubts about the viability of North Sea oil as a reliable energy source.