Total is set to become the first major oil company to invest in Britain’s nascent shale gas industry，boosting the industry’s profile in a country seen as one of Europe’s strongest prospects for unconventional oil and gas development.
法國道達爾公司將成為在英國新生的頁巖氣行業進行投資的第一家大型石油公司，這將促進英國頁巖氣行業的發展。英國被視為在發展非常規油氣資源方面最具前景的歐洲國家之一。(路透社)
道達爾公司是全球四大石油化工公司之一，總部設在法國巴黎，業務范圍覆蓋全球超過110個國家。
The French group is set to commit 30 million pounds($50 million)to drilling for shale gas in Lincolnshire，in central England，sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.A Total spokesman would not confirm any details，but said an announcement would be made on Monday.
據知情人士透露，這家法國公司將承諾投入3000萬英鎊(5000萬美元)用于開發位于英國中部的林肯郡的頁巖氣資源。道達爾的發言人不愿確認相關細節，但表示將于周一發布公告。(路透社)
The investment is tiny in oil industry terms-and especially small in the context of the tens of billions of dollars spent every year by Total.However，having such a large player as a partner will be a feather in the cap of industry minnows Dart Energy，Egdon Resources，IGas and eCORP，with which Total will partner on two exploration licenses.
這一投資在石油行業里數額微小，尤其跟道達爾每年數百億美元的支出相比更是如此。但擁有這樣一個重量級合作伙伴對行業內的其他企業來說將是一件引以為傲的事。道達爾將與Dart Energy、Egdon Resources、IGas、eCORP等公司合作共用兩項勘探許可證。(路透社)
The deal，to be announced on Monday，will be seen as a big vote of confidence in the UK’s fledgling shale industry.The coalition has made the exploitation of Britain’s unconventional gas reserves a top priority.
這項將于周一宣布的協議將被看作對英國剛起步的頁巖氣行業投出了充滿信心的重要一票。英國聯合政府已將開發國內非常規天然氣儲備作為第一要務。(《金融時報》)
The government previously unveiled a package of reforms to encourage development in the industry.They included new planning guidelines to make the process of approving new drilling sites more streamlined，and a consultation on tax incentives to encourage exploration.Communities affected by shale gas drilling are also expected to receive ￡100，000 in“community benefits”and 1% of production revenues.
英國政府此前公布了一攬子改革以促進頁巖氣行業的發展，包括頒布新的規劃方針以簡化新鉆井工地審批過程，協商稅收激勵措施以促進開發。此外，被頁巖氣鉆井影響的社區將獲得10萬英鎊的“社區福利”和1%的生產收入。(英國廣播公司)
George Osborne，chancellor，has argued that shale has“huge potential”to broaden Britain’s energy mix，create thousands of jobs and keep energy bills low.
英國財政大臣喬治·奧斯本表示，頁巖氣具有拓寬英國能源結構、創造數千就業崗位以及控制能源成本的“巨大潛力”。(《金融時報》)
Shale gas has helped boost the domestic energy industry in the US in recent years，where oil production has risen and gas prices have plummeted.Major oil companies waited for more than five years before investing in shale gas production in the US，but the UK will receive this major oil and gas company backing while the industry is still in its infancy.
近年來，在石油生產增長、天然氣價格大跌的背景下，頁巖氣促進了美國國內能源產業的發展。大型石油公司觀望了逾五年才在美國投資生產頁巖氣，而英國將在頁巖氣行業發展初期就得到道達爾這一大型油氣公司的支持。(英國廣播公司)
But the entry of Total will antagonise anti-shale campaigners who are strongly opposed to fracking.They say the process，which involves injecting water，sand and chemicals underground at high pressure into shale rock to release the oil and gas trapped inside，can contaminate groundwater and cause earthquakes.They also worry about the air pollution and heavy traffic resulting from large-scale fracking operations.
不過，道達爾的加入將招致反頁巖氣運動者的抵觸。這些運動者們強烈反對開采頁巖氣，他們表示，開采過程中需在高壓下將水、沙和化學物質注入地下的頁巖以釋放其中的油氣資源，因此可能污染地下水和引發地震。他們也擔心，大規模開采設備的建造可能引發空氣污染和交通擁堵。(《金融時報》)