Controversial drilling begins in waters west of Shetland

The controversial drilling operation is being carried out at the North Uist well about 78 miles north west of the Shetland islands at a depth of nearly 1,300 metres.

The decision to allow deepwater exploration in the area has been condemned by environmental campaigners, concerned about a repeat of the Deepwater Horizon disaster in the Gulf of Mexico in April 2010.

Graham Stewart, Faroe Petroleum chief executive, announced that the drilling operation was being carried out by BP Exploration using the Stena Carron drilling rig.

He said: “We are very pleased to announce the spudding of this frontier exploration well in one of our core areas.

“The North Uist prospect offers significant resource potential and is in close proximity to a number of important discoveries on the Atlantic Margin Corona Ridge, including Rosebank and Cambo.”

A company spokesman added: “There are several reservoir objectives the most significant of which is North Uist at the Upper Jurassic level.

“Shallower in the section the well will also test the edge of the Cardhu prospect where sandstones of Paleocene age may be present.

“To manage the high well costs in this region, Faroe has secured a financial carry of a portion of well costs through farm-out arrangements. “

Dr Richard Dixon, director of WWF Scotland, said: “New deepwater drilling is not worth the risk – we should be phasing out oil instead of chasing ever more difficult sources.

“BP have already made it clear that a major spill from this well would be a disaster for fishing, tourism and wildlife, with oil washing up in the Northern Isles and as far away as wNorway.”