West of Shetland takes centre stage
Exploration in the region may lead to the partial revival of the UK Continental Shelf
Oil firms are increasingly putting the West of Shetland (WoS) at the centre of their recovery plans for the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS), marking a major shift from the peripheral role the remote region has played for decades. There have been only sporadic finds in the Scottish hydrocarbons province since the late 1970s. But momentum has accelerated in recent years, as new seismic and drilling technologies have enabled operators to overcome complex geology, deep field locations and UK environmental legislation protecting potentially sensitive habitats. A series of discoveries and successful project launches since 2017 has spiked further exploration. This was underscored by the award of 20 WoS
Also in this section
12 December 2025
The federal government is working with Alberta to improve the country’s access to Asian markets and reduce dependence on the US, but there are challenges to their plans
11 December 2025
The removal of the ban on oil and gas exploration and an overhaul of the system sends all the right messages for energy security, affordability and sustainability
10 December 2025
The economic and environmental cost of the seven-year exploration ban will be felt long after its removal
9 December 2025
The group’s oil production declined in November, our latest analysis finds, amid divided sentiment over market balances and geopolitical jitters
