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
10 March 2026
From Venezuela to Hormuz, the US—backed by the most powerful military force ever assembled—is redrawing not only oil and gas flows but also the global balance of energy power
10 March 2026
By shutting the Strait of Hormuz, Iran has cut exports of distillate-rich Middle Eastern crude, jet fuel and diesel, and is holding the energy market hostage
10 March 2026
Eni’s director for global gas and LNG portfolio, Cristian Signoretto, discusses how demand will respond to rising LNG supply, and how the company is expanding its own gas and LNG operations through disciplined, capital-efficient investments
9 March 2026
Petroleum Economist analysis sees increases in output from Saudi Arabia, Venezuela and Kazakhstan among others before region’s murky descent
