Total announces new gas find west of Shetland

Total has announced a “meaningful” new gas and condensate discovery west of Shetland which it hopes to pipe through Sullom Voe along with its production from the nearby Laggan-Tormore field.

The Edradour exploration well lies just 47 miles north-west of Eshaness on the route of the planned pipeline into the gas plant that Total is currently building at Sullom Voe.

The new discovery is a further boost for the future of the oil sector in Shetland and will eventually yield an income for Shetland Islands Council through the small levy on throughput at the new gas plant agreed with Total last year.

The water depth at Edradour is 300 metres. Total confirmed today that once the appraisal phase is completed, studies will be launched to consider exploiting the find through the Laggan-Tormore pipeline system, which is due to be produce first gas in 2014.

Total Exploration & Production senior vice president for Northern Europe, Patrice de Viviès, said: “While definitive testing is still to be completed, Edradour already is another meaningful discovery for us in the West of Shetland region.

“It should reinforce our third production hub on the United Kingdom Continental Shelf around the Laggan and Tormore fields, after the success of our existing Alwyn and Elgin Franklin hubs.”