Commenting on BP’s plans to drill an exploration well in the North Uist prospect in the Atlantic, 125 km North West of Shetland, in water depths of some 1 290 metres, Shetland MSP, Tavish Scott, said, “Finding oil at this depth in the Atlantic poses huge engineering challenges.

“Before any decision is made to exploit this discovery, BP will have to carry out a full environmental assessment as they and others have done on the other west of Shetland oil fields.

“It will be essential to learn any lessons from the Gulf of Mexico disaster.”