Pipe

Abstract

Rumors that recent tests had confirmed the presence of substantial oil reserves over the Shetlands triggered much, although undue, excitement. The truth is that the well currently being drilled that gave rise to such an excitement was still subject to information clampdown, routine in the industry for frontier drilling. Nonetheless, the optimism was not totally unfounded. Seismic tests show that there are potential oil-bearing structures. Current pace of development in the area has been understandably slow. If concrete projects ever get materialized, the technologies to be used would not resemble those which gave rise to the labor-intensive expenditures in the North Sea.