An oil and gas exploration firm is looking at further potential onshore drilling in Scotland in its search for North Sea oil.
Caithness Petroleum wants to drill an exploration well to test the Forse prospect, off the coast of Caithness.
The firm said it is looking to drill the exploration well from offshore later this year and that it had secured a rig for the work.
But it said because the prospect was close to the coastline, development drilling could then be carried out from onshore, saving costs.
Caithness was the first firm to develop an oil field in Scotland from an onshore well; Lybster, in Caithness, which came on stream last year.
It said Forse, 100% owned, could contain 97million barrels of proved, probable and possible reserves and that it would be looking at a farm-in partner or potentially a merger or acquisition to help cover drilling costs
The plans follow a deal between Caithness and fellow independent explorer Trap Oil, which saw Caithness take over 100% interest in Forse but give back a 35% interest in the nearby Knockinnon field to Trap.
Caithness still has 30% interest in Knockinnon, which could also be drilled from onshore.
It also said it had just completed the sale of its subsidiary, Morocco-focused Cabre Maroc, to Gulfsands Petroleum.
Under the deal, worth £12million in cash, Caithness will keep a carried interest in two onshore permits.
Caithness chairman David Donnelly said this move would see Caithness looking for more opportunities in the Middle East and north Africa (Mena).
“The experienced management team are now seeking new business development opportunities in the Mena region and other selected countries in Africa. We also look forward to working with our partner, Gulfsands, in Morocco and expanding our interests there.
“In addition, merger and acquisition opportunities are being considered with companies whose assets are complementary to those of Caithness and a partner will be sought to farm-in to the attractive Forse prospect in the North Sea.”
Enegi Oil said it had struck a deal with Azimuth, a specialist exploration and production company based in Bermuda, which could lead to it farming-out part of an asset in the UK North Sea.
It involves block 3/23, at the south-west margin of the East Shetland Basin and contains the Malvolio prospect and potential new exploration opportunities.
UK-based Enegi was awarded the licence in October, in the 27th Licensing Round.
Under the terms of the deal, Azimuth would earn a 50% stake in the exploration area in exchange for it completing an agreed work programme for the whole block.