Denmark’s Dong Energy is planning to drill a deepwater well north-west of Shetland in September this year.
Papers submitted to the Department for Energy and Climate Change show the firm has asked for consent to drill the Glenrothes gas prospect, 62 miles from Shetland.
The project involves a single vertical well in 3,828ft of water using the drill ship West Navigator, owned and operated by Seadrill.
Drilling is expected to take about 54 days, with the entire project, including mobilisation, taking about 62 days.
Dong said a vertical seismic profiling survey would also be carried out. On completion, the well will either be abandoned or plugged for future use.
Partners on the licence are Dana Petroleum, with a 30% stake, and GDF Suez Exploration and Production UK (30%), with Dong, the operator, owning the remaining 40%.