Chinese firm Cnooc has confirmed that its Howick exploration well located west of Shetland was a duster.
The company, which has a base in Kingswells, Aberdeen, used the Island Innovator rig to drill the well, starting on August 31.
Howick is 100% owned by Cnooc.
A spokeswoman said: “Cnooc Petroleum Europe, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cnooc, can confirm that it has safely drilled and completed its Howick exploration well, 206/21-1, located west of Shetland.
“The well was safely plugged and abandoned with dry hole status.”
The spokeswoman also confirmed the Cragganmore appraisal well had been drilled and completed.
It’s understood Cnooc was targeting an estimated 83 million barrels of oil equivalent from the field, west of Shetland.
The spokeswoman said: “The results are currently being analysed to determine future activity in the area. The well has been safely plugged and abandoned.”
Upstream cited industry sources as saying the Cragganmore results did not live up to Cnooc’s expectations.
In January Cnooc made the largest North Sea discovery in a decade with Glengorm in the central North Sea, holding up to 250 million barrels of oil equivalent.
