Norwegian energy giant Equinor has become the first company to start drilling an exploration well on the UK Continental Shelf this year.
Data of the OGA’s Public Wellbore Search page shows that well 16/2a was “spudded” on June 18.
Seadrill’s West Hercules semi-submersible rig is being used for the job.
Dave Moseley, senior analyst at Westwood Global Energy Group, said the well was being drilled on the Upper Jurassic Tiger Lily prospect, east of Shetland.
Equinor, as operator, hold 50% of the licence containing Tiger Lily, and BP is its partner.
Mr Moseley said that, based on pre-drill resource estimates, the prospect is understood be high impact, meaning it could contain reserves of more than 100 million barrels of oil equivalent.
Earlier this year, Westwood Global highlighted Tiger Lily as a UK “well to watch” in 2021.