“This important discovery can be marketed quickly and at low cost by taking advantage of Laggan-Tormore's existing infrastructure,” said Arnaud Breuillac, Total's chief exploration and production director.

The deposit is in fact close to the island's gas plant, to which are connected four fields that the group already operates, Tormore, Laggan, Glenlivet and Edradour. Glendronach is also in the same area as the latter.

The well drilled down a 42-meter gas column at a depth of 300 meters into a high-quality reservoir dating back to the early Cretaceous, the group said.

Total has a 60% interest in the new discovery, alongside its partners at 20% each, Ineos E&P UK Limited and SSE E&P UK Limited.

Total has been present in the United Kingdom for more than 50 years and produced 171 000 barrels of oil equivalent in the first half of 2018, mainly from marine fields.

In addition, the group also welcomed the development of its Shwe Yee Htun-2 gas well, off Burma. The positive appreciation of this discovery confirms the commercial viability of the project.

Shwe Yee Htun-2, whose well was drilled at 4,820 meters, follows the findings of Shwe Yee Htun-1 in 2016 and Pyi Thit-1 in 2017, and the cumulative resource estimate of the block is now estimated between 2 and 3 tcf (trillion cubic feet).

“This new discovery is a key step towards the development of new gas reserves in an area close to fast-growing regional markets,” commented Mr. Breuillac.

Total, which owns a 40% stake in the site, has been operating blocks since 1998 that produce half of Burma's gas consumption.