Oil leak off Shetlands ‘could drift as far as Norfolk’

The spill could potentially reach the shores of Iceland, Norway and the Netherlands.

US oil company Hess outlined the worst-case scenario in an environmental statement it produced as part of its application to drill a deepwater well 142km (88 miles) west of the Shetland Isles.

If an accident happened, the Cambo 4 well would flow for a two-and-a-half months, releasing an estimated 4.3 million barrels of crude oil, without intervention.

Hess, whose 120-day drilling operation is planned for May, said the risk of a large-scale spill was “very low”.

A Government decision on the proposal is expected to be made in the coming months.

Greenpeace, which obtained the statement, said drilling licences were being given to oil companies despite the “catastrophic” damage to the environment if they were to leak.

Executive director John Sauven said: “The Government is ignoring the clear lessons from the Deepwater Horizon disaster and the effects a spill would have on wildlife and protected areas around the UK.

“This little-known company admits in its own spill response plan that a serious blow-out would see half of British beaches, and many in Europe, covered in oil.

“Chris Huhne (the Energy Secretary) cannot wave through this risky project. If he approves this deepwater well, he’ll be letting a small US oil company play Russian roulette with our wildlife, our beaches and even the chances of an economic recovery.”

The region is said to be home to more than 20 species of dolphin and whale and up to 50 species of seabird, including fulmars, razorbills and kittiwakes.

Hess said fish and sea mammals would remain “relatively unaffected” because they are able to detect and avoid oil in water.

The report also states that it could take “considerably longer” than a week to cap the well and extreme weather with high winds and choppy seas would seriously hamper clean-up operations.