Oil and gas giant Total (www.total.com) has made a large gas discovery at its Glendronach field, near Shetland.

The company said that initial tests on the prospect indicated good reservoir quality, permeability and well production deliverability.

The total capacity of the Glendronach prospect is estimated to be around one trillion ft³ of gas.

The field could also be developed quickly at low cost by linking it to the existing infrastructure of the nearby Edradour field.

Total said the discovery will extend the life of the West of Shetland infrastructure and production hub. This includes the Laggan, Tormore, Edradour and Glenlivet fields, plus the Shetland Gas plant, all of which contribute about 7% of the UK’s gas consumption.

Deirdre Michie, Oil & Gas UK’s chief executive, said: “This is a major discovery, which demonstrates the exciting potential of the West of Shetland frontier region.

“The focus on quick commercialisation of this find, made viable by the existing infrastructure, provides motivation for investors as well as industry.

“As our Economic Report recently highlighted, an increase in drilling activity is key to unlocking the remaining potential of the UK Continental Shelf.

"This significant discovery demonstrates that the improved competitiveness of the basin is having positive results, thanks to the hard work undertaken by industry since the downturn.”