Setbacks for Scottish oil explorers

CAIRN Energy and Faroe Petroleum have suffered reverses in their exploration programmes.

A well drilled by Edinburgh-based Cairn in frontier acreage off south west Ireland produced what its partner Providence Resources described as disappointing results.

Faroe Petroleum, which has headquarters in Aberdeen, said the Goanna well drilled in the Norwegian North Sea was dry. The costs of the well are expected to be covered by its partner in the exercise Wellesley Petroleum.