Drilling at new oil fields off Shetland to begin in 2013

Aberdeen-based Dana Petroleum expects to start drilling at two new oil fields off Shetland next year.

The company has entered the detailed engineering design phase of what it calls its Western Isles Project.

The first oil from the North Sea fields, named Harris and Barra, should be available in 2015.

The UK government is expected to give its full approval to the project, which involves investment of almost £1bn, towards the end of this year.

Once under way, the project could run for 15 years.