HURRICANE Energy has passed a milestone in its plans to develop a bumper find West of Shetland after facing complications. The company said it had successfully hooked up the floating production vessel that will be used on the Lancaster field to the mooring turret installed for the development.

The Surrey-based company expects to start production from Lancaster in the first half. Last month Hurricane said a rope being used in the installation of the production system for Lancaster had failed. In January it said a rope that was being used in the installation of the production facilities had become snagged.