Biggest oil field in UK discovered

The find is thought to be the biggest discovery in two decades

An oil field described as the most significant find in the UK for two decades has been discovered below farmland in Hampshire.

Oil exploration group Pentex Oil UK claims the 100 million barrels found at Avington, near Winchester, is 30% larger than its biggest existing UK reserve, just 15 miles up the road in Stockbridge.

Jeff Graham, managing director of Pentex Oil UK, said: "The discovery provides a major stimulus to the UK onshore oil and gas business.

"It is probably the most significant onshore discovery in the UK for the past 20 years".

A well is now being drilled to discover whether production from the reserve is commercially viable.

Unfortunately it is not my oil - I wish it was Peveril Bruce

Farmer Peveril Bruce, who owns the land where Pentex struck it lucky, says he is not about to become the next JR Ewing because he will only receive a small fee.

He told the BBC farmers do not own any oil found beneath their land.

He said: "Obviously, my friends have ribbed me a bit.

"But unfortunately it is not my oil - I wish it was."

Pentex began drilling for oil after securing a licence from the Department of Trade and Industry.

The firm, which has been operating in the county for 10 years, hopes to begin producing oil at the site by the end of the year, extracting about one tenth of the reserve.

It says drilling will not have a big impact on the surrounding area, with just six people employed to extract the oil.

Public concern

The "black gold" would then be transported to the BP refinery in Hamble in tankers.

But nearby residents are not entirely happy about their picturesque countryside being drilled.

Neil Baxter, Itchen Valley Councillor, "There is concern among the public about what it will do to our community.

"We're worried about whether it's going to have an effect that we don't particularly desire."

But production at the site will be a drop in the ocean compared to other reserves, being the equivalent of about five days' production in the North Sea.