The Cumbrian Oil Rush?

Although inland, we have a spectacular view of the Solway Firth, and this afternoon, returning from a walk, I was astonished to see what looked like a four-mast ship of the line sailing up the middle of the firth. On closer examination, using the stylish naval telescope sported by my father at the Battle of the Atlantic, the object turned out to be an enormous eight-towered drilling rig, towed in stately fashion by a tug, somewhere midway between Maryport and the Galloway coast. This location suggests that it's there to begin work on the Robin Rigg windfarm. The Renaissance Man reckons that it's conducting a geological survey in anticipation of the Cumbrian oil-rush. Either could be true. If anybody can shed light, please comment . . .