The great oil rush of 2005

Cairn Energy is moving one step closer to unlocking the riches it discovered under a plot of Indian desert bought at a knock-down price from the hapless Shell. If only the rest of the oil sector could put in such a slick performance.

The Scottish minnow turned FTSE 100 oil giant is likely to receive approval from the Indian government to develop its three key onshore fields in western Rajasthan, Platts, the commodities news service, reported this morning