There are plans for another pipeline beneath the Hampshire countryside.

It will run from Humbly Grove, near Odiham, to Barton Stacey, seven miles north of Winchester, and it will carry natural gas.

It's part of a £50m scheme to use Humbly Grove as a gas storage facility.

The 17-mile pipeline will link the oilfield there to the national distribution system, enabling gas to be stored in subterranean voids at times of low demand and to be released when needed.

More drilling and additional processing plant will be required at Humbly Grove, say oilfield owners, Star Energy, who claim to be anticipating a "critical need" which is expected to arise within the next six years.

Unless additional storage is provided soon, the UK may be unable to meet winter peak demand, says the firm, which is shortly to submit an application to the Department of Trade and Industry for the pipeline and another to Hampshire County Council for the associated works with a view to starting work in summer, 2004.

Humbly Grove is one of seven oil and gasfields which the company owns in the Weald Basin. The first strike was made there by Carless Exploration in 1980, full production began in 1986 and the field was acquired by Star Energy four years ago.

A major bonus of the project would be that restoring the natural gas pressure two-thirds of a mile beneath the surface would greatly enhance oil recovery and extend the life of the field from less than 10 years to around 25.

Star Energy MD, Roger Pearson, said the firm had gone to great lengths to minimise the impact of the project.

"We have considered several routes for the pipeline and we believe the one we have chosen is the best in terms of making the least impact on the environment and on residents. We have also commissioned a comprehensive environmental assessment to ensure that every impact is fully considered and that the route is quickly and effectively restored," he said.

The firm is delivering a newsletter to homes along the length of the pipeline over the next few weeks and the proposals may be viewed online at www.starenergy.co.uk

An information line has also been established on 01491-414496.

Work is continuing at Matterly Farm, east of Winchester, where Pentex Oil UK is searching for "black gold". A company spokesman said: "We're not into the drilling phase yet - we're still in the construction phase."