Abstract A seismic amplitude anomaly has been identified at the Upper Paleocene T38 level in the northern Judd Basin and will be tested by the drillbit in 2009. Prospectivity at shallower levels has been largely ignored due to the fact that the main regional seal in the area was recognized to be the T35/T36 mudstones below the Kettla Tuff. Seismo-stratigraphic analysis of the T38 sequence directly above the tuff marker has identified the potential for a new play type, especially adjacent to fault zones where these mudstones are breached, allowing hydrocarbons to migrate from the Upper Jurassic source kitchen into any traps identified above the seal. In this area, the T38 is represented by a series of northerly prograding low-angle clinoforms representing the final marine infill of sediments into the basin from the south. Erosion of top sets in a more marginal setting is observed, along with deposition of basin floor fans at the toe of the prograding clinoforms. The overlying seals are basinal sediments as well as mudstones and siltstones of subsequent progradational sequences. Mild structural modification of potential stratigraphic traps in the Judd Basin occurred during the Oligo-Miocene inversion associated with continued opening of the North Atlantic. Drilling seismic amplitude anomalies in the West of Shetlands area has often been unsuccessful. Therefore, a fully integrated geophysical and geological evaluation was carried out on the T38 anomaly comprising rock physics, amplitude variation with offset analysis, fault seal analysis and the acquisition of a CSEM survey which, supported by a valid geologic model, have reduced the risk from high to moderate. The results indicate that the anomaly has the potential to be sand-bearing and contain oil and gas. It is proposed that an integrated evaluation can reduce the level of uncertainty associated with an anomaly much more effectively and so improve the chance of exploration success.