The Scottish Government should relax its moratorium on fracking, according to an adviser to the oil and gas industry.

Stuart Paton said parliamentary opposition to the unconventional energy technology was "not logical" given its support for offshore oil and gas.

Mr Paton was formerly former chief executive of Dana Petroleum and is currently chairman at Getech PLC, a company that locates natural resources for the oil and mining industries.

He has now produced a paper for free market think tank Reform Scotland to outline the potential economic benefits of fracking.

Mr Paton claims the decommissioning of two nuclear power stations in Scotland will create an energy shortage.

Fracking, particularly in central Scotland from shale and coal bed methane, and new nuclear capacity would help to fill this gap, he insists.

Dr Paton said the Scottish Government's energy policy contains "a number of contradictions".

"The Scottish Government has a commitment to zero emissions from electricity generation by 2020 yet an outright rejection of nuclear power and continued support for a coal power station at Longannet," he said.

"The government shows unbridled support for the offshore oil and gas industry but not onshore unconventionals."

Mr Paton added: "There is significant potential for unconventional oil and gas development in central Scotland in shale oil and gas and coal bed methane.

"Ineos, who own the Grangemouth refinery and petrochemical's complex, have acquired interests in central Scotland demonstrating the potential in this area."

Dr Paton said opposition to new fossil fuel resources is "not a logical objection for the Scottish Government given its support of the offshore industry".

"The key issues onshore can be managed with a robust regulator such as is present offshore," he said.

The Scottish Government has imposed a moratorium on fracking pending further scientific tests and consultation with the public.

A spokesman said: "The Scottish Government is taking a cautious and evidence-led approach to unconventional oil and gas. Our moratorium ensures that no fracking can take place in Scotland."

Scottish Government-commissioned research will be published later this year ahead of a public consultation which will extend into 2017, he said.

Scottish Conservative energy spokesman Alexander Burnett said: "This is another expert exposing the SNP's ludicrous position on fracking.

"As he rightly points out, the Scottish Government is happy to take energy from the North Sea and coal plants.

"Yet it rules out categorically the possibility of extracting energy in an unconventional way.

"Not only does that not make sense, but it risks Scotland missing out on the economic benefit fracking could bring."

The Scottish Greens and Labour urged the Scottish Government to escalate its moratorium to an outright ban - insisting Scotland does not need another fossil fuel industry.

Scottish Labour environment spokeswoman Claudia Beamish said: "The science on fracking is clear - we don't need another form of fossil fuel extraction in Scotland.

"That's why Labour is clear - no ifs, not buts, no fracking."

Scottish Greens energy spokesman Mark Ruskell said: "The Scottish Government must legislate for an outright ban on fracking because its vague 'moratorium' policy is clearly giving hope to fossil fuel giants intent on digging up Scotland."