LONDON, July 24 (Reuter) - A British judge ruled on Thursday that a court should urgently consider Greenpeace's right to challenge oil exploration off the West Coast of Scotland.

Mr. Justice Tucker set a September date for a hearing on the environmental pressure group's attempt to force a review of the British government's decision to grant oil companies licences to prospect in the Atlantic.

If the High Court decides Greenpeace does have a case, the judge said the full challenge to the Department of Trade and Industry's decision should go ahead in November.

Greenpeace says the British government acted unlawfully by issuing licences for oil exploration without considering its responsibilities under international environmental directives.

It says the government failed in its duty to protect coral reefs and fragile ecosystems during the 17th offshore licensing round, which covered sea areas in the Rockall Trough 250 miles west of the Hebrides.

The government was joined in the court case by some 14-15 oil companies, some of whom have been the target of a direct action campaign to disrupt seismic mapping in the deep-water Atlantic area.

The group has also "occupied" the remote island of Rockall, a barren stump of rock at the heart of the potential exploration area, by stationing activists in a live-aboard pod riveted to the cliffs.

"This fight is over an ocean wilderness that is home to whales, dolphins and world heritage site for birds as well as a deep water coral," said Lord Melchett, executive director of the environmental pressure group. "We also oppose further oil exploitation on the grounds that fossil fuels are damaging the climate," he said.