In July this year, two on-shore petroleum exploration licences were granted over an area in the north-west Carboniferous Basin, to Evergreen Resources, an American based company. The licensed area comprises lands in counties Cavan, Leitrim, Monaghan, Roscommon and Sligo and straddles the border with Fermanagh. Evergreen commenced drilling of a well in Dowra, County Cavan on 20 October last and operations are continuing on this well. The company intends to drill a second exploration well this year in County Leitrim. Drilling for gas was carried out in the area in question some years ago and the present interest reflects a confidence based on both the results then and recent evaluations carried out by another American based company, Priority Oil and Gas, under licensing options held over the same area which expired at the end of June last.