asked the Minister for Energy if he has received any application for an early production system in regard to Block 49/9-2 in the Celtic Sea or any other block; if he has made a decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
15.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Offshore Oil Exploration.
2.
asked the Minister for Energy the progress which has been made concerning the Atlantic Resources oil discovery being brought ashore; and if negotiations with that company are now taking place.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 2 and 15 together.
There are no proposals before my Department for a development of any discovery in the Celtic Sea or elsewhere, nor are any negotiations on such a possibility taking place. In so far as block 49/9 is concerned, the necessary full delineation of the hydrocarbon discovery made there has not yet been carried out, and consequently no proposal for development of the find, whether by way of an early production system or otherwise, has been made by the operator on behalf of the consortium concerned or by any member of the consortium.
Further steps towards that delineation have been undertaken by the group this year by way of an agreed 3-D seismic survey over the area. When the data arising from that survey have been considered, my Department and the group involved will be in a better position to evaluate what further appraisal drilling will be necessary in order to establish if the deposit can be commercially developed. At that stage, consideration will be given to the terms and conditions which will apply to the particular development system being contemplated.
With regard to block 49/9-2 in the Celtic Sea, is it the position now that the only proposal in regard to this block is a seismic exploration programme?
Yes, that is what I said in my reply.
Have Atlantic Resources been given permission or authority to go ahead with an appraisal well on any of their blocks?
No, they have not.
So all that is involved is seismic exploration by Atlantic Resources?
The group, Chevron, Union and Atlantic are involved. It is a matter of taking steps towards a delineation of the particular area, at which time when the data arising from the survey have been considered, my Department and the group involved will be in a better position to evaluate what further appraisal drilling will be necessary in order to establish if the deposit can be commercially developed.
I am grateful to the Minister but I should like to pursue it a little further. The Minister is aware that there is a widespread impression abroad that authority has been given for an appraisal well by Atlantic Resources and/or the consortium of which they are a member.
The Deputy should know better than anybody else that one should not believe everything one reads in the papers.
I accept that, but surely this is the place for me to raise the matter.
I will repeat for Deputy Haughey's benefit that there are no proposals before my Department for a development of any discovery in the Celtic Sea or elsewhere, nor are any negotiations on such a possibility taking place. It is black and white.
The Minister will bear with me and not get too tendentious. I am merely seeking to establish the facts. I accept of course what the Minister tells me. It is important information and the Minister might agree with me that it will come as a surprise to many people that this is the position.
I do not think it will.