asked the Minister for Energy if his Department have undertaken an assessment and an evaluation of early production systems for off-shore oil recovery, as to their suitability and technical competence for operation in the Celtic Sea, if he intends to approve such a system and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Oil Recovery Production Systems.
11.
My Department have assessed a very large number of early production systems, both those in use throughout the world and those being developed, and have evaluated their potential suitability for possible development operations in the Celtic Sea. In fact, a comprehensive report on such systems, which was prepared at the request of my Department and under their aegis, and which includes an evaluation of the type referred to by the Deputy, has been completed. The non-confidential sections of this report, which will be entitled "Marginal Field Technology — A Review" will, with my approval, be published shortly by its authors. The conclusions of the report indicate that in the right circumstances several types of early production systems might well be suitable for Celtic Sea operations. In the event that early production is decided upon for a Celtic Sea development then the individual characteristics of the field concerned, including characteristics of a geological, economic and technological type, would dictate the type of early production systems which might be employed within the limits of procurable equipment. Safety considerations would also have to be taken into account in any such analysis, as well as the optimisation of reservoir potential in accordance with good oil-field practice.
There are no proposals in my Department at present seeking approval for a development, nor for a production system of this type. I would, of course, be prepared to consider and evaluate any such proposal on its merits at the appropriate time.
I welcome the Minister's announcement that he will be publishing the non-confidential part of the report. I begin to wonder what part of a report having such information would be confidential. We are talking about the evaluation of an early production system that is already either built or in the planning stage for use in the Celtic Sea for oil recovery. Perhaps the Minister could go somewhat further and give some indication as to what would be confidential in the evaluation of a particular system.
I am not in a position to go into detail on confidential aspects of the report, but the Deputy will appreciate that I am usually very forthcoming with information because I believe it is in the interest of all of us that information should be public. I will certainly try to be of assistance to the Deputy when this report is published.
I appreciate that the Minister has always been forthcoming with the maximum amount of information. That is why I am at a loss on this occasion. The Minister said that his Department have assessed many production systems. Are these systems already in use or is this a newer form of technology? Have they been involved in assessing the new type of technology that could possibly apply in the Celtic Sea area? The Minister will appreciate that the early production system in the North Sea was not very successful but many changes in technology have taken place since. I want to know which evaluation he is talking about. Is the Minister referring to the old systems, the newer systems or the systems which are in the planning stage?
The answer is that we have looked at all these systems. We have assessed a very large number of early production systems, both in use and being developed. Technology in the oil industry is very fast moving on a yearly basis and we are trying to match these systems with conditions in the Celtic Sea. The report is not being compiled totally by people within my Department but it will be available shortly and will be published. It will be stimulating information for anybody interested in oil exploration off our coast.
The Minister referred to consideration of how these systems could be applicable to conditions in the Celtic Sea. Would he accept that conditions in the Celtic Sea are very favourable for early production systems? I cannot understand why there should be such confidentiality. The information is available to the oil industry and all I am seeking is the departmental assessment. I am not an expert in this area but I have a particular knowledge and interest in it. I am looking for assistance from departmental investigations of the various systems. I have several systems in mind.
I am glad to hear the Deputy comment that he considers the Celtic Sea to be suitable for early production systems. Of course in choosing the type of system it would be necessary to consider the geology of the Celtic basin and the field economics. There are many different types of early production systems. What might be suitable off the west coast might not be suitable in the Celtic Sea. From initial examination it appears that the Celtic Sea is an area where early production systems would be beneficial but it would be premature at this stage to comment on any particular type of system because no decision has been made.
Has the Minister any application of the use of any particular system in the development of any well?
There are no proposals in my Department at present.