Bernard J. Durkan
Question:84 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the most promising oil and gas or other exploration tests carried out in the past six months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16936/00]
Written Answers. - Offshore Exploration.
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:91 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the most satisfactory and recent offshore oil, gas or other mineral exploration results; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16945/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 84 and 91 together.
As I said in my reply of 10 May last to similar questions, a plan of development for the south-west lobe of the Kinsale Head gas field was approved last year and the field was brought into production in October. I also mentioned that there are important developments taking place in relation to two other hydrocarbon accumulations in our offshore, the Corrib gas accumulation and the Helvick oil field.
The present position in relation to the Corrib field is that the licensees are currently drilling a third appraisal well and when that is completed they intend to drill a further appraisal well. They hope to be in a position to decide whether the gas find is commercial or not in December next. The final decision as to whether the field is commercial will depend on factors such as the volumes of gas in place, the quality of the reservoir, the quality of the gas, the flow rate of wells, market availability and price and the cost of development of the field.
Enterprise Oil is reported as saying that the field might contain more than one trillion cubic feet of gas-in-place. However, it is too early at this stage to give a precise figure for the size of the gas accumulation and the licensees will not be in a position to do so until they have fully evaluated the discovery.
Should the results of their appraisal programme show that the gas can be commercially produced it will be necessary for the licensees to apply to me for a petroleum lease and submit a plan of development for the field for my approval.
In regard to the Helvick oil field, a number of estimates of recoverable oil and gas has been made. However, it is now understood from the company involved that the estimates of oil-in-place is in the range of 18 million to 28 million barrells.
The Helvick oil field is held under a petroleum lease by Providence Resources who have declared the field commercial. A detailed plan of development for the field was due to be submitted to me for approval by the end of April this year. Following recent discussions between officials of my Department and the licensees, submission of the plan of development has now been deferred until later this year.
There has been no exploration or mining for non-petroleum minerals under the minerals development Acts in the Irish offshore in recent years nor has my Department any application at present for such activities.