Vol. 526 No. 5
36 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the latest information available to his Department with regard to the Helvick oil field; if any information is yet available from the test drilling undertaken in summer 2000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26931/00]
Providence Resources completed an appraisal well on the Helvick oil field last September. The company is still evaluating the data results from the well. All the data and information relating to the appraisal drilling have been submitted by the company to my Department. The Deputy will appreciate that all material associated with the assessment of the field is commercially sensitive and therefore must remain confidential.
The operator is currently analysing the data acquired in the course of the appraisal drilling. The results will be integrated with existing knowledge about the field in order to establish a soundly based estimate of the hydrocarbons in place and the potential recoverable resources.
