Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 1 May 2001

Vol. 535 No. 1

Written Answers - Offshore Exploration.

Trevor Sargent

Question:

131 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to technology which would allow gas to be processed on site at the Corrib field thereby avoiding environmental and health damage to farmers and residents of Erris in north Mayo. [11564/01]

Trevor Sargent

Question:

132 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if he will confirm, from an independent source, if technology is available to process gas from the Corrib field at sea. [11565/01]

Trevor Sargent

Question:

133 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the fact that technology to recover and process gas at greater depths and harsher sea conditions than those found in the Corrib field is already employed by a company (details supplied) and other companies in Norwegian waters. [11566/01]

Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources (Mr. Fahey)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 131 to 133 inclusive, together.

Yes, I am aware that technology exists to exploit gas at greater water depths and possibly more unfavourable environments than that which pertains in the Corrib field. The company to which the Deputy refers is a partner in the Corrib development. The technology proposed for the Corrib development could also be deployed at greater depths and harsher sea conditions than those found in the Corrib.

Technology is available to process gas offshore on a gas field such as the Corrib. However this would not eliminate the need for an onshore terminal and such a terminal would have all the essential features of a terminal in circumstances where there is no offshore processing. These features would include a flare stack, provision for storage of liquids, provision for installation for compressors and facilities for discharging produced fluids. The cost effective and optimum development system for the Corrib is a subsea development with processing at a terminal onshore. If processing were to take place in field, it would require the deployment of floating facilities which would mean that production would be weather sensitive – a serious drawback in the hostile environment of the Corrib. Increased capital and operational expenditures would be needed which could make the development uneconomic and there would be serious safety implications as the offshore facilities would have to be manned.

An environmental impact statement is required to be submitted for my approval before the lessees can engage in any development work leading to or associated with the extraction of oil or gas. Among the issues that fall to be addressed under the environmental impact statement are the effects of the proposed development on human beings. In deciding whether the proposed working of petroleum would or would not be likely to have significant effects on the environment one of the criteria which I will be taking into account includes the environmental sensitivity of the geographical area likely to be affected having regard in particular to existing land use. The purpose of the environmental impact statement is to identify potential harmful effects on the environment, if any, and to put forward proposed measures to mitigate them.