Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 8 May 2001

Vol. 535 No. 4

Written Answers - Offshore Exploration.

Willie Penrose

Question:

68 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the latest information available to his Department on the likely extent of test drilling for oil and gas in 2001; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12802/01]

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

As I mentioned in replies to similar questions raised in the House on 8 February and 21 March, there will be a substantial increase this year in offshore drilling activity with at least three exploration wells, one appraisal well and two development wells being drilled. Enterprise Energy Ireland Limited recently drilled an exploration well in the Rockall Trough but it has now been plugged and abandoned. It is expected that further exploration wells will be drilled by Statoil and EDC in the Porcupine and Fastnet basins respectively. Subject to availability of a drilling rig, Ramco Oil and Gas also proposes to drill one or two exploration wells in the Celtic Sea. Enterprise Energy Ireland Limited also proposes to drill a further appraisal well in the Corrib prospect in the Slyne basin and two development wells will be drilled by Marathon in the south-west Kinsale area of the north Celtic Sea basin.

However, well commitments beyond 2001 only amount to between three and six for the entire Irish offshore and with that in mind I established an initiative aimed at conserving certain areas of the Irish offshore by closing them off from development for the moment and gauging interest on the part of the industry in making well commitments in certain other limited areas. To that end, I have undertaken a consultation process involving companies who are licence holders here in order to gauge their view on whether well commitments might be forthcoming in the event that a limited number of new licences might be offered and this process is ongoing.