Vol. 539 No. 3
101 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if a company, details supplied, currently drilling in the Border counties was given the same favourable conditions which include exploration rights, fiscal terms, royalties, tax and investment set off against tax as another company, details supplied; if not, the reason for this. [19470/01]
While there is no onshore petroleum exploration licence in place at present, my Department has had discussions with a company which has indicated that it will be applying for an onshore exploration licence. This US-based company, Evergreen Resources, intends to submit an application for an onshore exploration licence over an area in the Northwest Carboniferous Basin comprising lands in counties Cavan, Leitrim, Monaghan, Roscommon and Sligo. Part of the area straddles the border with Fermanagh. At present another company hold an option for an exploration licence over this area but have applied to my Department for approval for the assignment of its interest in this option to Evergreen Resources.
There is no differentiation between the terms for offshore and onshore petroleum exploration licences. Offshore petroleum exploration licences are granted in accordance with the Licensing Terms for Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration and Development, 1992, and the same terms would also apply, where appropriate, in the case of any onshore petroleum exploration licences granted. The fiscal terms dealing with taxation, royalties and write-offs are covered by the provisions of the Finance Act, 1992, as amended, introduced by the Minister for Finance. As such they are part of taxation legislation and apply to all licensees, and are not negotiated on a case by case basis.
102 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the number of cases in which rights for exploration of oil, gas and natural resources were granted to companies; and the conditions attached to these rights; and details of the companies involved. [19485/01]
Offshore petroleum exploration licences are granted in accordance with the Licensing Terms for Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration and Development, 1992. At present 13 offshore exploration licences are in place as follows:
|
Licence |
Licence Period |
Block No. |
Acreage |
ParticipantsOperator* |
% Interest |
|
2/93 Deepwater |
1 January 1993 – 31 December 2004 |
18/25(p), 18/30(p) 27/4, 27/5(p) & 27/9(p) |
730.3 km*2 |
*Enterprise Energy Ireland Limited;Statoil Exploration (Ireland) Limited;Marathon International Petroleum Hibernia Limited |
45%36.5%18.5% |
|
2/94 Frontier |
15 March 1994 – 14 March 2010 |
12/2, 12/3, 12/7 & 12/8 |
930.8 km*2 |
*Enterprise Energy Ireland Limited;Agip Ireland BV. |
60%40% |
|
3/94 Frontier |
15 March 1994 – 14 March 2010 |
18/14, 18/15, 18/19 & 18/20 |
961.6 km*2 |
*Enterprise Energy Ireland Limited;Statoil Exploration (Ireland) Limited;Marathon International Petroleum Hibernia Limited |
45%36.5%18.5% |
|
5/94 Frontier |
15 March 1994 – 14 March 2010 |
11/29, 19/2, 19/3 19/4, 19/7, 19/8 19/11, 19/12, 19/16 19/17 & 19/21 |
2632.3 km*2 |
*Statoil Exploration (Ireland) Limited;Enterprise Energy Ireland Offshore IncMurphy Ireland Offshore, Ltd;Enterprise Energy Ireland Limited. |
30%30%25%15% |
|
5/95 Frontier |
15 March 1995 – 15 March 2010 |
34/15, 34/20 & 35/16 |
756.2 km*2 |
*Chevron U.K. Limited;Statoil Exploration (Ireland) Limited |
80%20% |
|
6/95 Frontier |
15 March 1995 – 15 March 2010 |
35/19, 35/29, 35/30 36/21, 36/26, 44/4 & 44/5 |
1778.9 km*2 |
*Marathon International Petroleum Hibernia Limited;Phillips Petroeum Company United Kingdom Limited |
50%50% |
|
8/95 Frontier |
15 March 1995 – 15 March 2010 |
34/24, 34/25, 34/30 35/21, 35/23(E) & 35/24 |
1394.3 km*2 |
*Statoil Exploration (Ireland) Limited;Conoco (U.K.) Ltd;Enterprise Energy Ireland Offshore Inc Dana Petroleum (E&P) Limited |
37.931%27.586%20.690%13.793% |
|
Licence |
Licence Period |
Block No. |
Acreage |
ParticipantsOperator* |
% Interest |
|
1/97 Standard |
1 May 1997 –30 April 2003 |
63/3(S), 63/4, 63/8, 63/9 & 63/10 |
1201.1km*2 |
*EDC (Europe) Limited;Prospeccion Y Desarrollo deHidrocarburos Espanoles S.A.(PYDHESA):Medusa Hydrocarbons Limited |
57%28.5%14.5% |
|
6/97 Frontier |
4 June 1997 –3 June 2013 |
5/16, 5/17, 5/21, 5/22, 5/26 & 5/27 |
991.4 km*2 |
*Enterprise Energy Ireland Limited;Mobil Oil North Sea Ltd;Murphy Ireland Offshore, Ltd;Enterprise Energy Ireland Offshore Inc |
25%25%25%25% |
|
7/97 Frontier |
4 June 1997 –3 June 2013 |
11/20, 11/23, 11/24, 11/25, 11/28, 12/11, 12/12 & 12/16 |
1883.2 km*2 |
*Agip Ireland BV |
50%50% |
|
8/97 Frontier |
4 June 1997 –3 June 2013 |
75/21, 75/26, 82/25 & 82/30 |
992.4 km*2 |
*Agip Ireland BV |
50%50% |
|
1/99 Frontier |
15 March 1999 – 14 March 2014 |
43/19, 43/20, 43/24, 43/25, 43/28 & 43/29 |
1553.6 km*2 |
*Agip Ireland BV |
100% |
|
2/99 Frontier |
15 March 1999 – 14 March 2014 |
44/18, 44/23, 44/24, 44/29, & 44/30 |
1295.6 km*2 |
*Elf Petroleum Ireland BV |
100% |
