Vol. 557 No. 4
77 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will make a statement on the results from the recent drilling in the Rockall Basin; and if he has satisfied himself that Ireland has full legal title to any discoveries in the area. [22359/02]
Drilling of the Dooish well was commenced on 6 August under frontier exploration licence 2/94 by the operator Enterprise Energy Ireland Limited – EEIL. The well is located in the Rockall Basin some 125 kilometres north-west of County Donegal and is the second deepest water depth in which a well has ever been drilled in Irish waters.
The operators have lodged all technical data relevant to the well with my Department. This has been reviewed and assessed by the specialist staff in the petroleum affairs division, PAD, of my Department. The well has penetrated a substantial column of hydrocarbons. However, before the size of the accumulation or the possibility for any commercial development can be assessed, a considerable amount of analysis of existing data together with much further appraisal work on the prospect will be required. It is expected that appraisal operations will resume at the earliest possible opportunity during the drilling season in 2003. EEIL and PAD agree that while it is too early to know the full significance of the drilling results they demonstrate the presence of a working petroleum system and as such are encouraging for this well and for the exploration potential of Irish frontier areas.
The operator has, with my agreement, suspended the drilling operations due to worsening weather conditions and the safety aspects of the operation. The operator has indicated that it hopes to resume appraisal of the find next year. Any meaningful report will require the results of that appraisal.
The legislative basis for the State's ownership to any discoveries in the area are the Continental Shelf Act, 1968 (No. 14 of 1968) and the Continental Shelf (Designated Areas) Order, 1993 – S.I. No. 92 of 1993.
