Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 5 July 2006
68 Mr. O’Dowd asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the extent of positive indicators arising from oil, gas or other mineral explorations, onshore or offshore; if adequate scientific resources are being made available to develop the sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26584/06]
View answer267 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if there have been indications of a viable oil, gas or other mineral finds in the past 12 months; if he expects further developments or announcements in this area in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26749/06]
View answer278 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the extent of positive indicators arising from oil, gas or other mineral explorations, onshore, or offshore; if adequate scientific resources are being made available to develop the sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26760/06]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 68, 267 and 278 together.
Traditionally and for sound reasons exploration for hydrocarbons and other minerals is a private sector activity licensed by the State.
The Corrib Gas Field (1996) is the only recent offshore discovery that can be said at this stage to have a definite commercial viability. In the case of Seven Heads, production has not reached anticipated levels and the results of the Dooish (2002) discovery are still being assessed. Earlier this year there was a media report relating to the Lough Allen Basin. This article in a business magazine, reported an estimate of the resource potential which was carried out for the operator. This is a stage in the exploration process and may form the basis or justification for further exploration. Unfortunately, this estimate does not constitute a discovery.
A challenge for Ireland is the fact that some companies still view Ireland as a high-risk area for hydrocarbon exploration, lacking the potential for commercial discoveries. The fact is that very few wells have been drilled in comparison to other regions. It is worth noting that while only 9 exploration wells were drilled west of Ireland in the past 10 years, two significant discoveries were made — Corrib and Dooish. In order to promote a more positive international view of prospectivity in the region, my Department has been actively involved in the assessment of petroleum systems west of Ireland. These in-depth studies, which are available to the industry at a reasonable price, demonstrate that contrary to what some believe, the Irish offshore has a potential for undiscovered oil and gas on a par with other producing regions in the North Atlantic. My Department is actively seeking opportunities to communicate this message to the Industry.
With regard to non-petroleum resources no new economic deposits of non-petroleum minerals have been discovered in recent years. There have been some encouraging results, however. Exploration adjacent to existing base metal mines at Navan, Co. Meath (Boliden Tara Mines Ltd.) and Galmoy, Co. Kilkenny (Galmoy Mines Ltd.) has discovered additional resources which have the potential to extend the life of those mines. I have recently granted new State Mining Licences to both companies for extraction of parts of these additional resources. My Department will continue to promote exploration both offshore and onshore.
