Offshore Exploration

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 June 2013

Tuesday, 11 June 2013

Questions (537)

Andrew Doyle

Question:

537. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will outline the recently approved seismic survey to reveal oil and gas exploration potential of the Atlantic margin; if he took into account the report made in May 2012, by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Communications, Natural Resources and Agriculture entitled Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration; if he will break down the cost of the project and to state the percentage that is being met by his Department; the percentage of the funding leveraged from the industry; and to further breakdown the names and funding from the companies involved; if the said companies will be given preferential treatment for future offshore oil and gas exploration for future projects in view of their contribution to this survey; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27751/13]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources

The 2D regional seismic survey, which is by far the largest regional seismic survey to be acquired in the Irish offshore will provide a regional grid of modern seismic data over Ireland’s frontier basins and has been designed to complement existing datasets and to infill data gaps that exist, particularly in the Southern Porcupine, Rockall and Hatton basins. The benefit of addressing such recognised data gaps was identified by my Department officials when providing evidence to the former Joint Committee in the context of the preparation of the Committee’s report.

The survey, which commenced earlier this month, will be undertaken by ENI Ireland BV in conjunction with my Department, with data acquisition carried out by seismic contractor BGP, using the vessel the BGP Explorer. The estimated cost of the survey is in the region of €20 million which includes the cost of data acquisition, data processing, along with planning and management costs. My Department will pay 25% of the data acquisition costs, with ENI paying the balance. My Department’s contribution will be paid from a research fund into which exploration licence holders are obliged to make prescribed annual contributions. ENI will carry out the data processing.

Applications for petroleum exploration authorisations over areas of Ireland’s Atlantic margin are invited from time to time through open competitive licensing rounds. Award of licences is on the basis of published evaluation criteria and this practice will continue. Accordingly, there can be no question of preferential treatment for any individual company.