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Petroleum and Gas Exploration

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 December 2013

Tuesday, 17 December 2013

Questions (356, 357, 372)

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

Question:

356. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if companies (details supplied) drilling in the County Leitrim area completed geophysical, geochemical and-or topographical analysis as part of their work programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54019/13]

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Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

Question:

357. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if companies (details supplied) in the Leitrim area complete geophysical and-or geochemical and-or topographical analysis as part of their work programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54063/13]

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Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

Question:

372. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources with regard to the Leitrim area, if companies (details supplied) take samples of rocks and previous cuttings to test for the presence of petroleum gas, as part of their work programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54429/13]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 356, 357 and 372 together.

Onshore Licensing Options were granted to the three companies referenced by the Deputy in the term of the previous Government for the two year period from 1 March 2011 to 28 February 2013.

Tamboran Resources Pty Ltd and the Lough Allen Natural Gas Company Ltd were each granted an Onshore Licensing Option over parts of the North West Carboniferous (Lough Allen) Basin covering parts of counties Cavan, Leitrim and Sligo. Enegi Oil Plc was granted an Onshore Licensing Option over parts of County Clare.

The licensing options conferred upon the holder the first right, exercisable at any time during the period of the option, to an application for an exploration licence or licences over all or part of the area covered by the licensing option.

The licensing option work programmes permitted the companies to evaluate the natural gas potential of the acreage largely based on desktop studies of existing data. Exploration drilling was not proposed by the companies concerned, nor was it permitted under the licensing options.

Tamboran Resources completed geophysical, geochemical and topographical analysis utilising existing data, including previous drill samples in fulfilment of its work programme commitments.

Enegi Oil completed geophysical, geochemical and topographical analysis utilising existing data and outcrop sampling in fulfilment of its work programme.

Tamboran Resources and Enegi have both submitted an application for a follow-on exploration licence.

The Lough Allen Natural Gas Company Ltd has not furnished the Department with a report on the fulfilment of its work programme commitments under the licensing option. The company did not submit an application for a follow-on exploration licence before the expiry of the licensing option.

My Department has carried out a preliminary examination of the applications received from Tamboran Resources and Enegi. Further consideration has been put on hold pending the outcome of the EPA studies in relation to the use of hydraulic fracturing, the results of which can not be expected before early 2015.

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