asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy the total number of offshore oil drilling applications received to date, the number received for the next season, and their location; if he anticipates any oil finds during the next drilling season; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Offshore Oil Drilling Applications.
409.
Since our offshore hydrocarbon exploration activities commenced my Department have received 56 applications from the various consortia who hold licences to carry out drilling operations.
The licensees' operational plans for the next drilling season are unlikely to be finalised for some months yet. They are not, therefore, in a position to submit to me at this stage their drilling applications for 1980, and accordingly I am not in a position to indicate where next year's drillings will be carried out.
The presence of hydrocarbons in the Porcupine Basin was established during drilling in both 1978 and 1979. These discoveries will encourage further drilling. We can, in my view, be hopeful that the presence of hydrocarbons in commercial quantities will be established as a result, but it is of course impossible to make any predictions in this respect.