Written Answers. - Offshore Exploration.
Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:
58
Mr. Durkan
asked the
Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources
the extent to which oil, gas or other explorations, onshore or offshore have to date identified viable deposits; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[23588/01]
Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:
60
Mr. Durkan
asked the
Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources
if explorations have indicated deposits of gold, silver or other ores; if so, the quantity indicated; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[23590/01]
Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:
65
Mr. Durkan
asked the
Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources
if he can report new finds of oil, gas or other minerals which indicate viable deposits; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[23595/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 58, 60 and 65 together.
As I mentioned in previous replies of 8 May and 14 June to similar questions raised by the Deputy the only positive developments have been in relation to the Corrib gas field off the west coast.
Enterprise Energy Ireland declared the Corrib gas field commercial in January this year on behalf of its co-venturers, Statoil and Marathon, and have applied to me for a lease for its development and it is expected that the lease will be issued in the near future. Enterprise Energy Ireland have plans to bring the gas ashore by October 2003 and expect the field to be in production for about 15 years.
Commitments under existing licences have resulted in an increase in offshore drilling activity this year. Three exploration wells were drilled, one by Enterprise Energy Ireland Limited in the Rockall Trough, one by Statoil in the Porcupine Basin and the third by EDC (Europe) Limited in the Fastnet Basin. The results in each case were disappointing and all three wells have been plugged and abandoned.
Two pre-development wells have been drilled by Marathon in the south-west Kinsale area of the North Celtic Sea Basin. A further appraisal well was drilled by Enterprise Energy Ireland in the Corrib prospect in the Slyne Basin. An appraisal well is currently being drilled in the Seven Heads area of the North Celtic Sea Basin by Ramco Oil and Gas and, depending on the results, a further appraisal well may be drilled in that area.
I should mention that well commitments beyond 2001 only amount to between three and six for the entire Irish offshore. In addition, the number of offshore exploration licences has fallen to 13 compared to a peak of 32 in 1997 and it is expected that some more licences will be relinquished by the end of the year.
As regards non-petroleum minerals exploration, no new finds have been reported to me since I last answered a question on this subject on 14 June 2001.
Field work under existing licences was hampered over the last six months by the precautions to prevent the spread of foot and mouth disease. The restriction was eased gradually as deemed prudent and on the advice of the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development's expert group.
