Vol. 574 No. 1
334 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the position on exploration for oil, gas or other minerals; the extent to which positive results have emerged in recent times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26580/03]
At present six petroleum exploration licences and nine licensing options are held in respect of offshore exploration. Two onshore petroleum exploration licences are held.
One exploration well at Dooish was completed this year and one at Cong is being drilled. Last year Enterprise Energy Ireland drilled an exploration well at Dooish, off the Donegal coast and a hydrocarbon accumulation was discovered. The well was re-entered and deepened this summer. On 11 May drilling commenced and the well was plugged after a substantial gas condensate column was confirmed. On 30 July the rig was moved off-site. Both my Department and Shell-EEI will continue to analyse the well results and integrate them with other data from the area. Further technical work on the prospect will be required before the size of the gas condensate accumulation and commercial viability can be accurately assessed. This well is only the second to be drilled in the Rockall Basin. It is extremely encouraging to make a significant discovery at the site. My Department has emphasised the positive implications of its discovery for prospecting in the area.
At present the Cong exploration well is being drilled in the Erris Basin, approximately 60 km off the Mayo coast and some 20 km north-east of the Corrib gas field. Statoil began drilling the well on 5 August.
In Ireland this year three seismic surveys have been carried out off the west coast. One of them was abandoned following damage to equipment. The results of the surveys are not yet available due to the highly technical processing required for this type of data.
With regard to non-petroleum minerals, I refer the Deputy to my reply to a similar Question No. 175 on 11 June. The position has not changed since then.
