Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 October 2004
44 Mr. Kehoe asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will report on recent findings or developments in regard to oil, gas or other mineral explorations on or off shore; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25812/04]
Amharc ar fhreagra126 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the outcome in respect of recent oil, gas or other mineral exploration on or off shore; the degree to which commercial viable prospects exist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25938/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 44 and 126 together.
With regard to oil and gas exploration, one exploration well was drilled this year by Providence Resources plc on the Blackrock prospect off the south coast. The well did not yield any significant shows of hydrocarbons and the well was plugged and abandoned as a dry hole.
The Dooish exploration well, which was drilled in 2002 by Enterprise Energy Ireland — now Shell E & P Ireland — off the Donegal coast and which discovered a hydrocarbon accumulation, was re-entered and deepened in 2003. Both my Department and Shell E and P are continuing 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 the possibility for any commercial development can be accurately assessed.
No new economic deposits of non-petroleum minerals have been discovered in recent years. There have been some encouraging results, however. Exploration adjacent to existing base metal mines at Navan, County Meath, Tara Mines Ltd., and Galmoy, County Kilkenny, Arcon Mines Ltd., has discovered additional resources, which have the potential to extend the life of those mines. A good zinc prospect area near Pallas Green, County Limerick, also has the potential to host an economic deposit and exploration is continuing. The acid test of commerciality with any new discovery is that having made a find, the explorationist is then prepared to invest in planning for mining and so makes the necessary applications for permits to me, to the relevant local authority and to the EPA.
New exploration is continuously undertaken as part of my requirements to holders of prospecting licences, of which there were 284 current at the end of September 2004.
