The terms of reference for the second and more detailed Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) research are currently being drawn up by a steering group, which includes representatives from the EPA, Department of Environment, Community and Local Government, Department of Environment, Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland Environment Agency, Commission for Energy Regulation, An Bord Pleanála and my Department including the Office of the Geological Survey of Ireland. The objectives of this further research are to:
- establish if shale gas exploration and extraction involving the use of the fracking technique can be carried out in a manner that will not cause significant environmental pollution.
- identify all possible environmental risks associated with the fracking technique and to ascertain if these risks are manageable and,
- identify best practice with respect to environmental protection for the use of the hydraulic fracturing technique for the exploration and extraction of shale gas.
It is anticipated that following the engagement of the relevant experts, the study will take in excess of twelve months to complete, leading to a potential publication date in 2014.
In February 2011, onshore petroleum licensing options were awarded to Tamboran Resources PTY Ltd (over parts of counties Cavan, Leitrim and Sligo); Lough Allen Natural Gas Company Ltd (over parts of counties Cavan, Leitrim, Roscommon and Sligo) and Enegi Oil plc (over parts of County Clare). All three were granted for a two-year period commencing on 1st March 2011 and ending on 28th February 2013. These Licensing Options are preliminary authorisations and the agreed work programmes allow the companies assess the petroleum potential of the acreage largely based on studies of existing data. The only works authorised by my Department are the work programmes relating to these three Licensing Options.
For information, Licensing Options are not exploration authorisations and no applications have been made to date proposing the use of hydraulic fracturing in exploration drilling. As I previously stated the use of hydraulic fracturing in exploration drilling will not be authorised until there has been time to consider the second stage of the EPA research.
