Written answers
Tuesday, 12 October 2010
Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources
Energy Resources
9:00 am
Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 493: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his Department has an inventory of all known oil and gas fields, both on and off-shore, on Irish territory; if he will supply this information, including the exploration rights that are in place for any of these fields; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36001/10]
Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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There have been a number of discoveries of oil and gas in the Irish Offshore in recent years, however none of these has been declared commercial to date. The only recent petroleum discovery that has been declared commercial but has yet to go into production is the Corrib Gas Field.
The table below details all significant hydrocarbon discoveries on and off-shore Ireland. The table includes details of petroleum authorisations currently in place along with details of the original discovery authorisation. Full details of petroleum authorisations are published on the Department's website on a regular basis.
| Discovery Name | Hydrocarbon Type | Status | Current Authorisation | Current Operator | Discovery Year | Discovery Well | Original Well Operator | Original Authorisation |
| Bandon | Oil | Under assessment | EL1/06 | Serica Energy | 2009 | 27/4-1,1z | Serica Energy | EL1/06 |
| Hook Head | Oil | Under assessment | EL2/07 | Providence Resources | 2007(Initially identified 1971) | 50/11-3 | Providence Resources | EL2/07 |
| Schull | Gas | Under assessment | EL5/05 | Island Oil and Gas | 2007(Initially identified 1987) | 57/2-3 | Island Oil and Gas | EL5/05 |
| Old Head of Kinsale | Gas | Under assessment | EL4/05 | Island Oil and Gas | 2006 | 49/23-1 | Island Oil and Gas | EL4/05 |
| Dooish | Gas Condensate | Under assessment | EL2/94 | Shell | 2002 | 12/2-1 | Enterprise Energy Ireland | EL2/94 |
| Corrib | Gas | Undergoing development | Corrib Lease | Shell | 1996 | 18/20-1 | Enterprise Oil | EL3/94 |
| Ballycotton | Gas | In production | PL01 | PSE Kinsale Energy | 1989 | 48/20-2 | Marathon | PL01 |
| Dunmore | Oil | Under assessment | EL2/07 | Providence Resources | 1985 | 50/6-1 | Gulf | EL5/82 |
| Galley Head | Gas | Under assessment | EL5/07 | Lansdowne Oil and Gas | 1985 | 48/18-1 | BP | EL6/82 |
| Helvick | Oil | Under assessment | EL2/07 | Providence Resources | 1983 | 49/9-2 | Gulf | EL2/81 |
| Spanish Point | Gas Condensate | Under assessment | EL2/04 | Providence Resources | 1981 | 35/8-2 | Phillips | EL7/76 |
| Connemara | Oil | Under assessment | EL1/04 | Island Oil and Gas | 1979 | 26/28-1 | BP | EL4/76 |
| Key Discoveries Offshore and Onshore Ireland (Fields that are producing or undergoing development are highlighted in Bold) | ||||||||
| Discovery Name | Hydrocarbon Type | Status | Current Authorisation | Current Operator | Discovery Year | Discovery Well | Original Well Operator | Original Authorisation |
| Burren | Oil | Under assessment | EL2/04 | Providence Resources | 1978 | 35/8-1 | Phillips | EL7/76 |
| Ardmore | Gas | Under assessment | EL2/07 | Providence Resources | 1974 | 49/14-1 | Marathon | PL10 |
| Barryroe | Oil | Under assessment | LO08/1 | Lansdowne Oil and Gas | 1973 | 48/24-1 | Esso | PL08 |
| Seven Heads | Gas | In production | Seven Heads Gas Lease | PSE Seven Heads | 1973 | 48/24-1 | Esso | PL08 |
| Kinsale Head | Gas | In production | PL01 | PSE Kinsale Energy | 1971 | 48/25-2 | Marathon | PL01 |
| Dowra | Gas | Not in licensed acreage | Not in licensed acreage | 1963 | Dowra-1 | Ambassador Irish Oil Company |
Colm Finlay
Posted on 8 Dec 2010 10:47 pm (Report this comment)
Who selected the original well operators and what were the terms and conditions offered?
Also can someone tell me where and when discussions with exploration firms take place?