Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 638 and 640, if he will detail all exploration and appraisal efforts that have been conducted in the geographical area known as the Corrib gas field; the proposals for further exploration in this area; if there are further finds or enhancements of oil or gas assets, will the Irish State find itself in the same revenue sharing position; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50437/12]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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The Corrib Gas field was discovered in 1996 under Frontier Exploration Licence 3/94 which was granted in March 1994 and surrendered in June of this year. The most recent activity on this licence was the drilling of the “Corrib North” exploration well in 2010. The well was unsuccessful as it failed to encounter hydrocarbons and was plugged and abandoned. Other than the Corrib gas field, there have been no other hydrocarbon discoveries under the licence.

In relation to the Corrib Gas field, the Corrib Partners are in receipt of a Petroleum Lease issued on 15 November 2001 pursuant to section 13 of the Petroleum and other Minerals Development Act, 1960, as amended. The duration of the Lease is 25 years but this can be extended with the agreement of the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources subject to terms and conditions, for example in circumstances such as where this were required in order to maximise production of the gas reserves. The most recent appraisal activity carried out in the geographical area of the Corrib Gas Field is an Ocean Bottom Cable Seismic Survey to further refine the understanding of the Corrib Gas reservoir. Profits from production of gas under the Corrib Petroleum Lease will be subject to corporate tax at a rate of 25%.

With regards to exploration activity generally, there are twenty exploration licences and eighteen licensing options active in the Irish offshore. Exploration activities under these authorisations are ongoing and subject to the performance of agreed work programmes including detailed reporting and the release of exploration data and evaluation reports to my Department. Details of all petroleum authorisations are published on my Department’s website on a quarterly basis and are available at the following link: