John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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22. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide the details of an oil find by Statoil in 1997 in the Connemara field; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45049/13]

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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The Connemara Oil Field is located in Block 26/28 in the Porcupine Basin, approximately 165 km offshore the west of Ireland, and was discovered by BP in 1979. In 1997, as part of a planned full field development for the Connemara Field, Statoil Exploration Ireland Limited drilled two appraisal wells on the field. The first well was aimed at testing the main reservoir sands of Upper Jurassic, Oxfordian age. The second well was drilled to test the stratigraphically higher sandstone reservoir of Upper Jurassic, Portlandian age.

The results of the appraisal programme did not meet expectations. The first well revealed poorer reservoir characteristics than anticipated and also encountered low flow rates together with rapid declining well pressure and slow pressure build-up. The second well encountered a thinner than expected Portlandian reservoir and consequently, was not tested.

On the basis of the results of the appraisal programme the wells were plugged and abandoned and Statoil decided not to proceed with the development of the Connemara Field. Statoil relinquished the Connemara Field acreage in October 1999.