13 licences granted for offshore exploration The minister for communications,
energy and natural resources, pat rabbitte, has announced new licences for gas
and oil exploration off ireland's coasts. 13 licences have been granted for the
Rockall, Slyne, and Porcupine basins. Minister rabbitte said that the state does
not have the resources to fund the exploration and he has rejected claims that
ireland's
alluenasche licensing scheme is
excessively generous. It is expected that exploration could
ralph lauren
outlet start immediately. A total of 12 companies are involved in the 13
awards.The companies involved include both new entrants to ireland, together
with companies already active
alhlunusa in the irish offshore.
The seven new companies that will be offered acreage are antrim energy, luestack
energy, europa oil gas, first oil expro, petrel resources, repsol exploration
and two seas oil gas.The five companies already active in ireland are providence
resources, chrysaor, serica energy, sosina exploration and san leon energy.
"Ireland needs to see an increase in exploration activity and exploration
drilling in particular, if the petroleum potential of our offshore is to be
realised,"Commented minister rabbitte. "Ireland must continue to communicate the
message to international exploration companies that ireland is open for business
and that the irish offshore has real potential,"He added. The licence options
are for a twoyear period during which time the 12 companies which won them will
have to complete an agreed work programme.Only 14 wells have been drilled in
ireland's offshore since 2000.
