Last January, the Department of Energy extended an exploration licence for the Iniskea prospect, adjoining the Corrib gasfield, off the north Co Mayo coast. [1] In 2019, the Government had approved Europa’s application to convert their Iniskea Licensing Option (16/20) to an active Frontier Exploration Licence (FEL 4/19). Europa Oil & Gas (Holdings) plc is a United Kingdom-based oil and gas exploration and production company. [2]
The Iniskea field is located in the Slyne basin off the coast of Mayo. The Corrib Field is situated in the Northern Slyne Basin. [3] [4] The Iniskea licence is 100% owned by Europa. Inishkea is regarded as their flagship prospect in Ireland. [5] The Iniskea field lies northwest of, and abuts, the producing Corrib gas field in the Corrib Field Petroleum Lease Area. [6] Europa Oil & Gas claims the Inishkea gasfield is potentially bigger than Corrib keeping the adjoining Bellanaboy gas terminal open until 2050 – long past the scheduled closure date of 2030-2035. [7]
In addition to Inishkea, the license holds the Corrib North geological structure containing the 18/20-7 gas discovery well drilled by Shell in 2010. [8] The producing Corrib field was discovered by Enterprise Oil, then purchased by Shell Plc. [9] The Inishkea and Corrib North gas discoveries are regarded as seperate wtth Corrib North requiring more study. [10]Europa has identified a wide range of gas initially in place in the Corrib North discovery which may be commercially viable. North could have significant short term value. [11]
Europa believes the Inishkea prospect could produce as much as 1.5 trillion cubic feet of gas, and has a one-in-three chance of success. [12] Europa identified a wide range of gas initially in place in Corrib North, subject to favorable outcome, it would be possible to upgrade to begin exploration in the future. [14] The original Corrib gas project is a gas deposit located in the Atlantic Ocean, 83 kilometres off the coast of Mayo. The infrastructure includes a natural gas pipeline and an onshore gas processing facility. Gas production started in 2015. [15]
The Corrib Gas project development had attracted considerable opposition, both locally and nationally. The Corrib field is currently Ireland's only domestic source of natural gas production.
[16] The Iniskea gas field lies 18 Kilometres north from the operating Corrib gas field. The Europa company will use the existing Bellanaboy terminal if successful in exploring the resource. [17]
The 2021 programme for government contained a commitment to end the issuing of new licences for the exploration and extraction of natural gas. [18] This promise was placed on a statutory basis with the 2021 Climate Act which banned exploration in Irish waters. [19]
Sources:
[1] Green Party accused of facilitating fossil fuel expansion as
exploration licence off west coast extended - Irish Times, 1st February, 2024
FEL 4/19 Licence Extension Approval, Europa OIl & Gas -
[2] Ireland: Europa Oil & Gas converts Inishkea into
frontier exploration license - August 7, 2019, Offshore Energy Today
Europa Oil & Gas (Holdings) PLC - Financial Times
[3] Irish Atlantic Margin - Europa Oil & Gas
[4] Slyne-Erris Trough - Wikipedia
[5] Irish Atlantic Margin - Europa Oil & Gas
[6] Ireland: Europa Oil & Gas converts Inishkea into frontier exploration license -
August 7, 2019, by Offshore Energy Today
[7] Green Party accused of facilitating fossil fuel expansion as
exploration licence off west coast extended - Irish Times, 1st February, 2024
[8] Irish Atlantic Margin - Europa Oil & Gas
[9] Slyne-Erris Trough - Wikipedia
[10] Irish Atlantic Margin - Europa Oil & Gas
[11] Irish Atlantic Margin - Europa Oil & Gas
Corrib North appraisal revives Irish gas development prospects -
Offshore Magazine - November 1st, 1998
[12] Ireland: Europa Oil & Gas
converts Inishkea into frontier exploration license
Offshore Energy Today - August 7, 2019
[13] Slyne-Erris Trough - Wikipedia
[14] Ireland: Europa Oil & Gas
converts Inishkea into frontier exploration license -
Offshore Energy Today August 7, 2019
[15] Corrib gas project - Wikipedia
[16] Corrib gas project - Wikipedia
[17] Extension of exploration licence for Mayo gas field sought - Connaught Telegraph Tuesday 3rd October 2023
[18] p.36. Programme for Government Our Shared Future
Green Party accused of facilitating fossil fuel expansion as exploration
licence off west coast extended - Irish Times, 1st February, 2024
[19] Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021