Western Europe: Ireland

WESTERN EUROPE

North Sea portions written by Arthur Andersen-Petroleum Services Group, London

Ireland

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Drilling / exploration. There has been no licensing activity in the Irish offshore sector. Three exploration wells and two appraisals were spudded over the past 12 months. Two of the wells were drilled in the Porcupine basin, with the remaining three in the North Celtic Sea basin, Fasnet basin and the Rockall Trough.

During the year, just one Irish exploration well was completed. Enterprise’s 5/22-1 was drilled in the relatively unexplored northern part of the Rockall Trough. The well was drilled to investigate the Errigal prospect in the Tertiary, but failed to find hydrocarbons.

Development / production. The South West Kinsale field, developed as a single subsea tieback to the Kinsale Head facilities, came onstream in October 1999 and added 30 Bcf gas. The overall production rate for Kinsale Head, including SW Kinsale, in 2001 is planned at 100 MMcfd gas.

Providence Resources plans to develop Helvick oil field in Block 49/9, which was to form a joint development with the Ardmore gas discovery in 49/14, but the Ardmore gas field proved unfeasible to produce. Helvick is expected to come onstream in 2003, with reserves of 9 MMbbl oil. The discovery of Corrib, located in the Slyne Trough, was successfully appraised during 1998 and has now been declared commercial. The field is thought to have 1 Tcf gas.

At Corrib gas field offshore Ireland, Enterprise Oil drilled two further appraisals. One well tested in excess of 60 MMcfgd, and the second flowed more than 30 MMcfgd. Four wells drilled to date at Corrib have been suspended as future producers. (Photo courtesy of Enterprise Oil)