Dublin, 23 March 2006
The Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Noel Dempsey T.D., today announced that five applications had been received for Frontier Exploration Licences in the Frontier Sylne/Erris/Donegal Licensing Round by the close of the deadline at 12.00 noon on Wednesday 15th March. These applications are now under consideration within the Department.
The Minister was pleased with the number of applications and the number of blocks applied for – 6 full and 10 part blocks (see attached map) - and saw this as being due to a number of factors including the industry’s confidence and commitment to exploration offshore Ireland, the current high energy prices and the work of the Department in promoting exploration offshore Ireland.
The Minister hoped the outcome of the Round would lead to the discovery and development of new hydrocarbon resources and reduce Ireland’s present high level of dependency on imported energy. The five applications received were from four companies, applying for various blocks in the licensing area. The applications received were:
1. Statoil Exploration (Ireland) Limited with Shell E. & P, Ireland Limited as a partner.
2. Serica Energy (UK) Ltd.
3. Island Oil & Gas plc with Lundin Exploration BV and Endeavour Energy (UK) Ltd. as partners.
4. Island Oil & Gas plc with Lundin Exploration BV and Endeavour Energy (UK) Ltd as partners.
5. Grianan Energy Ltd.
ENDS
Slyne-Erris-Donegal Map 