Dublin 10 June 2009
Conor Lenihan T.D., Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources today commented on the announcement by Serica Energy plc relating to its drilling operations in the Slyne Basin.
Minister Lenihan said that he was encouraged to see that a new exploration play has been identified west of Ireland with the discovery of oil for the first time in the Slyne Basin and noted the licensee’s intention to actively progress its exploration programme in search of both oil and gas within its licence area.
“This is encouraging and will hopefully lead to further commercial activity within the licensed area involved” Minister Lenihan added.
ENDS
Note to editors:
Exploration well 27/4-1 was spudded on 11 May 2009 and drilled to a total depth of 1,900 metres (6,233 feet). Its objective was to test the Bandon prospect in the Slyne Basin. The well was located in 272 m of water, approximately 50 km south of the Corrib gasfield and 75 km from shore. Drilling operations, which were conducted by the Ocean Guardian semi-submersible drilling unit and included a side-track, have now been completed and the well is currently being plugged and abandoned.
Frontier Exploration Licence 1/06 was awarded on 1 December 2006 under the 2006 Slyne/Erris/Donegal frontier licensing round. UK exploration company Serica Energy (UK) Limited operates the licence with a 50% interest and is partnered by RWE Dea AG of Germany, which holds the remaining 50% interest.