New deep-water well to be drilled off Donegal

News of a deep water exploration well to be drilled in Irish waters, by Enterprise Energy Ireland (EEI) Ltd and their partner, Agip Ireland BV, was welcomed by Marine & Natural Resources Minister Frank Fahey, T.D., today.

Commenting on EEI’s plans to assign a deepwater drillship to a prospect (FEL 2/94) approximately 100 miles off Donegal, Minister Fahey said “this is the second prospect to be drilled in deep water off the Irish coast by EEI and will further enhance our knowledge of the prospectivity of the Frontier Area”.

EEI announced yesterday evening that they have signed a letter of intent with Smedvig, the operators of the “West Navion” drillship, one of the worlds largest and most advanced drillships, to assign the ship to a deep water exploration well c.100 miles west of Donegal. The prospect is in a water depth approximately one mile deep. The drill period is estimated at 42 days and is scheduled to commence early in the 2002 drilling season.

Minister Fahey added, “I wish Enterprise Energy Ireland, who have already demonstrated their ongoing commitment to prospecting in Irish waters, well in their endeavours".

ENDS.

For further information, please contact:
Tom McLoughlin
Press Officer
Department of the Marine and Natural Resources
Leeson Lane
Dublin 2
Tel: 353-(0)1-619-9662
Fax: 353-(0)1-676-6161