Irish media have reported that Exxon Mobil was due to start exploration drilling offshore the country's coast this weekend.
Eirik Raude (Image: Ocean Rig)The Irish Examiner said the $140m drilling programme was due to start today (Saturday) with daily rates at an estimated $1million.
ExxonMobil is exploring for gas and oil off the south- west coast with its first well being a deep-water exploration on the Dunquin prospect (Frontier Exploration Licence 3/04) in 1.6km of water in the Porcupine Basin, 200km off the coast.
Work is expected to take 90 to 120 days using Ocean Rig’s semi-submersible unit the Eirik Raude.
ExxonMobil has a 27.5% share of the prospect and its partners are Eni (27.5%), Repsol (25%), Irish firm Providence (16%), and Sosina (4%).
The licence area contains the Dunquin prospects South and North. According to Sosina, they contain reserves of 156m barrels of oil and 160m barrels of oil respectively.
Sosina also estimate that Dunquin South contains 4.4tn cu ft of gas and that Dunquin North contains 4tn cu ft.
The results of the drill programme will be eagerly awaited by the other players hoping to drill in the Porcupine basin.
The Department of Transport has advised all vessels, particularly fishing trawlers, are requested to give the Eirik Raude a wide berth.
