Corrib gas controversy

The Corrib gas controversy concerns plans by Shell E&P Ireland, Statoil Exploration (Ireland) Limited, Vermilion Energy Trust and the Irish government for processing the Corrib gas field through Broadhaven and Sruth Fada Conn Bays in Kilcommon parish, Erris, County Mayo, and objections raised against those plans.

The Corrib gas project entails the extraction of a natural gas deposit off the northwest coast of Ireland. The project includes extraction of the Corrib gas field and construction of the natural gas pipeline and a gas processing plant. The project is controlled by Shell E&P Ireland as operator of the project, in co-operation with Statoil Exploration (Ireland) Limited, and the Vermilion Energy Trust.

The deepwater exploration licence No. 2/93 for 11 years, covering four blocks in the Slyne Trough, was granted on 1 January 1993 to Enterprise Oil. The licence was issued under the licensing terms for offshore oil and gas exploration and development 1992. The Corrib natural gas field was discovered in 1996. It was the first reported commercial natural gas discovery in Ireland since the Kinsale Head gas field was discovered in 1973. The first appraisal well was drilled in 1997. A number of consents and approvals to develop the Corrib Project were issued in 2001.

In 2002, Enterprise Oil was acquired by Royal Dutch Shell who took over the operatorship of the project. Development of the project began in 2004.

Worries about the nature of the Corrib deal prompted calls for an inquiry as early as 2001.

There have been several concerns put forward about the project, ranging from public opposition to environmental and political groups raising concerns.

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Wikipedia