Corrib gas project
| Corrib gas field | |
|---|---|
| Country | Ireland |
| Region | Slyne Trough basin |
| Location | west of the Mullet Peninsula |
| Block | 18/20; 18/25 |
| Offshore/onshore | offshore |
| Operator | Shell E&P Ireland |
| Partners |
Royal Dutch Shell (45%) Statoil (36.5%) Vermilion Energy Trust (18.5%) |
| Field history | |
| Discovery | 1996 |
| Start of development | 2004 |
| Production | |
| Estimated gas in place | 1,000×109 cu ft (28×109 m3) |
| Recoverable gas | 594×109 cu ft (16.8×109 m3) |
| Producing formations | Triassic Sandstones |
The Corrib gas project (Irish: Tionscanamh Ghás Aiceanta na Coiribe) entails the extraction of a natural gas deposit off the northwest coast of Ireland. The project includes a development of the Corrib gas field, and constructions of the natural gas pipeline and a gas processing plant. The project has attracted considerable opposition.
The deepwater exploration licence No. 2/93 covering four blocks in the Slyne Trough was granted on 1 January 1993 for a period of 11 years to Enterprise Oil and its partners Saga Petroleum Ireland Limited, Statoil Exploration (Ireland) Limited, and Marathon International Petroleum Hibernia Limited. 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 1971. 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, but it was delayed in 2005 when locals opposed the project. Shell announced the suspension of the project to facilitate further discussions with opposing parties. For a year, independent safety reviews were conducted to address various safety concerns in relation to the project.
In 1999, Saga Petroleum became a part of a Norsk Hydro and in 2007 a part of Statoil. In July 2009, Vermilion Energy acquired Marathon Oil's stake in the project.
Royal Dutch Shell proposed to develop the Corrib field as a sub-sea production facility with onshore processing. This method of development is claimed by Shell to be in line with best industry practice for gas fields of this type. The project includes development of offshore operations including the wells and subsea facilities, construction of offshore and onshore pipelines, and construction of onshore processing plant at Bellanaboy.
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