Europa’s eureka

By: 
Liamy MacNally - MayoNews

Major Inishkea gas find, but who will benefit?

Seven years ago in this column I wrote about a 2006 Government Indecon report that claimed there is a minimum of 10 billion barrels of oil (and gas) off our shores. Work it out. At $70 a barrel, it would more than pay for the bank bailout debt that was unfairly pressed upon Irish citizens. And we would still have a lot of change.
There has been a major gas find off the Mayo coast, bigger than Corrib. The UK-based Europa Oil & Gas (Holdings) PLC ‘has elected to fast track an ongoing technical work programme following positive results’ from their flagship project in Ireland, the Inishkea prospects in the Slyne basin near the Corrib gas field.
All going well the drilling will start in 2020.
A Europa newsletter, dated March 14, 2018, available on www.europaoil.com, states:
“We believe 2.5 tcf [trillion cubic feet] of undiscovered Gas Initially In Place (GIIP) is likely to translate into commercially significant prospective resources. We understand that the recovery factor at the Corrib field is ~ 80 percent.
“Water depths are comparatively shallow (400-600m) and do not require harsh environment sixth generation drillships therefore drill costs are lower. We have recently conducted a drill cost estimate for a well on the Inishkea prospect and dry hole cost including mob and demob is US$28 million using a prevailing rig rate of US$120,000 per day.
“Gas infrastructure is already present nearby at Corrib therefore a fast track path to commercialisation is potentially available, subject to negotiation and cooperation with the infrastructure owners. Gas is likely to be a significant component of Ireland’s future energy needs both for electricity generation and domestic and industrial heating.”

Posted Date: 
28 March 2018
Link: 

http://www.mayonews.ie/comment-opinion/de-facto/31821-europa-s-eureka

Corrib gas campaigner continues latest stage of 17 year campaign with High Court action

By: 
Ann O'Loughlin - BreakingNews.ie

A campaigner against the Shell Corrib gas project in Co Mayo has urged the High Court to quash a ministerial consent for a pipeline bringing gas to a refinery at Ballinaboy.


Maura Harrington at the High Court yesterday. Picture: Courtpix

From the time of her first submission in May 2001 to Mayo County Council concerning the project, and despite not being able to argue every facet of what later took place, “I knew what was at stake”, Maura Harrington said.

She had recognised, from "day one", the entire project was “a land, sea and air attack on the place that is Erris”.

The case by Ms Harrington, representing herself, and opposed by four senior counsel representing the State and Shell, opened on Tuesday before Mr Justice Michael McGrath.

Posted Date: 
13 February 2018
Link: 

https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/corrib-gas-campaigner-continues-late...

Event Notice: Judicial Review of consent to operate the Corrib Gas pipeline

A Judicial Review of then Minister Alex White's decision to grant consent to Shell, 29 December 2015, to operate the Corrib Gas pipeline begins in the High Court on Tuesday, 13 February.

The hearing is scheduled to last for four days. Shell to Sea spokesperson Maura Harrington is the sole Applicant in the hearing and is representing herself as a lay litigant. The application is contested by the State as Respondents and Shell as Notice Party in the proceedings.

Date: 
13 February 2018 - 10:30am - 16 February 2018 - 4:00pm

'A historic day': Ireland on a path to being the 4th country in the world to ban fossil fuel exploration

By: 
Christina Finn - TheJournal.ie

Costa Rica, Belize and France have already implemented similar measures to end oil activity in their waters.

THE GOVERNMENT HAS lost a vote on proposed legislation which would place a ban on fossil fuel exploration off the Irish coast.

The Bill secured the support of 78 TDs, with 48 voting against it. It will now proceed to Committee Stage in the Oireachtas, despite the government’s opposition.

Solidarity-People Before Profit’s Petroleum and Other Minerals Development (Amendment) Climate Emergency Measures Bill aims to stop the issuing of any new licences for the exploration of fossil fuels.

Costa Rica, Belize and France have already implemented similar measures.

The Bill sets out that the government must:

  • Ensure regard is had to national and global environmental considerations when issuing licences, undertakings and leases under the Petroleum and Other Minerals Development Act 1960

These considerations include:

  • The annual average global temperature, the monthly mean level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere

With the support of the Green Party, Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin, Labour, and Independents 4 Change (and pop superstar Cher who tweeted her support) it passed, meaning Ireland is now on the path to become the fourth country in the world to implement a ban on the exploration of fossil fuels.

Posted Date: 
8 February 2018
Link: 

https://www.thejournal.ie/fossil-fuels-3839453-Feb2018/

Move to ban issuing of fossil fuel exploration licences in Ireland

By: 
Kevin O'Sullivan

[Shell to Sea] Amazing to see that Fianna Fáil are supporting a bill to ban the issuing of fossil fuel exploration licences in Ireland. 

Solidarity-People Before Profit Bill to go before Dáil

 
People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett: ‘We have to keep 80 per cent of all known fossil fuels in the ground if we are to have any chance of fighting climate change.’ File Photograph: Reuters

A move to ban the issuing of fossil fuel exploration licences in Ireland features in a proposed Bill to be put before the Dáil by Solidarity-People Before Profit.

The Bill’s backers hope the level of cross-party support achieved last year, which resulted in a ban on fracking in Ireland, will be secured for their proposed legislation.

The Petroleum and Other Minerals Development (Amendment) Climate Emergency Measures Bill 2018 is due to be debated during Private Members Time on Wednesday.

Posted Date: 
7 February 2018
Link: 

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/move-to-ban-issuing-of-fossil-f...

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