Enterprise gets thumbs down for Corrib terminal in Ireland

By OGJ editors

HOUSTON, May 1 -- Enterprise Energy Ireland Ltd. and partners Statoil ASA and Marathon International Petroleum Hibernia are huddling to determine an alternate development scheme for Corrib field after local authorities in Ireland refused them permission Wednesday to build an onshore terminal on the country's northwestern coast.

Corrib field, which contains 25 billion cu m of gas, lies 70 km off northwest Ireland in 350 m of water (OGJ Online, May 5, 2003). Several appraisal wells have been drilled on the structure since its October 1996 discovery.

Operator Enterprise planned to use subsea production installations tied back by pipeline to an onshore terminal at Bellanaboy Bridge in County Mayo. Corrib was slated to come on stream in second half 2005.