By the OGJ Online Staff
HOUSTON, Aug. 16 -- Enterprise Oil PLC, London, has agreed to sell 60% of its share of gas from Corrib field off the west coast of Ireland to trading arm of Bord Gáis Éireann, the state-owned gas company.
Enterprise operates Corrib field with 45% interest. First gas is anticipated from the field in the second half of 2003. Plateau of 8.9 million cu m/day of gas is expected the next year.
Enterprise said it is discussing terms with other major gas users to place the remainder of its share into the Irish market. All gas from Corrib will go to Ireland.
Earlier this year, partners in the field had asked the European Commission to allow them to jointly market Corrib gas for the first 5 years to counterbalance the purchasing power of Bord Gáis Éireann and Electricity Supply Board.
They withdrew the application because the EC determined the Irish customer-base power market is likely to continue its rapid growth, offering potential sales outlets for gas suppliers (OGJ Online, Apr. 20, 2001).
Recently, the Mayo County Council granted planning permission for the partners in the field to build an onshore terminal at Bellanaboy bridge to process gas from Corrib. The planning permission is subject to appeal for one month.
In June, the partners said they awarded ASI Corrib Joint Venture -- a joint venture between AMEC Capital Projects Ltd., SIAC Construction Ltd., and IIF Process Mechanical & Electrical Contractors -- the design, engineering, procurement, construction, and commissioning of the onshore gas terminal (OGJ Online, June 12, 2001).
Enterprise also said that in July, it and coventurers Statoil Exploration (Ireland) Ltd. (36.5%) and Marathon International Petroleum Hibernian Ltd. (18.5%) completed an appraisal well that tested at 30 MMcfd.
This is the fifth appraisal well drilled since the discovery in 1996.