MARATHON TO BOOST E&D SPENDING OFF IRELAND

Marathon Petroleum Ireland Ltd. has outlined a significant program of upstream capital spending related to offshore exploration and gas production in Ireland. The company plans to drill seven exploratory wells and shoot at least 4,000 line km of seismic during the 5 year period that ends Dec. 31, 1996. In addition, it will install compression in Kinsale producing gas field to produce another 120 bcf of natural gas. The program's announcement follows lengthy negotiations between Marathon and