Offshore staff
DUBLIN, Ireland – Following a legal challenge, Providence Resources subsidiary EXOLA has opted to postpone planned well site survey operations at the Barryroe oil field, 50 km (31 mi) offshore southern Ireland.
An Taisce – the National Trust for Ireland – applied for a judicial review of the program which had been approved by the country’s Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment (DCCAE), challenging the legality of the approval.
EXOLA and its partners have advised the DCCAE of their decision.
The company had secured permission for the survey operations, ahead of a next phase of appraisal drilling at Barryroe, on Oct. 8, 2018 by the Minister, and Gardline’sOcean Observer was due to conduct the program during the current quarter.
An Taisce’s challenge relates to the process by which permission for the well site survey had been granted by the Minister, also raising issues connected to environmental assessment and compliance with EU law.
EXOLA will now apply to the Minister for permission to carry out well site survey activities as early as possible next year, hopefully during spring, with drilling at Barryroe now scheduled for 3Q 2019.
11/30/2018
