asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if, as reported, he has yet granted six more non-exclusive licences for off-shore exploration; and if, in so doing, he has outlined Government policy in the matter of State participation, royalties, taxes, etc. in relation to this country's mineral and energy resources.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Exploration Licences.
29.
Notices have recently been published of my intention to grant in all 12 non-exclusive petroleum prospecting licences. No licence has yet issued in any of these cases but the question of Government policy in regard to State participation, royalties and taxes will not arise as non-exclusive licences do not authorise production of petroleum nor do they involve any undertaking that exclusive exploration or production facilities will be given to the licensee.
Do I interpret the Minister correctly as saying that these people will accept licences without knowing under what terms they may prospect if they so wish? Again, if I am interpreting the Minister's reply correctly, this means that they look for licences in the knowledge that they will not operate them anyhow?
I think the Deputy does not appreciate the distinction to be drawn between non-exclusive and exclusive licences. We have many overlapping non-exclusive licences which imply no guarantee to the company in regard to future exclusive licence.
That is exactly what I am trying to ask the Minister. Do non-exclusive licences mean anything, since the people who hold them have no knowledge, nor do they seek any knowledge, of what terms will be applied if they do carry out any exploration, whereas the exclusive licence has written into it a period within which exploration work must continue and that would necessarily mean they would have to be told under what terms they could operate? In other words, the non-exclusive licences to which the Minister referred mean nothing?
If they mean nothing it is surprising that so many companies have applied for them and continue to do so.
The remaining questions must appear on tomorrow's Order Paper unless the House wishes to dispose of the remaining three to the Minister in question. No objection by Deputy J. Lynch?
No.
All right, then, Question No. 30.
I presume the Chair will be reasonably lenient with us as regards supplementaries?
The Chair will be fair, as always.
30.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the number and names of companies and consortia holding licences from the State in respect of offshore exploration for minerals, oil and gas; and the number of these that are at present actually carrying out exploration work.
The particulars requested are contained in a statement which I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to circulate with the Official Report. Following is the statement:
Offshore Petroleum (Oil and Gas) Exploration
Holder of Exclusive Exploration Licence (1):
Marathon Petroleum Ireland Limited.
Holders of Non-Exclusive Prospecting Licences (60):
1. Trend Exploration Ltd.,
2. Bralorne Exploration (UK) Ltd.,
3. BP Petroleum Development Ltd.,
4. Société National des Petroles d'Aquitaine,
5. Esso Exploration Inc.,
6. Shell Internationale Petroleum Maatschappij B.V.,
7. Hugh A. Hawthorne,
8. Canadian Export Gas and Oil Ltd.,
9. Enterprise de Recherches et d'Activités Pétroliéres,
10. Delta Exploration Inc.,
11. Weeks Natural Resources Ireland Limited,
12. Hibernian Oil and Gas Ltd.,
13. ARCO Oil Producing Inc.,
14. Continental Oil Co. of Ireland Ltd.,
15. Hunt International Petroleum Company of Ireland, and Celtic Oil Ltd., (jointly).
16. Invent Incorporated,
17. Kilroy Company of Texas Inc.,
18. Oil and Gas Exploration Ltd.,
19. Chevron Overseas Petroleum Inc.,
20. Great Basins Petroleum Ltd.,
21. Shannon Exploration Company,
22. Tricentrol North Sea Ltd.,
23. Chieftain Development Co. Ltd.,
24. Whiterabbit Resources Ltd.,
25. Texaco International Petroleum Co.
26. Clinton International Corporation,
27. Oceanic Exploration Co.,
28. Zapata Exploration Co.,
29. Ranger Oil (Canada) Ltd.,
30. Ashland Oil Incorporated,
31. Shenandoah Oil Corporation,
32. Transworld International Petroleum Company Inc.,
33. United Western Oil & Gas Ltd.,
34. Canada North West Land Ltd.,
35. Island Oil and Mining Co. Ltd.,
36. Berry Wiggins & Co. Ltd.,
37. AGIP S.P.A.,
38. Amoco Ireland Exploration Company,
39. Irish Ventures Limited.
40. Pennzoil Company Ireland,
41. Forest Oil Ireland Corporation,
42. Challenger Oil Gas Company,
43. Oakland Corporation, Jones-O'Brien Inc., W.J. O'Brien Jnr. and Richard Brewer (Jointly),
44. Ball and Collins (Ireland) Limited,
45. Vitol Exploration B.V.,
46. North Sea-Cities Service Petroleum Corporation,
47. Western Geophysical Company of America,
48. Kenmare Oil Exploration Limited,
49. Newmont Oil Company International,
50. Irish Sun Oil Company,
51. Texas Pacific Oil Co. Inc., and Diamond North Sea Company (Jointly),
52. C & K Petroleum, Inc.,
53. Oakwood Petroleums (U.K.) Limited,
54. SS (M) Ltd.,
55. Gelsenberg AG and Deutsche Schachtbau-und Tiefbohr GmBH, and N.V. Nederlandse Staatsmijnen, and Jointly Preussag AG, and VEBA—Chemie AG, and Wintershall AG
56. Enjay Irish Holdings, Ltd.,
57. Canada Geothermal Oil, Ltd.,
58. Kissinger Petroleums Corporation,
59. Bryce Cameron Consultants Ltd.,
60. Philips Petroleum Company Ireland.
The exclusive licence holder is actively engaged in exploration work including the drilling of wells.
In practice, operations under non-exclusive licences involve only seismic or other survey work in the licensed area and interpretation of the resulting data. The extent to which particular licensees are actively engaged in such work at present would therefore vary according to their circumstances.
Minerals other than Petroleum
No licences have been granted to explore for minerals other than petroleum in Ireland's Continental Shelf area.
31.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if, in granting offshore oil exploration licences or inland mineral exploration licences, it is Government policy to give preference to Irish companies or companies with Irish participants.
Applicants for exclusive facilities in our offshore waters will be judged primarily on their competence, on technical, financial and other grounds, to undertake an effective and substantial programme of exploration work, including the drilling of a number of wells, in the licensed area within the time limits which will be specified in the licence, and to carry it through to the production stage where commercially exploitable oil or gas finds are made. Irish applicants and applications with an element of Irish participation will, like all others, be judged on this basis.
The Deputy may take it that, where all other things are equal, preference could be given to groups which have a worthwhile Irish content, public or private. But a great deal would depend on the nature of this Irish participation.