Case Study: Impact-Oil, Natural Gas Exploration-Irish Waters

• 1. In the 1970s, the Irish government began granting licences for oil and gas exploration in Irish waters. The government divided areas of sea off the coast of Ireland into blocks. These blocks are rented to oil and gas exploration companies, which carry out rock studies to find out if there is any oil or gas - called hydrocarbons - present. If the studies are successful, test holes are drilled to see how much oil or gas is contained in the area.
• 2. Waterford oil field

  A small deposit of oil was found off the coast of Waterford in 1971, but the cost of drilling and bringing the oil onshore was too expensive.
• 3. Kinsale Gas Field

  Kinsale Head gas field was discovered in 1971. The gas was transported to shore through an underwater pipeline. This gas field was exhausted in 2020.
• A number of multinational companies, including Shell, released plans to build a pipeline to transport gas from the field to an onshore processing terminal in Bellanaboy, Co. Mayo
• A local protest group called 'Shell to Sea' was set up by the community to object to the development of the pipeline and processing plant
• Concerns of 'Shell to Sea' group

  • Impacts on the health and safety of those living nearby
  • Wanted the processing plant to be located offshore, so that gas could be refined before it was piped ashore Despite their objections, construction of the pipeline and processing plant went ahead
• Corrib Gas Field

  • was discovered 70 km off the coast of Mayo in 1996

  • it was a significant discovery, as it is estimated that it could supply 60% of Ireland's gas needs for up to 20 years.
• The project is worth an estimated €180 million to the local economy, but there was much opposition to the proposal
• Environmental Impacts

  Oil and gas exploitation contributes to climate change.

  Nature is disturbed by digging pipelines and constructing refineries.
• Economic Impacts

  • Jobs are created from digging pipelines and from refining and distributing the resource.

  • Indirect jobs are also created, as a result of increased income locally.
• Social Impacts

  • There is growth of infrastructure and settlement.

  • There may be conflict over how the resource is exploited.