Mr. Wm Rossasked the Secretary of State for Energy if to his knowledge any prospect drilling for hydrocarbons has taken place in the North Channel Basin, the Loch Indaal Basin, or the Rathlin trough; and, if so, what has been the result.
§ Dr. MabonNo drilling for hydrocarbons has taken place in the North Channel Basin, the Loch Indaal Basin nor the Rathlin Trough.
No petroleum production licences have been issued for these areas, nor have any applications been invited.
The Institute of Geological Sciences has carried out studies in the Rathlin Trough and the Clyde Basin using seismic reflection, shallow seismic, sampling and shallow drilling to establish the existence of possible hydrocarbon bearing strata in these areas, but the basins are believed to be too small for significant accumulations to occur. Results of these studies are published in the Institute of Geological Sciences Report Series Nos. 72/10 and 74/12.