EN Official Journal of the European Union C 102/6

Communication from Ireland pursuant to Directive 94/22/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the conditions for granting and using authorisations for the prospection, exploration and production of hydrocarbons

(Announcement of 2015 Atlantic Margin Licensing Round)

(2015/C 102/06)

In accordance with Article 3, paragraph 2(a) of the Directive 94/22/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (1), the Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources hereby gives notice of a change in regard to areas available for licensing offshore Ireland.

An area covering approximately 256 700 square kilometres in Ireland’s Atlantic Margin has been designated a Frontier Area and has been selected for inclusion in the 2015 Atlantic Margin Licensing Round.

The Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources invites applications for licensing options in respect of acreage included in the 2015 Atlantic Margin Licensing Round. Applications should be principally for regular-shaped, continuous areas in the acreage covered by the Licensing Round.

Applications in respect of Region 1 (Donegal Basin, Erris Basin and Slyne Basin) should comprise areas that are equivalent to not less than one and not more than four complete blocks

Applications in respect of Region 2 (Porcupine Basin and Goban Spur Basin) should comprise areas that are equivalent to not less than one and not more than six complete blocks.

Applications in respect of Region 3 (Rockall Basin) should comprise areas that are equivalent to not less than one and not more than ten complete blocks.

Where a single application involves an area that includes acreage in more than one region, the conditions above will apply on a pro rata basis.

Applications should be clearly marked ‘2015 Licensing Round — Atlantic Margin’ and should be addressed to ‘The Petroleum Affairs Division, Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, 29-31 Adelaide Road, Dublin 2, Ireland’. Applications must be received not later than 12 noon on Wednesday 16 September 2015.

In accordance with Article 5, paragraphs 1(a) and 1(b) of Directive 94/22/EC, the Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources hereby gives notice that authorisations will be awarded with particular emphasis on a programme’s appropriateness for evaluating hydrocarbon and preparing the acreage for exploration drilling. In considering an application the following criteria/scoring system will apply:

(a) the extent to which the applicant has demonstrated an understanding of the petroleum prospectivity of the acreage applied for — 10 marks;

(b) the quality of the work programme proposed by the applicant (marks will only be awarded for firm commitments made) — 40 marks;

(c) the level of technical competence and offshore experience of the team that will manage and conduct the exploration programme — 30 marks;

(d) evidence of the financial capacity to fund the work programme proposed — 20 marks.

Applicants must achieve a pass mark of 50 % in the case of (a), (b) and (c) above and must also demonstrate that they have the financial capacity to fund the work programme offered. Where relevant, previous performance by the applicant under any authorisations to which the applicant has been a party may be taken into account.

The specific terms relating to the 2015 Atlantic Margin Licensing Round along with a map of the acreage on offer and guidelines for applications are available at the following link:

http://www.dcenr.gov.ie/Natural/Petroleum+Affairs+Division/2015+Atlantic+Margin+Licensing+Round.htm

or by contacting:

Petroleum Affairs Division Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources 29-31 Adelaide Road Dublin 2 IRELAND E-mail: PADadmin@dcenr.gov.ie

The receipt of an application will not create an obligation on the part of the Minister to grant a licensing option in respect of part or all of the area that is the subject of the application.

2015 Atlantic Margin Licensing Round — List of available blocks:

995 Full Blocks, 93 Part Blocks, area approx. 256 700 km2

Region 1

6/26, 6/27(p), 6/28(p), 6/29(p)

11/25, 11/29, 11/30

12/9(p), 12/10, 12/12(p), 12/13, 12/14, 12/15, 12/16, 12/17, 12/18, 12/19, 12/20, 12/21, 12/22, 12/23, 12/24, 12/26, 12/27, 12/28, 12/29

13/1, 13/2, 13/3, 13/4, 13/5, 13/6, 13/7, 13/8, 13/9, 13/10, 13/11, 13/12, 13/13, 13/14, 13/15

14/1, 14/2, 14/3, 14/4(p), 14/6, 14/7, 14/8, 14/9, 14/10(p)

18/19(p), 18/20(p), 18/24, 18/25(p), 18/28, 18/29, 18/30

19/2, 19/3, 19/4, 19/5, 19/7, 19/8, 19/9, 19/10, 19/11, 19/12, 19/13, 19/14, 19/16, 19/17, 19/18(p), 19/21, 19/22(p), 19/26

20/1, 20/2, 20/3, 20/6

27/2, 27/3, 27/4(p), 27/5(p), 27/6, 27/7, 27/8, 27/9(p), 27/10, 27/11, 27/12, 27/15, 27/16, 27/17(p), 27/20, 27/21, 27/22(p), 27/25, 27/26, 27/27, 27/28, 27/29, 27/30

Region 2

25/14, 25/15, 25/17, 25/18, 25/19, 25/20, 25/21, 25/22, 25/23, 25/24, 25/25, 25/26, 25/27, 25/28, 25/29, 25/30

26/11, 26/12, 26/13, 26/14, 26/15, 26/16, 26/17, 26/18, 26/19, 26/20, 26/21, 26/22, 26/23, 26/24, 26/25, 26/26, 26/27(p), 26/29, 26/30

34/1, 34/2, 34/3, 34/4, 34/5, 34/6, 34/7, 34/8, 34/9, 34/10, 34/11, 34/12, 34/13, 34/14, 34/15, 34/16, 34/17, 34/18, 34/19(p), 34/20(p), 34/21, 34/22, 34/23, 34/24(p), 34/25(p), 34/26, 34/27, 34/28, 34/29, 34/30

35/1, 35/2(p), 35/4(p), 35/5, 35/6, 35/7, 35/10, 35/11, 35/12, 35/15(p), 35/16(p), 35/17, 35/20, 35/21(p), 35/22, 35/23(p), 35/25(p), 35/26, 35/27, 35/28, 35/29

36/1, 36/6, 36/11, 36/16, 36/21(p), 36/22, 36/26(p), 36/27

43/1, 43/2, 43/3, 43/4, 43/5, 43/6, 43/7, 43/8, 43/10(p), 43/11, 43/12, 43/13, 43/15(p), 43/16, 43/17, 43/18, 43/21, 43/22, 43/23, 43/26, 43/27, 43/30

44/1, 44/2, 44/3, 44/4(p), 44/5(p), 44/6, 44/7, 44/8, 44/9(p), 44/11, 44/12, 44/13, 44/14(p), 44/15(p), 44/16, 44/17, 44/19, 44/20, 44/21, 44/22, 44/25, 44/26, 44/27, 44/28

45/1(p), 45/2, 45/6(p), 45/7, 45/11(p), 45/12, 45/13, 45/14, 45/15, 45/16(p), 45/17, 45/18, 45/19, 45/20, 45/21, 45/22, 45/23, 45/24, 45/25, 45/26, 45/27, 45/28, 45/29, 45/30

52/1, 52/2, 52/3, 52/4, 52/5(p), 52/6, 52/7, 52/8, 52/9, 52/10(p), 52/11, 52/12, 52/13, 52/14, 52/15(p), 52/16, 52/17, 52/18, 52/19, 52/20, 52/21, 52/22, 52/23, 52/24, 52/25, 52/26, 52/27, 52/28, 52/29, 52/30

53/1(p), 53/2, 53/3, 53/4, 53/5, 53/6(p), 53/7, 53/8, 53/9, 53/10, 53/11(p), 53/12, 53/13, 53/14, 53/15, 53/16, 53/17, 53/18, 53/19, 53/20, 53/21, 53/22, 53/23, 53/24, 53/25, 53/26, 53/27, 53/28, 53/29, 53/30

54/1(p), 54/3, 54/4, 54/5, 54/6(p), 54/8, 54/9, 54/10, 54/11, 54/12, 54/13, 54/14, 54/15, 54/16, 54/17, 54/18, 54/19, 54/20, 54/21, 54/22, 54/23, 54/24, 54/25, 54/26, 54/27, 54/28, 54/29, 54/30

60/1, 60/2, 60/3, 60/4, 60/5, 60/6, 60/7, 60/8, 60/9, 60/10, 60/11, 60/12, 60/13, 60/14, 60/15, 60/16, 60/17, 60/18, 60/19, 60/20, 60/22, 60/23, 60/24, 60/25, 60/29, 60/30

61/1, 61/2, 61/3, 61/4, 61/5, 61/6, 61/7, 61/8, 61/11, 61/12, 61/13(p), 61/16, 61/17, 61/18(p), 61/19(p), 61/20(p), 61/21, 61/22, 61/23, 61/24, 61/25, 61/26, 61/27, 61/28, 61/29, 61/30

62/1, 62/2, 62/3, 62/4, 62/5, 62/7, 62/8, 62/9, 62/10, 62/11(p), 62/12, 62/13, 62/14, 62/15, 62/16(p), 62/17, 62/18, 62/19, 62/20, 62/21, 62/22, 62/23, 62/24, 62/25, 62/26, 62/27, 62/28, 62/29, 62/30

72/3, 72/4, 72/5, 72/8, 72/9, 72/10

73/3, 73/4, 73/5, 73/8, 73/9, 73/10, 73/13, 73/14, 73/15, 73/18, 73/19, 73/20, 73/23, 73/24, 73/25, 73/28, 73/29, 73/30

74/20, 74/25, 74/28, 74/29, 74/30

Region 3

1/6(p), 1/7(p), 1/8(p), 1/9(p), 1/10(p), 1/11, 1/12, 1/13, 1/14, 1/15, 1/16, 1/17, 1/18, 1/19, 1/20, 1/21, 1/22, 1/23, 1/24, 1/25, 1/26, 1/27, 1/28, 1/29, 1/30

2/6(p), 2/7(p), 2/8(p), 2/9(p), 2/11, 2/12, 2/13, 2/14, 2/15(p), 2/16, 2/17, 2/18, 2/19, 2/20, 2/21, 2/22, 2/23, 2/24, 2/25, 2/26, 2/27, 2/28, 2/29, 2/30

3/11(p), 3/12(p), 3/13(p), 3/14(p), 3/15(p), 3/16, 3/17, 3/18, 3/19, 3/20, 3/21, 3/22, 3/23, 3/24, 3/25, 3/26, 3/27, 3/28, 3/29, 3/30

4/11(p), 4/12(p), 4/13(p), 4/16, 4/17, 4/18(p), 4/19(p), 4/20(p), 4/21, 4/22, 4/23, 4/24, 4/25, 4/26, 4/27, 4/28, 4/29, 4/30

5/16(p), 5/19(p), 5/20(p), 5/21, 5/24, 5/25(p), 5/26, 5/29, 5/30

8/1, 8/2, 8/3, 8/4, 8/5, 8/6, 8/7, 8/8, 8/9, 8/10, 8/11, 8/12, 8/13, 8/14, 8/15, 8/16, 8/17, 8/18, 8/19, 8/20, 8/21, 8/22, 8/23, 8/24, 8/25, 8/26, 8/27, 8/28, 8/29, 8/30

9/1, 9/2, 9/3, 9/4, 9/5, 9/6, 9/7, 9/8, 9/9, 9/10, 9/11, 9/12, 9/13, 9/14, 9/15, 9/16, 9/17, 9/18, 9/19, 9/20, 9/21, 9/22, 9/23, 9/24, 9/25, 9/26, 9/27, 9/28, 9/29, 9/30

10/1, 10/2, 10/3, 10/4, 10/5, 10/6, 10/7, 10/8, 10/9, 10/10, 10/11, 10/12, 10/13, 10/14, 10/15, 10/16, 10/17, 10/18, 10/19, 10/20, 10/21, 10/22, 10/23, 10/24, 10/25, 10/26, 10/27, 10/28, 10/29, 10/30

11/1, 11/2, 11/3, 11/4, 11/5, 11/6, 11/7, 11/8, 11/9, 11/11, 11/12, 11/13, 11/14, 11/16, 11/17, 11/18, 11/19, 11/20, 11/21, 11/22, 11/23, 11/24, 11/26, 11/27, 11/28

12/1(p), 12/2, 12/3, 12/4, 12/5, 12/7, 12/8, 12/9(p), 12/11(p), 12/12(p)

16/1, 16/2, 16/3, 16/4, 16/5, 16/6, 16/7, 16/8, 16/9, 16/10, 16/11, 16/12, 16/13, 16/14, 16/15, 16/16, 16/17, 16/18, 16/19, 16/20, 16/21, 16/22, 16/23, 16/24, 16/25, 16/26, 16/27, 16/28, 16/29, 16/30

17/1, 17/2, 17/3, 17/4, 17/5, 17/6, 17/7, 17/8, 17/9, 17/10, 17/11, 17/12, 17/13, 17/14, 17/15, 17/16, 17/17, 17/18, 17/19, 17/20, 17/21, 17/22, 17/23, 17/24, 17/25, 17/26, 17/27, 17/28, 17/29, 17/30

18/1, 18/2, 18/3, 18/4, 18/5, 18/6, 18/7, 18/8, 18/9, 18/11, 18/12, 18/13, 18/14, 18/15, 18/16, 18/17, 18/18, 18/19(p), 18/21, 18/22, 18/23, 18/26, 18/27

25/1, 25/2, 25/3, 25/4, 25/5, 25/6, 25/7, 25/8, 25/9, 25/10, 25/11, 25/12, 25/13, 25/16

26/1, 26/2, 26/3, 26/4, 26/5, 26/6, 26/7, 26/8, 26/9, 26/10

27/1

71/2, 71/3, 71/4, 71/5, 71/8, 71/9, 71/10, 71/15

72/1, 72/2, 72/6, 72/7, 72/11, 72/12, 72/13, 72/14, 72/15, 72/16, 72/17, 72/18, 72/19, 72/20, 72/21, 72/22, 72/23, 72/24, 72/25, 72/26, 72/27, 72/28, 72/29, 72/30

73/1, 73/2, 73/6, 73/7, 73/11, 73/12, 73/16, 73/17, 73/21, 73/22, 73/26, 73/27

74/1, 74/2, 74/3, 74/4, 74/5, 74/6, 74/7, 74/8, 74/9, 74/10, 74/11, 74/12, 74/13, 74/14, 74/15, 74/16, 74/17, 74/18, 74/19, 74/21, 74/22, 74/23, 74/24, 74/26, 74/27

75/1, 75/2, 75/3, 75/4, 75/5, 75/6, 75/7, 75/8, 75/9, 75/10, 75/11, 75/12, 75/13, 75/14, 75/15, 75/16, 75/17, 75/18, 75/19, 75/20, 75/21, 75/22, 75/23, 75/24, 75/25, 75/26, 75/27, 75/28, 75/29, 75/30

76/1, 76/2, 76/3, 76/4, 76/5, 76/6, 76/7, 76/8, 76/9, 76/10, 76/11, 76/12, 76/13, 76/14, 76/15, 76/16, 76/17, 76/18, 76/19, 76/20, 76/21, 76/22, 76/23, 76/24, 76/25, 76/26, 76/27, 76/28, 76/29, 76/30

77/1, 77/2, 77/3, 77/4, 77/5, 77/6, 77/7, 77/8, 77/9, 77/10, 77/11, 77/12, 77/13, 77/14, 77/15, 77/16, 77/17, 77/18, 77/19, 77/20, 77/21, 77/22, 77/23, 77/24, 77/25, 77/26, 77/27, 77/28, 77/29, 77/30

78/14(p), 78/15(p), 78/18(p), 78/19, 78/20, 78/23, 78/24, 78/25, 78/27, 78/28, 78/29, 78/30

80/9(p), 80/10, 80/14, 80/15, 80/18(p), 80/19, 80/20, 80/22(p), 80/23, 80/24, 80/25, 80/27(p), 80/28, 80/29, 80/30

81/2, 81/3, 81/4, 81/5, 81/7, 81/8, 81/9, 81/10, 81/12, 81/13, 81/14, 81/15, 81/17, 81/18, 81/19, 81/20, 81/22, 81/23, 81/24, 81/25, 81/27, 81/28, 81/29, 81/30

82/2, 82/3, 82/4, 82/5, 82/7, 82/8, 82/9, 82/10, 82/12, 82/13, 82/14, 82/15, 82/17, 82/18, 82/19, 82/20, 82/22, 82/23, 82/24, 82/25, 82/27, 82/28, 82/29, 82/30

83/2, 83/3, 83/4, 83/5, 83/7, 83/8, 83/9, 83/10, 83/11, 83/12, 83/13, 83/14, 83/15, 83/16, 83/17, 83/18, 83/19, 83/20, 83/21, 83/22, 83/23, 83/24, 83/25, 83/26, 83/27, 83/28, 83/29, 83/30

84/1, 84/2, 84/3, 84/4, 84/5, 84/6, 84/7, 84/8, 84/9, 84/10, 84/12, 84/13, 84/14, 84/15, 84/17, 84/18, 84/19, 84/20, 84/22, 84/23, 84/24, 84/25, 84/28, 84/29, 84/30

85/3, 85/4, 85/5, 85/9, 85/10, 85/14, 85/15, 85/20

SAC Blocks

There are four candidate Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) in the area available under the Licensing Round covering part blocks as follows:

NW Porcupine Bank: 25/1, 25/6, 75/9, 75/10, 75/13, 75/14, 75/15, 75/18, 75/19

Hovland Mound Province: 34/25, 34/30, 35/21, 35/22, 35/23, 35/26, 35/27, 35/28

Belgica Mound Province: 45/11, 45/12, 45/16, 45/17, 45/18, 45/22, 45/23

SW Porcupine Bank: 73/1, 73/6, 84/5, 84/10

Proposed SAC Blocks

There are two additional sites proposed for designation as SACs in the area available under the Licensing Round covering part blocks as follows:

Porcupine Bank Canyon: 73/1, 74/21, 74/22, 74/26, 74/27, 83/29, 83/30, 84/4, 84/5, 84/9, 84/10

SE Rockall Bank: 1/16, 1/21, 77/1, 77/2, 77/3, 77/4, 77/6, 77/7, 77/8, 77/11, 77/12, 78/20, 78/24, 78/25, 78/28, 78/29, 78/30

(1) Directive 94/22/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 1994 on the conditions for granting and using authorizations for the prospection, exploration and production of hydrocarbons (OJ L 164, 30.6.1994, p. 3).