DOCSLIB.ORG

The Corrib Gas Tunnel >>>

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The Corrib Gas Tunnel >>> The Corrib Gas Tunnel >>> Contents > The Corrib Tunnel > The Aughoose and Glengad sites > BAM Civil/Wayss & Freytag Joint Venture > A brief history of tunnelling > ‘Fionnuala’ – the Corrib TBM > Tunnelling traditions > How does the TBM work? > The TBM operator > Maintaining the tunnel > Installation of the pipeline & reinstatement 1 The Corrib Tunnel The onshore pipeline is the final phase of the Corrib gas project to be completed. The onshore pipeline section is 8.3km long and 4.9km of this will be installed in a tunnel, 5.5m the majority of which will run under Sruwaddacon Bay, in north Mayo. The tunnel will have an external diameter of 4.2m and an internal 12m diameter of 3.5m and will run at depths of between 5.5m and 12m under Sruwaddacon Bay. The building of the tunnel requires 4.2m 3.5m the use of a large tunnel boring machine (TBM). “This will be the longest tunnel in Ireland and 2 the longest gas pipeline 3 tunnel in Europe” “The rock, sand and gravel from the TBM is pumped back through the tunnel to Aughoose” “The compound has been surrounded by a visual barrier and an acoustic fence” The Aughoose and Glengad sites Excavation of the tunnel is in one direction, starting at a launch shaft The compound at Aughoose contains all of the services and Aughoose compound was designed and constructed to limit its site water treatment plant where the water discharges into on a SEPIL-owned site in the townland of Aughoose and running to a materials needed for the tunnelling process. The compound has environmental impact. The compound has been surrounded by Sruwaddacon Bay. The TBM commenced excavation of the tunnel reception site in Glengad where the offshore pipeline reaches land. been designed and constructed to minimise its environmental impact, a visual barrier and an acoustic fence. All of the lower buildings in early January 2013. The entire tunnelling operation, which particularly the impact on Sruwaddacon Bay which is a designated have been painted green and taller structures are grey to reduce is 24 hours per day seven days per week, is expected to take The construction of the tunnel and the installation of the pipeline conservation site, a candidate Special Area of Conservation (cSAC) the visual impact of the compound. Taller structures have been approximately 15 months to complete. A smaller site, at which require the construction of two temporary compounds – the launch 4 and proposed Special Protection Area (pSPA). Peat removed during fitted with lights for the protection of birds. The acoustic fence is the TBM will be recovered when tunnelling is complete, is being 5 shaft site at Aughoose and the recovery shaft site at Glengad. construction was stored either on site or removed to the Bord na one of the measures implemented on site to reduce noise from constructed at Glengad. Móna peat deposition site at Srahmore, near Bangor-Erris. The construction activities. Surface water is treated at the established BAM Civil/Wayss & Freytag Joint Venture “Temperatures can The contract for the 4.9km Corrib tunnel under Sruwaddacon Bay was and development of tunnels using TBMs. Founded in 1875, Wayss & reach over 35 degrees awarded to a joint venture between BAM Civil and Wayss & Freytag, Freytag has developed many of the techniques used today in tunnel in the tunnel” group members of the Royal BAM Group. construction world-wide. BAM Civil (formerly Ascon) is one of the largest civil engineering and This partnership brings together the vast tunnelling experience and 6 public works contractors in Ireland while Wayss & Freytag, one of expertise of Wayss & Freytag with BAM Civil’s expertise in civil 7 Germany’s largest construction companies, specialises in the construction engineering and its experience in the Irish construction industry. Well-known tunnels around the world >>> The longest Irish tunnel is the 2.6km Dublin Port Other well-known Irish tunnels are the 675m The world’s longest tunnel carries water 170km The Channel Tunnel, completed in 1994, Tunnel, which links the M1 and M50 motorways Limerick tunnel under the River Shannon and to New York City from the Delaware River in the connects Great Britain to Europe through 3 4 1 2 around Dublin. the Jack Lynch tunnel under the River Lee in Cork. United States. three, 50km long tunnels. 37km of this tunnel are underwater. A Brief History of Tunnelling Tunnelling as part of major infrastructure The modern precursor of today’s TBMs were scrapers. As the cutting wheel/head rotates, projects has a long history. Early versions of developed for dam construction in the US hydraulic cylinders attached to the spine of the the TBM were used to excavate the Thames in the 1950s and since then tunneling has TBM propel it forward a few feet at a time. Tunnel, London in the 1820s. been a major part of the construction of As well as excavating the tunnel, the TBM also transport, service and energy infrastructure By 1870 tunnelling technology had already provides support by putting in place segments projects around the world. The TBMs used advanced for the construction of the Tower of tunnel lining as it moves along. in tunnel construction today are highly Subway under the Thames where a new sophisticated machines that bring together The rotation of the cutting head breaks up the design for a circular tunnel, which was both the latest advances in safety, engineering and ground in front of the TBM, loose material is simpler in construction and better able to technology. scooped up by openings in the cutter head 8 support the weight of the surrounding soil, was Seikan is currently both the longest and the deepest 9 and the debris/slurry mixture is then pumped operational rail tunnel in the world but the Gotthard Base used for the first time. At the front of the TBM is a large rotating 5 back to the surface for treatment or disposal. Tunnel in Switzerland will be longer when it opens to traffic in cutting wheel, equipped with cutting discs and 2017. It is also the longest undersea tunnel in the world. “The number “Fionnuala is over of trailers 149m long and weighs that link to 500 tonnes” 14 Fionnuala” ‘Fionnuala’- the Corrib TBM The TBM for the Corrib tunnel was designed and built in Schwanau, The 28-tonne cutter head drills under the bay using a combination of Germany, by Herrenknecht, one of the world’s largest makers of TBMs. cutter discs, scrapers and buckets and requires two 400kw motors to turn it. The Corrib TBM took more than a year to design and build. 10 Following in a long tunnelling tradition of naming TBMs, the Corrib 11 The single shield TBM is 140m long, weighs almost 500 tonnes and TBM has been named ‘Fionnuala’ after the female of the Children of comprises 14 sections. Lir, one of the legends most closely associated with the Erris region. Tunnelling Traditions Since medieval times St Barbara has been considered the patron saint of mining and then tunnelling. That tradition continues today and a small statue of the saint is placed at the entrance of tunnelling projects to provide good luck and safety during construction. According to tradition, all TBMs need a name before work begins, and, as with ships, the name must be female. The world’s largest hard rock TBM – The feast day of with a diameter of 14.4m – was used to build the Niagara Falls Tunnel and was named ‘Big Becky’. TBMs used in the St Barbara falls on construction of the Channel Tunnel were named ‘Brigitte’, December 4th ‘Europa’, ‘Catherine’, ‘Virginia’, ‘Pascale’, and ‘Severing’. 12 13 How does the TBM work? The entire TBM comprises of 14 trailers, including support A naturally-occurring, inert clay called bentonite is used for and back-up services for the main TBM head. lubrication and cooling of the cutter head, and to assist in the transportation of the arisings to the surface. The cutter head at the front of the TBM breaks the rock, sand >>> and gravel that it meets while tunnelling. This material is As the TBM moves forward, a series of 1.2m wide concrete pumped in a suspended mixture back through the tunnel to rings made up of precast interlocking concrete segments 14 the surface at Aughoose where it is later separated. is erected. These concrete rings, which are fabricated in 15 Ireland, will eventually line the entire tunnel. The TBM operator The TBM is controlled by an operator, who sits in a control is correct; manual surveys are also conducted routinely. The cabin at the front of the machine. The operator’s role is TBM is kept on course by a laser guidance system which to ensure the TBM stays on course. There are two other recalibrates itself every second to guarantee complete monitors on the surface to ensure the trajectory of the tunnel accuracy throughout the process. As the cutter head rotates, hydraulic cylinders attached to the All this sludge and aggregate material is pumped back spine of the TBM propel it forward a few feet at a time. through the tunnel to the surface at Aughoose where it is later separated. Some of this material is reused in the tunnelling Behind the cutter head the entire TBM has 14 trailers which process and site reinstatement, while the rest is removed from transport the tunnel segment erector and all of the support >>> the site. and back-up services needed for the excavation and tunnel building. Personnel, tools and materials, including the concrete segments, are brought from the tunnelling compound to the The TBM advances forward and the cutter head breaks the front of the tunnel using a small train.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Curriculum Vitae Simon Barron B
    CURRICULUM VITAE SIMON BARRON B. Sc. (Hons), MCIEEM, CEnv EDUCATION 1991 – 1994 University of Plymouth Grade 2:1, B.Sc. (Hons.) in Geography. Modules studied include Biological Conservation, Environmental Impact Assessment, Vegetation Patterns and Processes and Surveying and Cartography. CAREER HISTORY Director of Ecology, BEC Consultants. July 2004 – Present Project manager and senior ecologist for many projects carried out at national, regional and site specific scales. These include the Pilot Survey and Phases 1-4 of the National Survey of Upland Habitats (2008 – 2014) and the National Survey of Irish Sea Cliffs (2011). I have also been project manager and lead ecologist for a number of rare plant translocation and monitoring projects. I have completed a number of Appropriate Assessments (AA), Ecological Impact Assessments (EcIA), Alien Invasive Species Surveys (AIS) rare plant surveys and habitat restoration projects. I have worked on a number of Local Biodiversity Action Plans and am a proficient habitat surveyor and botanist and have excellent report writing skills. As Director of Ecology I also have responsibility for company development, staff management and recruitment, and sit on the Senior Management Team, Project Management Team and Health and Safety Committee. A selection of projects I have worked on recently with BEC is listed below: Local Biodiversity Action Plans (2020): Project Ecologist. Conducting a review of the existing biodiversity interest of three areas: Omeath, Co. Louth, Navan Co. Meath, Griffeen River and Lucan Co. Dublin. Completing habitat surveys and preparing recommendations which could be implemented by local community groups to improve biodiversity and enhance engagement of local communities with biodiversity.
    [Show full text]
  • Report on the Accounts of the Public Services 2012
    Comptroller and Auditor General Report on the Accounts of the Public Services 2012 September 2013 2 Report on the Accounts of the Public Services 2012 © Government Copyright Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General Report on the Accounts of the Public Services 2012 I am required under Section 3 of the Comptroller and Auditor General (Amendment) Act 1993 to report to Dáil Éireann on my audit of the appropriation accounts of departments and offices and the account of the receipt of revenue of the State. I have certified each appropriation account for the year ended 31 December 2012 and am submitting those accounts, together with my audit certificates, to Dáil Éireann. I hereby present my report on matters arising out of my audits of the accounts of the public services for 2012 to Dáil Éireann in accordance with Section 3 (11) of the Comptroller and Auditor General (Amendment) Act 1993. I am required under other statutes to report on certain matters along with my report on the appropriation accounts. The report is set out in four parts. Part 1 deals with matters relating to the Central Fund of the Exchequer and government debt. Part 2 outlines certain matters related to voted expenditure in 2012. Part 3 deals with matters arising out of the audit of the Revenue account and the examination of Revenue systems. Part 4 comprises my statutory report on the audits of the accounts of the National Treasury Management Agency and a report on the Clinical Indemnity Scheme. This report was prepared on the basis of audited information, where available, and other information, documentation and explanations obtained from the relevant Government departments and agencies.
    [Show full text]
  • Lúb Ceann Iorrais Erris Head
    WAYMARKERS LEAVE NO TRACE (Principles of Outdoor Ethics) LÚB CEANN IORRAIS Please adhere to this code on any trips to the outdoors. The walks are waymarked using black posts, about 1 metre high , with a direction of travel arrow ( purple). 1. Plan Ahead and Prepare: Be sure you are able for the level ERRIS HEAD of walk you propose to take and that you have the correct Belmullet equipment for the terrain. Follow all safety instructions that may be posted along the route. Check the weather forecast and always be prepared for changing weather conditions. Leave details of your plans with somebody and don’t forget to contact that person later to say that you have returned safely. 2. Dispose of Waste Properly: ‘Pack It In, Pack It Out’. Bring home all litter and leftover food including biodegradable waste. 3. Leave What You Find: Respect property. For example, farming or forestry machinery, fences, stone walls etc. Leave gates as you find them (open or closed). Preserve the past: examine – but do DISCLAIMER not damage – archaeological structures, old walks and artefacts. Conserve the present: leave rocks, plants and other natural objects These loops are part of a countrywide network of high- quality, as you find them. circular walks being developed by Fáilte Ireland in association with the National Waymarked Ways Advisory Committee. The loops have been constructed with the kind assistance of local landowners. Scéim Sóisialta Tuaithe Pároiste na Cille Móire. Comharchumann Ionad Deirbhile and Údarás na Gaeltachta. CONTACT DETAILS Iorras Domhnann Tourist Information, The Docks, Belmullet, Co. Mayo. Tel: 097 81500.
    [Show full text]
  • Mount Kennett House, Limerick to LET - Ground & First Floors
    For Sale / To Let Prime Office Investment Opportunity (Tenants not affected) Mount Kennett House, Limerick COMMERCIAL REA O’Connor Murphy www.reaoconnormurphy.ie 100 O’Connell Street +353 (0)61 279300 Limerick PSRA Licence No: 001988 Location The city of Limerick is located on the River Shannon in undergoing rapid transformation with a number of office the mid western region of Ireland within the province of and retail developments under construction including Munster. As the third largest city in Ireland, the combined Gardens International office and Bishops Quay. The main city and county population is estimated to be circa national road network and Limerick tunnel linking the city 192,000 with approximately 96,000 living within the city with the M7 Limerick to Dublin motorway and the main and suburbs. This historic city is divided from the northern Limerick to Shannon & Galway M9 motorway are all within suburbs & west of Ireland by the river Shannon with close proximity to Mount Kennett House. Surrounding access across the river via 3 main bridges and the recently occupiers include The Department of Foreign Affairs, constructed Limerick Tunnel. Holmes O’Malley Sexton Solicitors, Grant Thornton, Mazars, and Dunnes Stores. Under the Limerick Twenty Thirty plan the city is undergoing re-development, the core objective of which is Description to invest in Limerick city and county through the assembly, master planning and development of sites, thereby directly Mount Kennett House comprises a four storey over impacting employment levels and improving the general basement purpose built and fully fitted modern office socio-economic conditions of Limerick.
    [Show full text]
  • Draft Limerick | Shannon METROPOLITAN AREA TRANSPORT STRATEGY 2040 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
    Bonneagar Iompair Eireann Transport Infrastructure Ireland Draft Limerick | Shannon METROPOLITAN AREA TRANSPORT STRATEGY 2040 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS National Transport Authority: Limerick City and County Council: Jacobs: Hugh Creegan Brian Kennedy John Paul FitzGerald David Clements Dan Slavin Kevin Burke Michael MacAree Maria Woods Marjely Caneva Jari Howard Jennifer Egan Transport Infrastructure Ireland: Robert Gallagher Sarah Cooper Martin Bourke Dara McGuigan Stephen Johnson Michael McCormack Tim Fitzgerald Colm Kelly Tara Spain Clare County Council Systra: Carmel Kirby Ian Byrne Liam Conneally Allanah Murphy Sean Lenihan Paul Hussey Ann Cronin Andrew Archer Brian McCarthy Sinead Canny John Leahy Tadgh McNamara Dolphin 3D Photomontages: Philip Watkin Date of publication: June 2020 Draft Limerick | Shannon METROPOLITAN AREA TRANSPORT STRATEGY The Strategy will deliver a high-quality, accessible, integrated and more sustainable transport network that supports the role of the Limerick-Shannon Metropolitan Area as the major growth engine of the Mid-West Region, an internationally competitive European city region and main international entry to the Atlantic Corridor. CONTENTS 01 Introduction 03 02 Policy Context 09 03 Study Area & Transport Context 19 04 Land Use 25 05 Strategy Development 29 06 Walking 33 07 Cycling 43 08 BusConnects 51 09 Rail 59 10 Roads and Streets 65 11 Parking 73 12 Freight, Delivery and Servicing 79 13 Supporting Measures 83 14 Implementation 91 15 Strategy Outcomes 95 2 LIMERICK SHANNON | METROPOLITAN AREA TRANSPORT STRATEGY 01 INTRODUCTION The Limerick-Shannon Metropolitan To mitigate this, land use and transport planning A flexible strategy with the ability to scale up Area Transport Strategy will be will be far more closely aligned.
    [Show full text]
  • Southern Environs Local Area Plan Environmental Reports May 2021
    Southern Environs Local Area Plan 2021 – 2027 – Environmental Reports May 2021 Forward/Strategic Planning Economic Development Directorate Limerick City and County Council Merchants Quay Limerick In accordance with the provisions of Section 20 (4A) of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended), the Southern Environs Local Area Plan came into effect on the 31st of May 2021, six weeks after the adoption of the Local Area Plan by the Elected Members of the Metropolitan District of Limerick on 19th of April 2021. 2 Strategic Environmental Assessment Environmental Report Southern Environs Local Area Plan 2021 – 2027 May 2021 Forward/Strategic Planning Economic Development Directorate Limerick City and County Council Merchants Quay Limerick Contents Part A – Strategic Environmental Assessment of Southern Environs Local Area Plan 1.0 Non-Technical Summary ......................................................................................... 5 1.1 Introduction..................................................................................................... 5 1.2 Contents and Main Objectives of the Southern Environs LAP ........................ 6 1.3 Current State of the Environment ................................................................... 7 1.4 Existing Environmental Issues ....................................................................... 15 1.5 Consideration of Alternative Strategies ........................................................ 16 1.6 Environmental Protection Objectives (EPOs) ...............................................
    [Show full text]
  • River Shannon and River Fergus Estuaries Special Protection Area 2 1.3 Introduction to Conservation Objectives
    River Shannon & River Fergus Estuaries Special Protection Area (Site Code 4077) ≡ Conservation Objectives Supporting Document VERSION 1 National Parks & Wildlife Service September 2012 T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S SUMMARY PART ONE - INTRODUCTION ........................................................................ 1 1.1 Introduction to the designation of Special Protection Areas ............................................. 1 1.2 Introduction to the River Shannon and River Fergus Estuaries Special Protection Area 2 1.3 Introduction to Conservation Objectives ........................................................................... 3 PART TWO – SITE DESIGNATION INFORMATION ....................................................................... 5 2.1 Special Conservation Interests of the River Shannon and River Fergus Estuaries Special Protection Area .......................................................................................................... 5 PART THREE - CONSERVATION OBJECTIVES FOR THE RIVER SHANNON AND RIVER FERGUS ESTUARIES SPA ........................................................................ 8 3.1 Conservation Objectives for the non-breeding Special Conservation Interests of the River Shannon and River Fergus Estuaries SPA ................................................................... 8 PART FOUR – REVIEW OF THE CONSERVATION CONDITION OF WATERBIRD SPECIAL CONSERVATION INTERESTS ...................................................................... 12 4.1 Population data for non-breeding waterbird SCI
    [Show full text]
  • Purcell Page 1
    Descendants of William Purcell Page 1 1-William Purcell b. 1804, Glinsk, County Mayo, Ireland, d. 30 Aug 1867, Glinsk, County Mayo +Mary ? d. Bef 1869, County Mayo, Ireland 2-James Purcell +Sabina McManaman m. 6 Feb 1870, Ballycastle, Mayo, Ireland 3-Patrick Purcell b. 5 Feb 1871, County Mayo, Ireland 3-Bridget Purcell b. 26 Oct 1873, County Mayo, Ireland 3-William Purcell b. 20 Apr 1884, County Mayo, Ireland 2-Julia ? Purcell 2-Mary Purcell b. Abt 1835, County Mayo, Ireland, d. 30 Nov 1915, Belmullet, Mayo, Ireland +John Garvin b. 1831, Owenanirragh, County Mayo, Ireland, m. Abt 1858, d. Jun 1909, Ireland, par. Thomas "Old Tom" Garvin and Unknown 3-Michael (Mor) Garvin b. 1860, County Mayo, Ireland, d. 1953 +Annie Munnelly b. Abt 1871, m. 1896, County Mayo, Ireland 4-Mary Garvin b. Abt 1898 4-Kate Garvin b. Abt 1899 4-John Garvin b. Abt 1901 4-Peter Garvin b. Abt 1902 4-Michael Garvin b. Abt 1903 4-Anne Garvin b. Abt 1905 4-Anthony Garvin b. Abt 1907 4-James Garvin b. Abt 1910 3-Thomas Garvin b. 1860, County Mayo, Ireland 3-John Garvin b. 1863, County Mayo, Ireland, d. 1940 3-John Garvan b. Abt 1871 3-Patrick Garvin b. Abt 1872, County Mayo, Ireland, d. 1959 +Bridget Munnelly b. Abt 1881 4-Michael Joe Garvin b. Abt 1907 4-Mary Garvin b. Abt 1908 4-John Garvin b. Abt 1909 4-Anne Garvin b. Abt 1910 3-Anthony Garvin b. 1874, Bally Castle, Mayo, Ireland, d. 4 Jan 1909, Stockton, San Joaquin, California, USA +Annie F.
    [Show full text]
  • Dear Sir/Madam, As a Limerick Native I Feel Passionately About My Home
    Dear Sir/Madam, As a Limerick native I feel passionately about my home town, Limerick City. I applaud the efforts made by all those involved so far but feel that there should be significantly more ambition in terms of our housing and public transport networks. Limerick is at a size currently that allows us to plan for future growth, which is why we need to design and implement a light rail network now ahead of that growth, one which we can grow into in the future. I would implore you to design the city with a population of 300,000 in mind. I would also suggest and request that Limerick-Shannon, Cork and Waterford be allowed to update their MASPS as and when local development plans are put in place. For ease of reference I have attached a clean copy and marked up version of the Draft RSES which show my proposed and considered changes to the existing draft RSES. I trust you will take them under consideration. Thanking you in advance. Is mise le meas, p.s. I sent this email and its attachments from my personal account earlier today and also made a submission online. Apologies for the overlap. 1.0 | Introduction 1.1 | Overview Limerick City is the largest urban centre in Ireland’s Mid-West and the country’s third largest city. The NPF supports ambitious growth targets to enable Limerick City to grow by at least 50% to 2040 and to enhance its significant potential to become a city of scale. Shannon is a significant employment centre with assets such as Shannon International Airport, Shannon FreeZone and the International Aviation Services Centre (IASC).
    [Show full text]
  • 2005 Annual Report on Form 20-F
    United States Securities and Exchange Commission Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM 20-F Annual Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005 Commission file number 1-32575 Royal Dutch Shell plc (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) England and Wales (Jurisdiction of incorporation or organisation) Carel van Bylandtlaan 30, 2596 HR, The Hague, The Netherlands tel. no: (011 31 70) 377 9111 (Address of principal executive offices) Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act Title of Each Class Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered American Depositary Receipts representing Class A ordinary shares of the New York Stock Exchange issuer of an aggregate nominal value €0.07 each American Depositary Receipts representing Class B ordinary shares of the New York Stock Exchange issuer of an aggregate nominal value of €0.07 each Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act None Securities For Which There is a Reporting Obligation Pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act None Indicate the number of outstanding shares of each of the issuer’s classes of capital or common stock as of the close of the period covered by the annual report. Outstanding as of December 31, 2005: 3,817,240,213 Class A ordinary shares of the nominal value of €0.07 each. 2,707,858,347 Class B ordinary shares of the nominal value of €0.07 each. Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.
    [Show full text]
  • The Corrib Debacle
    1. THE CORRIB DEBACLE – WHY IRELAND IS COMPLETELY OFF LIMITS FOR INVESTMENT 1.1 The background to the debacle Natural gas generates over 60% of the electricity in Ireland and fuels homes and industry. While the Kinsale Field was discovered and developed in the early seventies, gas from the European network is currently pumped into the reservoir there over the summer and drawn out over the winter months. Very little is drawn any more from the field itself. Indeed a single gas pipeline from the European grid goes to a compressor station in South Western Scotland and then is routed under the Irish Sea to North of Dublin. The country is hanging off that pipe! Ireland has not had a good innings with petroleum exploration. About 150 exploration wells have been drilled in the Irish Sector, outside of Kinsale Field we had to wait until 1996 until Enterprise Energy Ireland finally hit pay dirt with the Corrib Natural Gas Field. Note: Shell Exploration and Production Ireland Ltd (SEPIL) acquired Enterprise Energy Ireland in 2002. A pretty poor run from exploration in Irish waters, in particular given that a drilling rig costs about €0.6 million per day and the success ratio in the North Sea sector is about one producing field for every four exploration wells drilled. 1 Bit of a difference in petroleum finds in North Sea and Irish waters. However, many Irish are insistent that the same exploration terms should apply in both jurisdictions. The Corrib field is marginal by international standards; the well head is 80 km off the exposed North Western Coast and at a depth of 300 m.
    [Show full text]
  • The Famine in Mayo 1845-1850
    The Famine in Mayo 1845-1850 A Mayo County Library Exhibition 1 Charles Edward Trevelyan, Assistant Secretary to the Treasury directed government relief measures during the famine, meticulously scrutinising all expenditure The Famine in Mayo 1845 - 1850 The Great Famine was one of the defining moments of Irish history. It marked a watershed in the history of the country causing a change so complete in the Irish social and economic fabric, that the people’s sensibilities would never be the same again. No longer could the Irish people trust to the land to provide constant sustenance. No longer could they rely on whatever security of tenure was allowed by the landlords, and more importantly they learned that their English political masters cared little for their plight. The Famine in Mayo is a portrait of the lives and deaths of the people as recorded by witnesses in books, newspapers and official records of that period. 1(a) The Famine in Mayo 1845 - 1850 The Potato Disease e first reports of blight appeared in September of 1845. For one third of the country’s population of eight million, the nutritious lumper potato was pratically the sole article of the diet. In County Mayo, it was estimated that nine tenths of the population depended on it. An acre and a half of land could provide enough potatoes to support a family for most of the year. Any other crops or animals the smallholder raised went to pay rent. A potato famine was a great calamity. THE POTATO CROP THE POTATO CROP PERSECUTION Mayo Constitution (11-11-1845) TO THE EDITOR OF AND STARVATION The Telegraph (19-8-1846) In some cases the damage is found, on THE CONSTITUTION Rathbane, 29th December, 1845 digging out the potatoes, to be only On Monday last upwards of 500 poor, partial, in other cases the injury and loss wretched, emaciated human beings are, very great.
    [Show full text]