The consortium has already carried out seismic surveys and other preparatory studies since acquiring the offshore concession for blocks 13 and 14 in Algarve waters in October As the exploration is still in the preliminary stages, no firm date can yet be set for the start of drilling. Drilling off Peniche is not expected to start until at least While much more sophisticated exploratory techniques exist these days, onshore and offshore searches have been carried out in Portuguese waters for many decades.
Several major companies, including Shell, Chevron and Esso, have drilled scores of wells in various demarcated blocks, especially since the s. No commercial production has ever been achieved.
The Poseidon gas fields in the Cadiz basin suggest that deposits in the neighboring Algarve basin are more likely to contain commercial quantities of natural gas rather than oil.
A Repsol spokesman told Portugal Newswatch this week that environmental and safety studies are being carried out before any drilling takes place. This comes amid public concerns about the possible impact of drilling on regional tourism and the economy, as well as the fishing industry, marine ecosystems and coastal landscapes. The company takes into consideration such studies in the planning of the operations and works closely with national and local authorities.
In the event of a well failure, gas spills are easier to control than oil spills, as the gas is not retained in the seawater. No water pollution is generated and the hydrocarbon bubbles into the atmosphere until well control is achieved. In the Algarve, as no hazardous gas is expected, a gas pollution case is an extremely improbable situation. Born in Northern Ireland, his first written pieces were published while he was working in the Natural History Museum, London.
