Cairn Energy drill programme in Clare a step closer

The exploratory drilling for oil and gas off the Co Clare coast has moved a step closer with the rig, the Blackford Dolphin, arriving in Belfast in recent days.

Cairn Energy is leading the drill programme in the field that has an estimated recoverable resource of between 100 and 200m barrels of oil equivalent.

Exploratory drilling of the resource is due to take place in the second quarter of this year.