CAPITAL: Dublin

MONETARY UNIT: Irish pound

REFINING CAPACITY: 71,250 b/cd

OIL PRODUCTION: 0

OIL RESERVES: 0

GAS RESERVES: 700 bcf

The 25-year-old Seven Heads oil and gas discovery, in 330 ft of water off Ireland`s south coast, in 1999 became a development prospect.

Esso found the reservoir, 32.5 km southwest of the Marathon-operated Kinsale Head gas field, but abandoned it as noncommercial.

Ramco Energy and partners secured a "licensing option" to evaluate four wells drilled by Esso and Marathon during 1974-90, each of which recorded significant oil and gas shows.

Ramco explained that an Irish market for the gas had developed since the discovery. It planned to focus on evaluating deliverability of the Seven Heads gas reserves.

Elsewhere, Enterprise Oil PLC said an appraisal well hit gas near the Corrib gas discovery on Block 18/25. The field is 55 km off County Mayo in western Ireland.

The well was drilled to 3,741 m in the Triassic Sherwood sand. It flowed 64 MMcfd of gas through a 11/2-in. choke.

Enterprise said the appraisal well delineated the southern end of the reservoir and demonstrated enough reserves to begin development studies.

Corrib was believed to hold 1.2 tcf of gas. Enterprise said production could begin in 2002-03.

Marathon International Petroleum Ireland Ltd. brought Southwest Kinsale gas field on flow in mid-1999.

The discovery, on Block 48/25 off southeastern Ireland, was tied back to Marathon`s Kinsale Bravo platform 7 km away. It was made with a 12-in. rigid flowline and umbilical.

Irish Refining Co. let a $94 million contract to build a gasoline hydrotreater and isomerization unit at its 71,250 b/d Whitegate, County Cork, refinery.

The upgrade, due completion in 2000, would enable the refinery to meet European Union fuel specifications for gasoline and diesel fuel.

The refinery filled about 40% of the country`s demand for petroleum products. The rest was imported from the UK.