Crogga unveils plans to develop second Irish Sea well

Company hopes to drill area late next year before moving to Manx field

The company hoping to extract gas off the Island's coast has announced plans to drill a second well in the Irish Sea.

Crogga says it's acquired an undeveloped block from another company and appointed a well operator.

The Ronaldsway gas field is off the coast of Blackpool near the existing South Morecambe gas field.

Crogga is aiming to drill an appraisal well late next year, with a view to then moving its rig from the Ronaldsway field to the Independence well off the coast of Maughold.

It says the two areas share almost identical drilling and testing requirements, and delivering a two-well programme comes with logistical and cost benefits.

The firm has also confirmed its received accreditation with the North Sea Transition Authority, and has formed a new company to take steps towards participating in the renewable energy sector.

In a statement, Crogga says the Department of Infrastructure is committed to ensuring its IoM Crogga Productions Licence is compliant to facilitate drilling, and is working with the DoI towards that aim.

Outlining its business plan, the company says it aims to sell low carbon-intensity pipeline gas to the Isle of Man, UK and Europe, displacing higher carbon options like LNG and coal.

It also forecasts that the project will contribute 'very significantly' to the Isle of Man economy through royalties and taxes, and says it will be part of the Isle of Man and UK energy transition process.