‘We’re drilling in the dark’
‘Huge gaps’ in oil data
Gaps in geological data make it hard for oil drilling to be successful, geologist Peter Gatt said yesterday. The red dots represent previous drilling spots. The orange line is the boundary of the Maltese platform.
Malta has been drilling for oil in the dark, a top geologist said yesterday, suggesting a comprehensive geological survey is required to increase chances of success.
Peter Gatt called for the creation of a national institution to survey the country’s geology and insisted the country needed to “start taking geological research more seriously”.
Malta is the only EU country without a geological survey, meaning little is known of the rock composition of Maltese land and sea. As a result, exploration companies often have little to go on when drilling for oil, Dr Gatt said.
“Companies see Malta as a high-risk area, which is one reason we haven’t had that much drilling over the years and lack so much information.
“Malta has so many potential areas for exploration, with a platform 200 kilometres wide and a very large continental shelf,” he added.
The island has issued exploratory drilling licences to various companies over the years. But despite neighbours Libya, Sicily and Tunisia all having discovered oil, Maltese drills have always turned up dry.
This failure to strike black gold was largely down to “huge gaps” in geological data, Dr Gatt argued yesterday, with Malta “light years” behind countries such as the UK, with its 177-year-old British Geological Survey.
Local oil exploration has picked up again recently, after a decade-long lull.
Mediterranean Oil and Gas is likely to begin drilling next year, with sources indicating two further drilling licences are in the pipeline.
Dr Gatt’s made the comments as he presented the findings of his study into the geological composition of the Maltese sea platform.
The study analysed rock samples taken from six exploratory wells drilled by oil giants BP, Total and Shell as well as local rock outcrops.
The research findings show clear effects of climate change on Maltese rock, as wetter weather in North Africa led to a nutrient-enriched Mediterranean sea. The rock composition reflected that, Dr Gatt said.
“Rocks reflect sea level cycles, and there’s evidence of Maltese rock alternating between high- and low-nutrient ecosystems.”
According to Dr Gatt, climate change was making it increasingly likely that the Arctic pole would melt by 2030, turning the world into a unipolar one similar to that of the Oligocene period.
But aside from its findings into climate change, the research is likely to prick up the ears of oil exploration companies thirsty for data.
The irony of climate change research being used to further drilling for oil was not lost on Dr Gatt, who, however, pointed out that the findings could also help further carbon capture initiatives.
Malta Council of Science and Technology chairman Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando lauded Dr Gatt’s research as “a breakthrough for Maltese science”. The council supported Dr Gatt – an MCST employee – and his research.
Dr Pullicino Orlando also backed Dr Gatt’s calls for a national geology institution.
“We might have been going about things the wrong way,” Dr Pullicino Orlando said in reference to previous oil exploration strategies.
“MCST feels it is very important for us to have some form of geological unit to research local geology and make Malta more attractive to oil companies.”
Durham University geology professor Jon Gluyas argued the merits of carrying out such a geological audit. He has previously chaired the British Geological Survey.
Aside from the technical merits of surveys such as the BGS, Prof. Gluyas also noted that it benefited a country to have its own geological data. “Something like the BGS seeks value for the nation; private enterprise seeks value for shareholders,” he said.
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Charlie Grech
Sep 16th 2012, 08:47
Striking oil and Eurovision are just 2 things the Maltese will never see come through
A.f Ellul
Sep 16th 2012, 06:53
Why drilling so far? in the era of 55"s oil was found on the island of Malta,in Qrendi Air field and in-Naxxar, Now have pass over 60 yrs. When Mintoff said that the Libya gunboats have attack the oilrig and said that he is going to the international court, This accuse vanished .When Alfred Sant was Prime minister, oil was found on the island of Gozo, But Mintoff and his PN friend went to Gaddafi and after 3 days they return and destroy Alfred Sant from politics. After Mintoff was called a traitors
Mark Vella Bardon
Sep 15th 2012, 16:33
The cherry on the cake was when the Agip oil rig was "shooed off" in 1980 by Mintoff's friend, Gaddafi's gunboat.
A disappointed top executive asked me what the Maltese government was playing at!
It seems that there was a shortage of offshore rigs at the time and his company pounced on the opportunity to acquire Agip's rig.
The reply was that the rig was only leased to the Maltese government for three weeks!!!
Mark Vella Bardon
Sep 15th 2012, 14:46
The cherry on the cake was when the Agip oil rig was "shooed off" in 1980 by Mintoff's friend, Gaddafi's gunboat.
A disappointed top executive asked me what the Maltese government was playing at!
It seems that there was a shortage of offshore rigs at the time and his company pounced on the opportunity to acquire Agip's rig.
The reply was that the rig was only leased to the Maltese government for three weeks!!!
John Azzopoardi
Sep 15th 2012, 13:33
I have always wondered why after all these years of drilling..........over 40 years, Malta still has not brought up oil. so yes, I wonder if Malta will ever bring up oil or if there is oil, is it profitable to bring it up. Many people believe there is oil, but if there is, why hasn't it been brought up.
A.f Ellul
Sep 16th 2012, 09:05
In the era of the 55's ,oil was first found in Malta before founded in the Mediterranean, but was used for politics .in the 60,the oil companies pray the Maltese government to open the permit ion to drill for oil, but the government give permit ion to drill ,but not Deeper more than 1000 feet. In the 70 the government negotiating oil with the Arabs, Arabs drills and becomes rich and we still paying tax for our benefits. In the 90’s oil was found in Gozo, but certain ministers went to the Arabs, come back and put the government to resign and make an election. And the oil still beneath our feet. If is left and not taken all by the Arabs. This is the oil history of our Island.
Mr leo attard
Sep 15th 2012, 13:06
not only is the govt drilling in the dark, it's governing in the dark as well
Michael Debono
Sep 15th 2012, 11:34
And long may they go on drilling in the dark,we maltese seem to think that by getting oil all our woes will be over.Think again just look at west africa where the waters are so polluted the fish are dead or dying.A simple o ring you can buy here for 10cents now will suddenly cost 10 euros,property prices will soar(great for the greedy developer),prices of everything will rise substantially but local wages will remain the same.Few will get jobs in the oil industry and them that do will not get the gold plated salaries people seem to think comes with the oil(ask any maltese oilman),so forgive me if im glad they go on drilling with the lights out.Oh and buy the way the price of fuel will not come down either.
carlos ellul
Sep 15th 2012, 11:08
Money is better spent in the city gate without a gate project
Victor Vella
Sep 15th 2012, 11:05
GonziPN is telling to the cwiec Maltin that we have struck oil. While this brains are telling us that we are drilling in the dark. These brains are more credible than GonziPN, because Gonzi oligarchy has kept his party in the dark never to return to the light. It seems that GonziPN runs berserk changing all the time its coat of incompetency, corruption and lies like a pack of hungry wolves and snakes that roam in the dark as if they are in the light of illusions and vomiting their venom on everybody that comes to their way.
Peter Murray
Sep 15th 2012, 10:58
Drilling in the dark! Is the drilling being sponsored by Enemalta?
Victor Pulis
Sep 15th 2012, 09:30
I suspect that oil drilling in Malta is just a ploy that is used every election year and there is no real desire to strike black gold.
j brincat
Sep 15th 2012, 09:28
And we were given to believe that we are on the brink of extracting the black gold!
(jb)
Mark Vella Bardon
Sep 15th 2012, 09:12
Surely drilling around Malta couldn't have been like pinning blindfolded the tail on the ass of a donkey as we used to do at children's parties !!! Shocking
Mark Vella Bardon
Sep 15th 2012, 09:09
EUREKA !!!
Please choose the reason of your report below: