Speaking to Upstream, technical director John O’Sullivan said that explorer, which holds an 80% stake in the Celtic Sea play, was expecting the results of a review by UK-based project engineering specialists of 18 to 20 development options in the next few weeks.

He stressed that no decision had yet been taken, adding that Irish regulatory authorities would also have a say, but said the geographical and technical situation would dictate that a fixed platform was the most likely scenario.

“We’re