InfraStrata presses on with drilling as Woodburn Forest hearing adjourned

Independent petroleum exploration and gas storage company InfraStrata made a public statement on the contentious Woodburn Forest project on Friday, promising to progress with its drilling programme as a possible injunction hearing loomed.

On Thursday, the High Court in Northern Ireland was told that Mid and East Antrim Borough Council would re-examine disputed issues over drilling work at the forest by the beginning of next week.

Local resident Richard Irwin won permission last week to seek a judicial review of the council’s decision over the work.

He believes development rights at the site should never have been granted to InfraStrata, saying the company should have gone through a full planning application due to the scale of the work involved.

On Friday, InfraStrata confirmed that a date for an injunction hearing has not been set.

“A further request by the individual to seek an injunction to stop the drilling has not been pursued, and the company continues to progress with its drilling programme and will update the market as necessary,” the firm’s board said in a statement.

InfraStrata claimed to have no further information on the matter, though it was aware of ongoing protest over the site.

“The local authority and other agencies have been, and are addressing complaints from the individual and protesters regarding the company’s operations on the site, and the company has provided all possible cooperation in that respect.”

The case was adjourned for a week by Mr Justice Maguire on Thursday, given the council’s commitment to rapidly re-examine the issues.

Fellow AIM-traded company, Baron Oil, noted InfraStrata’s statement but offered no further comment.

It holds a farmout agreement with InfraStrata on the project, and will earn a 10% interest in it.