A £20 million examination of a gas discovery off the west of Ireland will begin early next month by Enterprise Oil, following the abandonment of the project two years ago because of mechanical problems, Mr John McGoldrick, the company's Atlantic area manager, said yesterday.

Mr McGoldrick, speaking at an Irish Offshore Operators' Association international symposium on the future of oil and gas exploration for Ireland, said the data gained would ascertain the likely commerciality of the find in the Corrib field.