A Swiss shipping group is seeking compensation of more than €31 million from the Corrib gas partners, led by Shell, over the suspension of the project.
The Allseas group, based in Chatel St Denis, was due to provide a laybarge last week for the construction of the subsea pipeline to a landfall in Co Mayo from the gas field. But the project was suspended 10 days ago after An Bord Pleanála sought additional information about an onshore gas treatment plant required to prepare the energy for importation into the national grid.
Any revision of the plans for the gas treatment building or any changes required by An Bord Pleanála could change the direction of the pipeline from the field, which lies in very deep water.
An Allseas vessel, the Solitaire, was contracted to begin the project immediately after it finished work for Bord Gáis on a new gas interconnector between Moffat, west Scotland, and Dublin.
It is understood that significant compensation is being sought because the suspension came days before the vessel was due to start work.
This prompted Bord Gáis to halt work on a separate pipeline linking the landfall with Galway.
The Solitaire is 300m long with 350 staff. It has capacity to carry 420 workers, 15,000 tonnes of material and can lay piping at a rate of more than 8 kms per day. The largest and one of the most expensive of such barges in the world, it is expected to be redeployed to the Gulf of Mexico.
Allseas is controlled by a Dutch-born businessman, Mr Edward Herema. The compensation being sought by Allseas is believed to be in the order of £20 million sterling (€31.77 million). A spokeswoman for Allseas would say only: "I can't say it's true and I can't say it's untrue."
Shell and its partners Statoil and Marathon are expected to attempt to negotiate that sum down. The lead partner is understood to be confident that this can be achieved, although the compensation will be significant even in the event of a lower figure being agreed. A settlement is likely to account for the possibility that the project will be restarted.
That is dependent on An Bord Pleanála taking a positive view of updated information, which Shell must provide by September 20th. The plans went to the appeals board after initial permission by Mayo Co Council was challenged on environmental grounds by a number of individuals and groups.
Shell acquired the original project leader, Enterprise Oil, for £3.5 billion sterling earlier this year. The company says it is fully committed to the Corrib project, despite its planning difficulties. These have prompted significant delays in bringing gas to the market.
With this in mind, some individuals believe certain Irish corporate entities might be waiting in the wings to possibly acquire the project should Shell fail in the next phase of the planning process.
Shell reported mixed results on Thursday, pledging to step up cost savings and cut €457.8 million from the bottom line.
Net income in the April-June period fell 39 per cent to €2.24 billion from the second quarter last year. "Our results this quarter were frankly not as good as we wanted," said its chairman, Mr Phil Watts.
The Irish activities represent only a minor part of the Enterprise business, although the company has begun drilling a new well 125 kms north-west of Donegal.
