The proposed Corrib gas pipeline is safe provided certain conditions including a strict maximum pressure at which gas can be pumped are observed, a draft report has found.
The assessment, prepared by Advantica for Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources Noel Dempsey, has been presented to objectors in Co Mayo - five of whom were jailed over their protests against the onshore section of the pipe.
The independent report was commissioned following controversy over the initial safety assessment risk and other issues relating to the granting of permission to a Shell-led consortium to pipe gas extracted from the Corrib gas field over land in north Co Mayo.
It found the pipeline was "designed to meet or exceed appropriate standards and to international best practice". However, in one of a series of recommendations, the report said the maximum pressure at which gas can be pumped should not exceed 144 bars.
Protesters argue that the pipe will be capable of carrying gas at a rate of 340 bars of pressure whereas other gas pipelines in Ireland are set at 70 bars.
Shell have always insisted the maximum levels gas would pass through the line would be between 135 and 150 bars. Another concern of the Shell to Sea campaign, which opposed the pipeline, was the boggy ground on which the pipes are to be built.
The Advantica report said the issue was examined in detail with assistance from the Geological Survey of Ireland. "It is concluded that the pipeline section to be laid in peat will be safe provided that inter alia ground condition tests are carried out on land not previously accessible to Shell or its consultants."
It is intended that the pipe will pass within 70 metres of some of the homes along the nine-kilometre onshore stretch from Bellanaboy to Rossport. Campaigners said such close proximity to dwellings was unprecedented and that their homes would be destroyed with likely fatalities in the event of an explosion.
The report acknowledged the concerns saying there is "potential for people to be harmed in an accident at any location along the pipeline".
It recommended that the "societal risk" should be evaluated and considered by the Petroleum Affairs Division of the department before consent is granted."
The Advantica report also recommended significant steps be taken in respect of potential pipe corrosion, saying that Shell's calculations for pipe stress were "incorrect".
Mr Dempsey said the report showed the route would be acceptable if changes were made. But he refused to speculate whether Shell would carry out the recommendations.
"That is a matter for Shell. This is only a draft report. Shell will make their response known as will everyone else," he said. "But it is fair that the report does say that the pipeline has been designed to meet or exceed best international practice and standards."
A public consultation process has begun with a December 22nd deadline for submissions. A full report will then be submitted to the department's Technical Advisory Group, which is monitoring the construction of the pipeline.
There was implicit criticism in the report of the Department's system of granting consents for the pipeline in a recommendation that future projects be considered in their entirety rather than on a phased basis.
The report also said a formal risk-based procedure for assessing the safety of major infrastructure projects should be adopted.