Marque Oil & Gas has rejected Ørsted’s assertion that shallow gas poses “no significant risk” to the proposed Mooir Vannin offshore wind farm.
It comes after Ørsted responded to Marque’s objections to its plans for a wind farm in Manx waters.
The fossil fuel firm says Ørsted has not assessed deeper geology beneath the site, including major fault zones and shallow gas pockets directly below several turbine locations.
It warns that the high-energy pile driving required to install turbine foundations could reopen natural cracks, creating pathways for gas to migrate upwards.
Hazards
Marque claims this risk and its potential safety and environmental consequences remain unevaluated and unquantified by the developer.
It argues Ørsted’s conclusion is based on data examining only the uppermost seabed, which cannot detect deeper hazards.
“The risk we have identified lies outside the depth range of their surveys,” the company stated.
Dr Ronnie Parr, Subsurface Director for Marque Oil & Gas, said: “It is disappointing that Ørsted are not taking this overlooked and potentially very hazardous risk seriously.
“We are prepared to provide our comprehensive technical assessment of this risk to the independent assessors.”
Marque concludes the only viable mitigation is to relocate affected turbines, as the site-specific hazard cannot be removed by additional survey work.