Exploration and production company Enterprise Energy Ireland said yesterday it had awarded three principal contracts worth £280 million (#360 million) to three companies in connection with the development of the Corrib gas field off the west coast of Ireland.

The Corrib gas field, discovered in 1996, was the first significant find offshore Ireland since Kinsale Head in 1973 and is located 70 km off the Mayo coast.

Enterprise Energy Ireland, said yesterday that the contracts related to sub-sea equipment and installation and the construction of an onshore terminal.