DRILLING of an oil well at Woodburn Forest in Co Antrim will begin in May, the company behind the controversial project has announced.
It comes after contractors moved onto the site near Carrickfergus last week amid ongoing protests.
Those objecting to the drill are concerned about the potential impact on water supplies provided by Woodburn reservoir to thousands of homes across Co Antrim.
On Saturday, protesters from the Stop the Drill campaign group gathered at the SDLP conference in Derry to lobby environment minister Mark H Durkan and other prominent party figures to support a review of the plans.
However, in a statement, InfraStrata confirmed that "drilling of the well is expected to commence in May 2016" at a cost of £4 million.
Chief executive officer Dr Andrew Hindle said: "InfraStrata believes there could be energy reserves within the area to sustain Northern Ireland’s energy needs for 25 years.
"The wellsite will be made fully watertight preventing any liquids on the site from penetrating the ground below and will be surrounded by a high bund to trap all fluids, for safe and professional disposal."
The Irish News reported on Thursday that the Department of the Environment gave InfraStrata permission to carry out an exploratory borehole in Woodburn Forest by default after ignoring a request for its views when the company submitted notification in August 2013.
Following the story, Mr Durkan announced a two-month consultation period as part of a review into legislation covering development rights for oil and gas exploration.
He said he is "keen to ensure situations such as the confusion in the planning process at Woodburn are avoided".
Last week a High Court judge adjourned an application for an injunction sought by InfraStrata to stop alleged trespassing by protesters after hearing that contractors were able to get onto the site without obstruction.
