Commencement of drilling at Barryroe

Embargo 7:00am
21(st) November, 2011


                           CELTIC SEA DRILLING UPDATE

                      COMMENCEMENT OF DRILLING AT BARRYROE


Providence Resources P.l.c., ('Providence') the London (AIM) and Dublin (ESM)
listed oil and gas exploration and production company, today announces that it
has commenced drilling at Barryroe, located in Standard Exploration Licence
1/11 in the North Celtic Sea Basin, offshore southern Ireland. Providence holds
a 50% interest in the Licence and operates on behalf of its partners San Leon
Energy Plc (30%) and Lansdowne Oil & Gas Plc (20%).

Using the GSF Arctic III semi-submersible rig, drilling of the Barryroe
appraisal well (48/24-J well) commenced on schedule at 9:45am on Sunday,
November 20(th). The drilling and testing programme is scheduled to take
approximately 60 days.

The 48/24-J well location and programme were finalised using recently processed
3D seismic volume. The well will offset and primarily appraise the previous
Marathon Oil operated 48/24-3 (1990) well, which tested c. 45(o) API light sweet
oil at c. 1,600 BOPD from Base Cretaceous sands. Using the latest technology,
the 48/24-J well is planned to acquire a modern set of wire-line logs, together
with an orientated conventional core through the primary objective. These new
data will be important in understanding the reservoir architecture, inverting
the 3D seismic volume and defining the resource base for this reservoir
interval. In addition, it is planned to test the well using vacuum insulated
tubing (VIT), which has proven to be key when dealing with high pour point
crudes such as those seen in the original well. Data in overlying secondary
objectives will also be acquired as these have tested at rates of c. 1,500 BOPD
from two previous wells on the Barryroe structure. The objective will be to
demonstrate commercial flow rates of 1,800 BOPD or better from this vertical
well.

Tony O'Reilly, Chief Executive of Providence said:

"We are extremely pleased to announce the commencement of drilling operations at
Barryroe. This is a very exciting time for Providence and its shareholders and
we look forward to updating the market on the progress from this well."


CONTACTS:

Providence Resources Plc                                         Tel: +353 (0)1
219 4074
Tony O'Reilly

Powerscourt                                                         Tel: +44
(0)207 250 1446
Rob Greening/Lisa Kavanagh

Murray Consultants                                                 Tel: +353
(0)1 498 0300
Pauline McAlester

Cenkos Securities Plc                                                 Tel: +44
(0)207 397 8900
Adrian Hargrave/Nick Wells

J&E Davy                                                         Tel: + 353 (0)1
679 6363
Eugenee Mulhern/Stephen Barry


ABOUT PROVIDENCE
Providence Resources Plc is an Irish based oil and gas exploration company
listed on the AIM market in London and on Dublin's ESM market. Providence's
portfolio of production, appraisal and exploration assets includes licence
interests in Ireland (offshore) and the United Kingdom (onshore). In 2011,
Providence announced plans to invest with its partners upwards of $500 million
in the drilling of a number of exploration and development wells in 6 different
basins offshore Ireland. This multi-year programme represents the largest
drilling campaign ever carried out offshore Ireland.www.providenceresources.com.

ABOUT BARRYROE
The Barryroe licence lies directly below the Seven Heads Gas Field and has been
successfully tested at flow rates of between 1,300 and 1,600 BOPD, from three
exploration and appraisal wells. The reservoir sands are of Cretaceous Middle
and Lower Wealden age located between c. 4,500' TVDSS and 7,550' TVDSS. The oil
is light (30 to 42 degrees API) and contains relatively high wax content ranging
from 12 to 22 per cent, which may require treatment at surface. Providence holds
a 50% interest in the licence and operates on behalf of its partners San Leon
Energy Plc (30%) and Lansdowne Oil and Gas Plc (20%).A third party audit carried
out by RPS Energy for Lansdowne Oil & Gas plc indicated P50 and P10 STOIIP
estimates for Barryroe of 373 MMBO and 893 MMBO, respectively. The corresponding
2C and 3C Barryroe technically recoverable contingent resources are 59 MMBO and
144 MMBO, respectively. Providence entered into a MOA with Shell Trading and
Marketing to agree an oil off-take agreement for future Barryroe oil production.

ANNOUNCEMENT
This announcement has been reviewed by John O'Sullivan, Technical Director,
Providence Resources P.l.c. John holds a B.Sc. in Geology from University
College Cork, Ireland, an M.Sc. in Applied Geophysics from the National
University of Ireland, Galway and a M.Sc.in Technology Management from The
Smurfit School of Business at University College Dublin. John is presently
working part-time on a PhD dissertation at Trinity College, Dublin. John has
worked in the offshore business for 20 years and is a fellow of the Geological
Society of London and member of The Petroleum Exploration Society of Great
Britain. Definitions in this press release are consistent with SPE guidelines.

SPE/WPC/AAPG/SPEE Petroleum Resource Management System 2007 has been used in
preparing this announcement






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Source: Providence Resources plc via Thomson Reuters ONE

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