PROVIDENCE ANNOUNCES IRELAND 2007 DRILLING PROG...
30 March 2007
PROVIDENCE ANNOUNCES
IRELAND 2007 DRILLING PROGRAMME
Providence, the AIM (London) and IEX (Dublin) listed oil and gas
exploration and production company, is today pleased to announce
details of its summer drilling programme in the Celtic Sea, offshore
Ireland.
Using the Petrolia semi-submersible drilling rig, which has been
secured for a 50 day drilling slot, Providence and its partners have
elected to drill an appraisal well on the crest of the Hook Head
prospect.
The Hook Head structure is a large mid-basinal anticline where two
previous wells have successfully encountered hydrocarbon bearing
sands. The original IRL50/11-1 discovery well, which was drilled by
Marathon in 1971, logged c. 100 feet of hydrocarbons in five
sandstone units of Lower Cretaceous age. The well was not flow-tested
due to severe operational issues at the time. The subsequent
IRL50/11-2 appraisal well, which was drilled by Marathon in 1975 was
drilled as a delineation well at the down-dip edge of the structure.
Post-drill mapping by Marathon indicates that the crest of the
structure is located to the north-east of the IRL50/11-1 discovery
well, which is further supported by the seismic data acquired by
Providence in 2006. This crestal location is some 2 km northeast of
the IRL50/11-1 well and is thought to be c. 70 metres structurally
higher than the original well. The most recent in-house volumetric
estimates suggest that the Hook Head discovery could contain
prospective resources of up to c.70 MMBO or 250 BSCFG REC.
Commenting on today's announcement, Tony O'Reilly Jnr., Chief
Executive, said:
"I am delighted to announce that Providence and its partners have
agreed to drill Hook Head this summer. This well is not only
important for proving up commercial quantities of hydrocarbons at
Hook Head, but success here will also open up other fields in the
Celtic Sea for future development. I look forward to updating you
further over the next few months on this very exciting programme".
Contacts:
Providence Resources P.l.c.
Tony O'Reilly Jnr., Chief Executive Tel: + 353 (1) 219 4074
Powerscourt Media
Victoria Brough Tel: + 44 (0) 207 236 5622
Murray Consultants
Pauline McAlester Tel: + 353 (1) 498 0300
Notes to Editors
About Providence
Providence Resources P.l.c. is an independent oil and gas exploration
company listed on AIM (London) and IEX (Dublin) markets. The Company
was founded in 1997, but with roots going back to 1981 when it
predecessor company, Atlantic Resources Plc was formed by a group of
investors led by Sir Anthony O'Reilly.
Providence's active oil and gas portfolio includes interests in
Ireland (offshore), the UK (onshore and offshore), the Gulf of Mexico
(USA) and West Africa (offshore Nigeria). Providence's portfolio is
balanced between production, appraisal and exploration assets, as
well as being diversified geographically.
Recent key corporate announcements include:
* New Celtic Sea Licence 3/07, Positive OBS Survey (announced 28
March, 2007)
* Initial Farm out at Spanish Point (announced March 15th, 2007)
* Celtic Sea Farm-out to Forest Gate Resources Inc. (announced
Feb 23rd, 2007)
* Celtic Sea Farm-out to DYAS and Atlantic Petroleum (announced
Feb 7th, 2007)
* Grant of Standard Exploration Licence 1/07 and 2/07 Ireland
(announced Feb 6th, 2007)
* Award of Licence in UK 24th Seaward Round (announced Feb 2nd,
2007)
* Providence makes oil and gas discovery in Gulf of Mexico
(announced Jan 25th, 2007)
* Award of Goban Spur Licencing Option with ExxonMobil & Sosina
(announced Nov 1st 2006)
* Secures Rig Slot for 2007 (announced Sept. 25th, 2006);
* 20% Farm-out Deal agreed with CMI on Celtic Sea Licences
(announced Sept 5th, 2006);
* Completion of Dunquin Seismic (announced Aug. 8th, 2006);
* Increased production at its Singleton oilfield (announced
March 7th, 2006);
* Dunquin Farm-out to ExxonMobil (announced on Feb 13th, 2006);
and
* ¤50 million Revolving Credit Finance Facility with Macquarie
(announced on Feb 2nd, 2006);
Comprehensive information on Providence and its oil and gas
portfolio, including its 2005 AIM Admission document, 2005 Annual
Report, Interim Report 2005 and recent press releases are all
available from Providence's website at www.providenceresources.com
About Hook Head
Providence holds a 40% interest and is operator of SEL 2/07 which
contains the Hook Head prospect. Located in the North Celtic Sea
Basin, in some 80 metres of water, the area is located some 60 km off
the coast. Providence's partners in this licence are: CMI 15%, DYAS,
15%, Atlantic Petroleum 10%, ForestGate Resources Inc 15% and Midmar
Energy Limited 5%.
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