Providence Resources confirms that drilling activities have now commenced on the 44/23-1 Dunquin exploration prospect in Frontier Exploration Licence (FEL) 3/04, off the west coast of Ireland.

ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Ireland (Offshore) Limited (27.5% interest) operates FEL 3/04 on behalf of its partners, Eni Ireland B.V. (27.5% interest), Repsol Exploracion Irlanda, S.A. (25% interest), Providence Resources P.l.c. (16.0% interest) and Sosina Exploration Limited (4.0% interest). Drilling operations are expected to take several months to complete using the Eirik Raude semi-submersible drilling unit.

Commenting on this news, Tony O'Reilly, Chief Executive of Providence said:"We are pleased to confirm that drilling operations on the Dunquin exploration well have now commenced. This is a landmark well given that it is the first to be drilled in the central part of the deep-water southern Porcupine Basin and is designed to test a new and potentially material Lower Cretaceous carbonate exploration play concept. The 44/23-1 well is the second of six wells being drilled as part of Providence's Irish concerted multi-basin, multi-well drilling programme which kicked off in November 2011 with the Barryroe appraisal well. "

Tags: Providence Resources Plc