An analysis of exploration group Providence’s Barryroe well off the south coast of Ireland indicates that it could produce up to 12,500 barrels of oil a day and more than the equivalent of that in natural gas.

Providence recently ended exploratory drilling in Barryroe. The company said yesterday that analysis of the information gathered by international group Schlumberger indicated that a well drilled to 1,000ft could deliver up 12,500 barrels of oil a day and the equivalent in natural gas of 14,300 barrels a day.

Providence’s technical director John O’Sullivan said the figures confirmed the scale of Barryroe’s potential productivity.