Irish oil and gas exploration and production company Providence Resources said it has successfully completed a 3D seismic acquisition project over the Barryroe oil discovery offshore Ireland.

The Dublin and London listed firm has a 50 per cent share in the licence and operates it with partners San Leon Energy and Lansdowne Oil & Gas.

The survey is part of the planned pre-development drilling programme on the Barryroe.

Drilling is due to begin in September at the licence, which lies directly below the Seven Heads Gas Field in the North Celtic Sea.

It has been successfully tested at flow rates of between 1,300 and 1,600 BOPD, from three exploration and appraisal wells.

In February this year, Providence said it entered into a memorandum of understanding with Shell Trading and Marketing to agree an oil off-take agreement for future oil production from Barryroe and Hook Head.

A few months later, Providence said it had secured a semi-submersible drilling rig for the planned drilling operations.