Providence Resources looks to drill two further exploration wells off southern and eastern Ireland this year, following its recently completed Barryroe appraisal well in the Celtic Sea.

Norwegian Energy Co. ASA (Noreco) has spudded exploration well 6201/11-3 in PL 519 in the North Sea.

Petroleum Safety Norway has authorized BP Norge to drill an exploration well in the Norwegian Sea.

Statoil (OSE:STL;NYSE:STO) and partners Eni (MI:ENI;NYSE:E) and Petoro have agreed on further exploration drilling in the Skrugard area of the Norwegian Barents Sea.

Centrica Resources Norge has started drilling the Cooper prospect in the Norwegian Sea, using the semisub West Alpha.

The semisub Bredford Dolphin has started drilling an exploration well for Lundin Petroleum (NASDAQ:LUPE) on the Albert prospect in the Norwegian North Sea.

Caithness Oil has brought onstream the Lybster oil field in the nearshore Inner Moray Firth off northern Scotland.

A side track of the Johan Sverdrup appraisal well 16/2-11 in the Norwegian North Sea has confirmed good quality in Upper and Middle Jurassic reservoir, according to operator Lundin Petroleum (NASDAQ:LUPE).

Premier is abandoning its Stingray exploration well in the UK North Sea as a dry hole.