Providence Resources plc : Barryroe Well Test A...

May 24^th 2012
Embargo 7am

BARRYROE WELL TEST ANALYSIS CONFIRMS PRODUCTIVITY POTENTIAL

• WELL TEST ANALYSIS INDICATES HIGH PERMEABILITY BASAL OIL BEARING RESERVOIR INTERVAL 

• HORIZONTAL DEVELOPMENT WELLS PREDICTED TO DELIVER SIGNIFICANT PRODUCTION RATES 

Providence Resources P.l.c., ("Providence") the Irish oil and gas exploration and production company, whose shares are quoted in London (AIM) and Dublin (ESM), is pleased to provide a technical update on the Barryroe oil discovery in the North Celtic Sea Basin, offshore Ireland. Providence (80%) operates Barryroe on behalf of its partner Lansdowne Oil and Gas plc. The area lies in c. 100 metre water depth and is c. 50 km off the south coast of Ireland.

A comprehensive programme of post-drill studies is continuing in order to better define the Barryroe oil in place resource and potential recoverable reserves. In early May (see RNS of May 10^th), the first of these studies detailing results of seismic inversion work confirmed that the basal hydrocarbon bearing sandstone package can be directly mapped from 3D seismic data. These data also indicated that this basal reservoir sequence is widely developed in the Barryroe area.

Providence has completed further analysis of the 48/24-10z well test data which were acquired by Schlumberger during well testing operations. The data were analyzed using a leading wellbore modeling software system to determine the potential Initial Production (IP) rates achievable from a single horizontal development well. This analysis indicates that the tested basal oil bearing sandstone package is of high quality with an average test derived permeability of c. 400 millidarcies, confirming the high productivity potential as demonstrated during the well testing operations. The analysis forecasts that a 1,000' horizontal well could deliver an IP of c. 12,500 BOPD & c. 11 MMSCFD (c. 14,300 BOEPD) through a standard 4.5" outer diameter (OD) production tubing under natural lift. Further well deliverability analysis and optimization studies are ongoing to incorporate artificial lift which is expected to form part of the field development plan. Updated oil in place estimates are expected to be finalised during Q3 2012 with the estimated recoverable reserves and associated development concept being available in Q4 2012.

Speaking today, John O'Sullivan, Technical Director of Providence said,

"We had anticipated that we were dealing with a high productivity oil system both in terms of oil mobility and reservoir development. These figures now confirm the magnitude of that productivity potential and clearly demonstrate that the Barryroe basal sands could potentially deliver oil at significantly higher production rates than was previously modeled. This obviously has an important effect on the forward development planning and potential production profiles and should serve to increase the project valuation. In addition, given that the seismic modeling is allowing us to directly map the reservoir interval from the 3D seismic data, we are now in a better position to plan for horizontal wells and benefit from their associated material incremental well production rates."

Contacts:

Providence Resources Plc Tony O'Reilly, Chief Executive John O'Sullivan, Technical Director	Tel: [phone]
Powerscourt Lisa Kavanagh/Rob Greening	Tel: [phone]
Murray Consultants Pauline McAlester/Pauline Dooley	Tel: [phone]
Cenkos Securities Plc Adrian Hargrave/ Nick Wells	Tel: [phone]
J&E Davy Eugenee Mulhern/ Stephen Barry	Tel: + 353 1 679 6363
Liberum Simon Atkinson/Clayton Bush	Tel: [phone]

ABOUT PROVIDENCE
Providence Resources Plc is an Irish based oil and gas exploration company whose shares are traded on the London AIM market and on Dublin's ESM market. Providence's portfolio of production, appraisal and exploration assets includes licence interests in Ireland (offshore) and the United Kingdom (onshore & offshore). In 2011, Providence, along with its partners, commenced a circa $500 million multi-year drilling programme on a number of exploration and development wells in 6 different basins offshore Ireland. This programme represents the largest drilling campaign ever carried out offshore Ireland. www.providenceresources.com.

ABOUT BARRYROE
The Barryroe licence lies directly below the Seven Heads Gas Field and has previously been successfully tested at flow rates of 1,300 and 1,500 BOPD from the Middle Wealden and 1,600 BOPD from the basal Wealden, from three exploration and appraisal wells. The reservoir sands are of Cretaceous Middle and Lower Wealden age located between c. 4,500' TVDSS and 7,550' TVDSS. The oil is light (30 to 42^o API) with a wax content ranging from 12 to 22 per cent. Providence holds an 80% interest in the licence and operates on behalf of its partner Lansdowne Oil and Gas Plc (20%).

On March 15th Providence announced the results of the first test which confirmed the successful testing of the lower basal 24' net oil bearing interval, which flowed c. 3,514 BOPD & 2.93 MMSCFGD (c. 4,000 BOEPD), On March 23rd, an additional 17' thick net gas bearing section was perforated to test the potential of the upper part of the basal Wealden sandstone section. The surface test spread equipment was optimized for the lower oil zone test and was therefore equipment constrained on this gas zone t est, which achieved highly productive flow rates of c. 7 MMSCFGD & 1,350 BOPD (c. 2,516 BOEPD) through a restricted 36/64" choke, with a flowing well head pressure of c. 1,700 psig. The productivity of the gas bearing interval far exceeded expectations and thereby constrained the ability to fully open the well up to its maximum potential. Preliminary modeling of the pressure data indicates that a co-mingled flow rate of c. 17 MMSCFGD & 3,350 BOPD (c. 6,183 BOEPD) at a flowing well head pressure of c. 500 psig is achievable.

In 2010 a third party audit carried out by RPS Energy for Lansdowne Oil & Gas plc indicated combined Middle and Lower Wealden P50 and P10 STOIIP estimates for Barryroe of 373 MMBO and 893 MMBO, respectively. The corresponding 2C and 3C Barryroe technically recoverable contingent resources are 59 MMBO and 144 MMBO, respectively. These figures will require revision due to the positive results of the testing of the 48/24-10z well and the ongoing post well studies.

In 2011, Providence entered into a MOA with Shell Trading and Marketing to agree an oil off-take agreement for future Barryroe oil production.

GLOSSARY
TVDSS - True Vertical Depth Subsea
^o API - Measurement Of Oil Gravity
BOPD - Barrels of Oil per Day
BOEPD - Barrels of Oil Equivalent per Day
MMSCFGD - Millions of Standard Cubic Feet of Gas per Day
SCF/STB - Standard Cubic Feet/Stock Tank Barrel
PSIG - Pounds per Square Inch Gauge

ANNOUNCEMENT
This announcement has been reviewed by John O'Sullivan, Technical Director, Providence Resources P.l.c. John holds a B.Sc. in Geology from University College Cork, Ireland, an M.Sc. in Applied Geophysics from the National University of Ireland, Galway and a M.Sc.in Technology Management from The Smurfit School of Business at University College Dublin. John is presently working part-time on a PhD dissertation at Trinity College, Dublin. John has worked in the offshore business for 20 years and is a fellow of the Geological Society of London and member of The Petroleum Exploration Society of Great Britain. Definitions in this press release are consistent with SPE guidelines.

SPE/WPC/AAPG/SPEE Petroleum Resource Management System 2007 has been used in preparing this announcement

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Source: Providence Resources plc via Thomson Reuters ONE

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