Providence Resources plc : Barryroe Well Testin...

23^rd March 2012
Embargo 7am

BARRYROE WELL TESTING UPDATE

• UPPER GAS BEARING RESERVOIR PROVES TO BE HIGHLY PRODUCTIVE  

• WELL NOW SUSPENDED AND RIG DEMOBILISATION UNDERWAY 

Providence Resources P.l.c., ('Providence') the London (AIM) and Dublin (ESM) quoted oil and gas exploration and production company is pleased to provide a final testing update from its Barryroe well, offshore southern Ireland.  The 48/24-10z Barryroe appraisal well is located in c. 100 metre water depth, c. 50 kilometres offshore Ireland in Standard Exploration Licence (SEL) 1/11 in the North Celtic Sea Basin. Providence (80%) operates SEL 1/11 on behalf of its partner Lansdowne Oil & Gas plc (20%).

Following 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, see RNS announcement of March 15^th), 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 test, 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. Well suspension operations are now complete and the rig will be demobilized to the UK imminently.

Commenting on this further successful test, Tony O'Reilly, CEO of Providence said:

"We are very pleased to confirm that the gas zone was far more productive than we had anticipated. The well lies just 3 km from installed pipeline infrastructure which may provide a future route to monetize any surplus Barryroe gas production. It is particularly pleasing to note that both the oil and gas zones have far exceeded our pre-drill expectations, both in terms of reservoir development and more importantly, oil and gas flow rates. I once again wish to express our thanks to all involved in this testing programme, which has demonstrated such a substantial cumulative flow rate potential from this vertical Barryroe appraisal well."

CONTACTS:

Providence Resources Plc Tony O'Reilly	Tel: [phone]
Powerscourt Rory Godson / Lisa Kavanagh	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 (0)1 679 6363

ABOUT PROVIDENCE
Providence Resources Plc is an Irish based oil and gas exploration company whose shares are traded on the AIM market in London 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 announced plans to invest with its partners upwards of $500 million in the drilling of a number of exploration and development wells in 6 different basins offshore Ireland. This multi-year 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%).

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.

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.

---

This announcement is distributed by Thomson Reuters on behalf of Thomson Reuters clients.

The owner of this announcement warrants that:
(i) the releases contained herein are protected by copyright and other applicable laws; and
(ii) they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the
information contained therein.

Source: Providence Resources plc via Thomson Reuters ONE

HUG#1596718