Irish independent Providence Resources has confirmed “a significant oil discovery” in the Celtic Sea at the Hook Head appraisal well offshore Ireland.

Testing of well 50/11-3 was called off for casing-cement-bond problems, although not before finding mostly net oil pay of 75 feet. Drilled on its crest, the structure revealed “good quality” 30-degree API crude from sands that were 27-percent porous.

The License 2/07 parthers Challenger Minerals, Dyas, Forest Gate Resources Inc., Atlantic Petroleum and Sosina Exploration will drill again in early 2008, provided a rig can be found to replace the Petrolia rig which drillec to total depth 4,880 ft. from atop 240 ft of water Celtic Sea.

“The partners have now moved to suspend the well for future re-entry and potential use as a production well,” company managerment said in a statement.

ws@scandoil.com