Oil and gas company Providence Resources has said it has received formal notification in respect of a contract for the deep-water semi-submersible rig, the Eirik Raude, from ExxonMobil.
The rig will be used to drill the Dunquin field in the south Porcupine basin off the west coast of Ireland.
Providence holds a 16% stake in Dunquin which involves a promoted carry. Other partners are ENI, Repsol and Sosina with ExxonMobil as operator.
The rig is secured for six months with the well expected to take up to 90 days to complete.
''We are extremely pleased to confirm that this letter of intent has now been agreed, and that drilling operations at Dunquin are being planned to start in the first quarter of 2013. The Dunquin well forms an important part of Providence’s ongoing Irish multi-basin, multi-well drilling programme'', commented Providence's chief executive Tony O'Reilly.
