The UK-listed independent said in a pre-close trading update that it expects to spend the bulk of its $125 million 2017 exploration and appraisal budget in Sengalese waters.

It has already lined up the drillship Stena DrillMax for the campaign, which will begin this month.

The company said the two wells will be drilled “with the aim of providing key connectivity and deliverability data from upper reservoirs by conducting well tests, including interference testing”.

It