Parkmead has agreed with ExxonMobil subsidiary XTO UK to acquire a 15% interest in Southern North Sea blocks 48/1a, 47/5b and 48/1c, which contain the Platypus gas field and the Possum gas prospect.

Dana was founded by Cross in 1994 but he left in November last year after a hostile buy-out by South Korea’s state-run Korea National Oil Corporation.