Providence Resources and its new Chinese partners plan to drill three appraisal wells off Ireland next year as they aim to close in on a development concept for the Barryroe oilfield.

The Irish independent and its partners in Standard Exploration Licence (SEL) 1/11 in the north Celtic Sea basin, a consortium that includes contractor China Oilfield Services Ltd (COSL), have all but decided on the locations of the three wells, each of which will have a sidetrack.