Irish oil and gas firm Providence Resources said it will drill a number of wells worldwide next year in what was an upbeat end-of-year statement.
In the trading statement, chief executive Tony O'Reilly jnr said the company was going into 2008 with a clear strategy, an enhanced asset portfolio and a solid financial base.
He said 2007 has been an "extremely positive year" for Providence, "not least in Ireland where the discovery of oil at Hook Head, the continuing work on our west of Ireland prospects at Dunquin and Goban Spur and the ongoing farm out process at our Spanish Point Project".
"Based on our current plans for 2008 (and subject to the availability of rigs), we intend to drill a number of wells next year across our whole portfolio in Ireland, the UK, the US (Gulf of Mexico) and Nigeria," Mr O'Reilly added.