Providence Resources is understood to have formally begun the search for a new farm-out, or development, partner for its flagship Barryroe field off the Cork coast.

Irish exploration firm T5 Oil & Gas is understood to be sizing up a number of targets for a potential reverse takeover.

Petroceltic International has suspended its Iraqi operations and begun to evacuate "non-essential personnel" from the region on safety grounds.

Nigeria’s military launched a co-ordinated air, naval and ground assault to free 19 hostages held in militant camps in the oil-rich southern delta, apparently routing the gunmen without causing any casualties.

Oil giant Royal Dutch Shell is set to sell oilfields worth up to $5bn (€3.5bn) in Nigeria as part of a shake up of operations in the country, it was reported today.