Kosmos Energy has completed a 3D seismic survey over frontier acreage in the South Porcupine Basin offshore Ireland.

Partner Europa Oil & Gas said Kosmos finished the 575 sq mile survey over the FEL 2/13 and FEL 3/13 licenses, with processing of the data now under way. Delivery of the processed data is expected during the first quarter of next year.

Europa said the dataset should enable detailed prospect mapping, with the intention of significantly de-risking the previously-identified prospectivity on both licenses. Depending upon the results, the partnership believes it should have sufficient technical and commercial information to make a drilling decision during the second half of 2014, with drilling to then potentially take place in 2015 or 2016.

Europa CEO Hugh Mackay said: “The 3D seismic commitment of 740 sq km on each license has been fulfilled within just four-and-a-half months of the start date of FEL. This is fast track exploration as we, led by Kosmos, target similar Cretaceous plays in the South Porcupine basin to those that Kosmos successfully pioneered in the Atlantic Margin basins offshore West Africa.

“Subject to the results of the interpretation of the newly acquired data, we could be in a position to commence well planning in the second half of 2014, as we look to prove up the company-making prospectivity on both our Irish blocks.”

Offshore