Drilling at the highly anticipated Moroccan offshore licence, in which Dublin-based explorer, Fastnet Oil & Gas holds a significant stake, is expected to begin next month.

Fastnet — which has a 12.5% shareholding in the Foum Assaka field, which contains an estimated 360m barrels of oil equivalent, said yesterday that lead partner on the licence, US explorer Kosmos Energy has confirmed that it expects the FA-1 well, on the licence, to “spud” during March.

Such a date would be in line with previous timing estimates for the commencement of drilling activity and follows last month’s announcement that a rig had been secured to execute high impact drilling at the block.

This year will also see Fastnet begin drilling at its onshore Moroccan interests.

Elsewhere, yesterday, Providence Resources announced that it will pay a fixed fee for data from the largest 3D seismic programme due to be undertaken in Irish waters this year.

The Tony O’Reilly Jnr-headed exploration firm — which was recently granted a significant extension to its highly-rated Barryroe field in the Celtic Sea — is to acquire the data from international geological surveying firm, Polarcus, later this year.