It was a big week for a pair of Irish oil executives whose respective companies saw long awaited progress - sending both shares higher.
Providence Resources PLC (LON:PVR) soared after it finally found a partner for its Barryroe project in the Celtic Sea.
A Chinese consortium led by Apec Energy has agreed to take a 50% interest in the project in return for the cost of three wells and associated side-tracks. Apec will pay half of the well costs itself, with the remaining 50% financed by a non-recourse loan set against future cashflow from the prospect.
Providence holds 80% of Barryroe (which will drop to 40%) and is the operator of the project. Lansdowne Oil & Gas PLC (LON:LOGP) currently owns the other 20% (10% after).
Elsewhere there was big news for former Providence director Philip O'Quigely as his company Falcon Oil & Gas Plc (LON:FOG) saw a boost for its Australian shale venture.
A scientific inquiry into hydraulic fracturing in Australia's Northern Territory commissioned by the region's government has concluded that the inherent risks of the controversial oil and gas extraction method can be mitigated, reduced to an acceptable level or in some cases eliminated entirely.
The conclusion, which is intended to inform the region's politicians, will be taken as good news by Falcon Oil & Gas, its partner Origin Energy and their respective investors.
A potentially significant shale discovery was unearthed by Origin and Falcon back in 2016 but at about the same time, the Northern Territory authorities put a moratorium on fracking (which would be an essential component in developing the shale).
The inquiry chair, Justice Rachel Pepper said: "It was not the role of the Inquiry to recommend whether the moratorium on hydraulic fracturing in the Northern Territory be lifted, that is a political decision that rests with the Government alone."
UK offshore firm Hurricane Energy Plc (LON:HUR) on Thursday told investors that it has brought forward a programme of boulder relocation to make room for the Lancaster field's early production system, taking the opportunity presented by prevailing market rates and vessel availability.
The company confirmed that an acceptable seabed condition for the installation of a mooring system is in place and a further boulder relocation programme will not be required ahead of the planned subsea installation operations which are due to take place in the second and third quarters of this year.
"I am pleased that the boulder relocation works completed in 2017 are sufficient to allow us to continue with our 2018 operations without the requirement for another dedicated boulder relocation programme," said Dr Robert Trice, Hurricane chief executive.
There were more reasons for investors in SDX Energy Inc (LON:SDX) to be encouraged as the company on Monday announced that it had spudded the Ibn Yunus-1X exploration well at South Disouq project, Egypt, following last year's SD-1X discovery.
Ibn Yunus-1X is the first of four planned new wells at South Disouq, and it will be followed by two appraisal wells and another exploration well. The new well is expected to take 30 days to drill.
Alaska-focused explorer 88 Energy Ltd (LON:88E, ASX: 88E) told investors that it has completed the refinancing of a loan with Bank of America on 'substantively similar' terms to the original agreement.
The debt maturity date moves to December 2022 from June 2018, and the loan has now been assigned to FCS Advisors (doing business as Brevet Capital Advisors). "The refinancing of the loan, with an extension to the maturity date, provides a more than comfortable time buffer whilst we await payment of approximately US$21m in cash credits from the State of Alaska," said Dave Wall, 88 Energy managing director.