Exploration firm Providence Resources has begun drilling on its Dunquin well, off the west coast of Ireland.

The Dublin and London-listed company said drilling operations are expected to take several months to complete using a semi-submersible drilling unit.

"This is a landmark well given that it is the first to be drilled in the central part of the deep-water southern Porcupine Basin and is designed to test a new and potentially material Lower Cretaceous carbonate exploration play concept," chief executive Tony O'Reilly said.

"The well is the second of six wells being drilled as part of Providence's Irish concerted multi-basin, multi-well drilling programme which kicked off in November 2011 with the Barryroe appraisal well,'' he added.