A potential partner paying £10mln upfront to find out more about the project could be considered to be a positive step forward, according to Oriel Securities analyst Peter Griffith.

North Sea developer Xcite Energy (LON:XEL, CVE:XEL) will strengthen its already solid financial position with the sale of technical well data from the company’s Bentley Field for £10mln (US$15mln). Once the binding agreement with the unnamed buyer is completed the cash will be added to £20.4mln the group had on the balance sheet at the end of March.

Talisman Energy (TSE:TLM) (NYSE:TLM) said Wednesday it swung to a first quarter loss, hurt by lower benchmark oil prices and production as the company works to unlock more value and refocus its operations. 

Madalena Ventures (CVE:MVN) impressed analysts at Casimir Capital today, resulting in a sharp boost in the company's share price target on the back of "strong validation" of its Argentina assets and massive upside potential, as it released a resource report uncovering an estimated 34.8 billion oil equilvaent barrels of petroleum initially in place. 

In an attempt to please investors who've witnessed a sluggish stock out of the gate in 2013, Suncor Energy (TSE:SU) is boosting its dividend 54 per cent and buying back shares.