Canadian exploration group Talisman has bought into a series of natural gas licences owned by Irish group San Leon Energy, in a deal valued at up to $80 million (€59 million). San Leon said yesterday that Talisman has agreed to take 60 per cent of three licences in the Baltic Basin in Poland with potential to deliver natural gas.

Talisman will drill one exploration well across each of the three concessions, and three further wells if the data it finds is encouraging.