In a statement yesterday, the Perth-based junior said it has contracted CGG Services to undertake the 19-day survey, which was designed to high grade leads and prospects identified from reprocessing and interpreting the existing data.

As well as the high grading, the new seismic is also expected to help identify new prospects and leads, it said.

Following the new survey, Cooper said it expects to undertake further exploration in the permit by shooting a detailed 2D or 3D seismic survey in 2008 and drilling an exploration well in 2009.

Located between the prolific oil-producing countries of Libya and Algeria in North Africa, Tunisia is an established oil and gas producer with production of 80,000-100,000 barrels of oil per day over the past decade.

The country has a good existing network of oil and gas pipelines, five of which export gas to Europe via Sicily.

The Bargou Block has easy access to nearby onshore gas pipelines and the major shipping port of Sousse on the western boundary of the permit area.