US exploration and production firm Noble Energy has confirmed that it has made a new natural gas discovery off the coast of Equatorial Guinea.

According to a statement released by the firm, the find was made at the Diega offshore site, though as yet no figures have been released regarding the production potential of the multiple hydrocarbon-bearing reservoirs.

Noble Energy currently holds a 40 per cent interest in the site off the coast of the African state, with the company likely to open up the production to international partners once initial drilling has been concluded.

At the same time, the company has reported that its ongoing projects in the Gulf of Mexico are likely to push up its exploration costs for the second quarter of the year to around $110 million, with full-year drilling costs predicted to top $300 million.

Noble has also made another hydrocarbon discovery off the coast of Mexico in recent weeks, though work in the region has now been halted for the time being while the company assesses its future development options.