THE Trinity Exploration and Production run by North Sea veteran Bruce Dingwall returned to the black in the first half when the oil firm completed a refinancing directors believe has put it on a stable footing.

Trinidad-focused Trinity, which has a corporate development office in Edinburgh, made $1.9 million (£1.4m) operating profit before exceptionals in the six months to June, after losing $0.9m last time.

The company benefited from the increase in the crude price from the lows seen in the first half of 2016. It got an average $46.3 per barrel for its output, against $32.8/bbl last time. It said a fall in average production, to 2,397 barrels daily from 2,612 bod, reflected the natural decline in output from established fields.

Trinity recorded a $25.1m exceptional gain to reflect the impact of the arrangement reached with creditors in January, which ended a period of uncertainty. It had incurred hefty losses amid the crude price plunge.

Mr Dingwall said the company is focused on growing production while maintaining financial discipline.

Trinity plans to complete upgrade work which Mr Dingwall thinks could allow it to grow production to 3,000 bod soon.

He started Trinity after running Aberdeen-based Venture Production, which Centrica bought for £1.3 billion in 2009.