TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (AP): A congregation of Catholic nuns in western Indiana is letting a company look for oil on its property.

The seismic testing is expected through the weekend on land belonging to the Sisters of Providence of St. Mary-of-the-Woods near Terre Haute. The testing comes after numerous oil finds in the area over the last few years.

Congregation leader Sister Denise Wilkinson says the nuns struggled with the decision since they place a high value on environmental protection. She says it came down to needing money to support the congregation's nearly 340 nuns, who have a median age of 78.

CountryMark oil company CEO Charlie Smith says even if the tests are promising, it could be more than a year before drilling would start.