African Petroleum Accelerating Multi Well Drilling Program Offshore Liberia

African Petroleum has completed drilling the first well (Apalis-1) in deep water offshore Liberia in Block LB-09.  The results of Apalis-1 confirm Blocks LB-08 and LB-09 (100% owned by African Petroleum) are located in a prospective oil basin, which is a major step forward.

The geological and geophysical data have confirmed the critical components of a working hydrocarbon system are present and functioning. The Company is now accelerating a multi well drilling program on the 25+ exploration prospects identified on Blocks LB-08 & LB-09 offshore Liberia and are planning to drill the next well during 4th quarter 2011 and 1st quarter 2012.

Apalis-1 was drilled to a depth of 3665 meters and encountered oil shows in several geological units including the shallower (Tertiary) and deeper (Cretaceous) and petrophysical analysis indicates the presence of hydrocarbons. The well also  confirmed the presence of organic oil prone source rocks confirming that Blocks LB-08 & LB-09 are in an attractive oil basin.

No commercial quality reservoir with hydrocarbons was encountered and consequently no well production test was undertaken.

The well was drilled without any technical problems and the costs have been materially under budget.

Having confirmed a working hydrocarbon system with the first well the forward exploration programme will focus on the deeper basinal zone where improved reservoir quality is anticipated in the well-developed Cretaceous fan system.

Karl Thompson, CEO, comments that “This is the first ever frontier well in the deep water in Liberia and has confirmed we are exploring in a highly prospective oil basin which was its key objective and we are committed to continuing exploration in the area”.

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Source: African Petroleum,September 9, 2011;