Italy: Petroceltic to Suspend Elsa-2 Permit Due to New Drilling Restrictions

Petroceltic International plc , the independent oil & gas exploration company focused on the Middle East, North Africa and Mediterranean region, today announces that due to continued uncertainty regarding the application of the proposed decree to restrict drilling in the Italian seas, Petroceltic Italia S.r.l. has lodged an application with the Ministry of Economic Development, to suspend the current timing of the delivery of the Company’s commitments on the B.R268.RG permit (“the Permit”).

The Company has taken this decision as under the existing terms of the Permit and Petroceltic’s Farm-in Agreement with Vega Oil S.p.A. (a subsidiary of Cygam Energy Inc.), Petroceltic is required to spud the Elsa-2 well prior to 31 October 2010. Given the continued legislative uncertainty, the Company cannot commit at present to a timetable to procure long lead items and to conclude the rig negotiations that would enable a pre-31 October 2010 spud date.

The proposed legislative changes, which have not yet been published, would prohibit drilling in Italian seas within 5 nautical miles of the coastline and within 12 nautical miles around the perimeter of protected Marine Parks. Petroceltic was scheduled to spud the Elsa 2 well in Q4 2010 in a location on the Permit that is likely to be affected by the proposed restrictions. The Company has applied to have the suspension of the Permit back dated to April 16th 2010, which is the date on which the last official correspondence on the Environmental application took place.

The permit will remain suspended until such time as the Ministry of Environment issue the decree of environmental compatibility for Petroceltic’s drilling program. Once this environmental approval has been received the Company will have sufficient time remaining on the Permit to drill the Elsa-2 well. Petroceltic intends to continue with the existing environmental permitting process, which is at an advanced stage whilst the implications of the proposed changes to legislation are assessed. The Elsa field was discovered in 1992 by AGIP with the drilling of the Elsa-1 well, which encountered an oil column of 65 meters in the Lower Cretaceous Maiolica Formation at a depth of approximately 4,500 meters.

A TRACS Competent Person’s Report on the Elsa field published in March 2010 estimated the most likely recoverable oil reserves to be in the region of 100 MMbbl, depending on oil gravity and viscosity. Brian O’Cathain, Chief Executive of Petroceltic, commented:

“Whilst this period of uncertainty regarding the application of the proposed new legislation continues we believe that the most effective way of securing the significant inherent value in the Elsa permit is through the suspension of commitments on the Permit. This suspension of commitments until such time as Petroceltic receives environmental approval for the Elsa-2 well ensures that Petroceltic will not contravene a drilling requirement that could possibly have resulted in a loss of the permit. We continue to work together with all our stakeholders and industry partners to fulfil our commitment to the drilling of the Elsa-2 well”

Petroceltic International plc is a leading Upstream Oil and Gas Exploration and Production Company, focused on the Mediterranean, Middle East and North African area, and listed on the London Stock Exchange’s AIM Market and the Irish Stock Exchange’s ESM Market. The Company has exploration and appraisal assets in Algeria, Tunisia and Italy.

The Elsa-1 well, drilled by ENI in 1992 (with partners Elf and Enterprise Oil), encountered a 65m oil column in the dolomitised early Cretaceous Maiolica Formation. Oil was recovered to surface after a sub-optimal open hole drill stem test. The well was not completed or properly tested at the time due to operational issues. The dolomitised early Cretaceous Maiolica formation play was subsequently proven as commercial by the drilling of the Miglianico-1 discovery well on the adjacent Miglianico field in 2001. Miglianico-1 tested 34 API oil from the Maiolica formation. A number of other commercial oil accumulations are close to Elsa, including the Rospo Mare Field and the Ombrina Mare field.

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Source: Petroceltic,July 20, 2010;