Imperial Oil Extends Canada Base with Celtic Exploration Acquisition

Imperial Oil announced it will participate as a 50-percent owner with ExxonMobil Canada Ltd. in Celtic Exploration Ltd. The acquisition of 100 percent of Celtic by ExxonMobil Canada announced Oct. 17, 2012 is conditional upon approval by Celtic Exploration's shareholders and Canadian regulatory authorities. Imperial Oil's participation will occur immediately after the acquisition closes, by means of a sale of a 50-percent interest in Celtic from ExxonMobil Canada to Imperial Oil. This investment represents a $1.55 billion commitment by Imperial Oil.

ExxonMobil Canada and Imperial Oil will acquire 545,000 net acres in the liquids-rich Montney shale, 104,000 net acres in the Duvernay shale and additional acreage in other areas of Alberta. Current production of the acreage to be acquired is 72 million cubic feet per day of natural gas and 4,000 barrels per day of condensate and natural gas liquids. The assets were estimated by Calgary-based Celtic Exploration at December 31, 2011 to include an estimated 128 million oil equivalent barrels of proved plus probable reserves, of which 24 percent are condensate and natural gas liquids and 76 percent natural gas.

"This acquisition will allow Imperial to diversify its strong resource base in Canada with an attractive liquids-rich natural gas play," Chairman and CEO of Imperial Oil Limited Bruce March said. "We continue to leverage our strong balance sheet and solid financial position to grow the company through strategic resource capture in key opportunity areas. This new venture represents a significant opportunity to leverage ExxonMobil's expertise in shale gas development and add value for Imperial shareholders."