Nautical Adds Blocks Offshore UK

Nautical Petroleum plc

Nautical Petroleum plc, which specializes in developing heavy oil assets in the UK and Europe, was been offered interests in seven blocks and partial blocks in four licenses in the UK's recent 24th Seaward Licensing Round.

Nautical said that the offer of these blocks represents an excellent outcome for Nautical, with all applications proving successful.

The company said that the licenses offered complement its strategy of additional exposure to selective United Kingdom Continental Shelf ("UKCS") blocks which fit the Company's development criteria and could add materially to its future resource base.

Nautical is committed to its near term drilling program on the UKCS, with a three well program planned during 2007. The Company anticipates first oil from its St. Laurent Permit in Southern France by late 2007.

Commenting on the 24th Licensing Round and the license awards, Nautical's Chief Executive, Steve Jenkins said:

"We undertook an extensive screening process in preparation for the 24th round to select high quality targets which fit our criteria. We are very pleased to have been successful in all applications.

"New drilling commitments include additional activity in 2007/8, and we look forward to this busy program ahead."

Details of the awarded blocks are outlined below:


Block(s) in offered Licenses   Operator   Partner(s)     Nautical              Obligations               License Type
                                                         Interest            Firm   Contingent;   
                                                                                    Drill or Drop (D/D)
28/9&28/10b (Split)            Oilexco    EnCore            15.0%    1 Firm Well;                        Traditional
                                                                        obtain 3D

113/29c&113/30                Nautical    EnCore            50.0%         Obtain&                  D/D   Traditional
                                                                     Reprocess 2D
                                                                              
14/30a                         EnCore     Endeavour,        20.0%    Reprocess 3D    1 Contingent Well   Traditional
                                          Lundin 
                                          Heather 
                                         
2/3 (Part)&2/4b                 Granby    Gas Plus E&P,      33.3%        Obtain &                 D/D   Promote
                                          Gas Plus O&G               Reprocess 2D
                                                                        Obtain 3D    
                                                                                 

   • Nautical has a 15% interest in the license containing blocks 28/9 and 28
    /10b (split). The operator of these blocks, Oilexco North Sea Ltd, has
    offered to drill a firm well within 12 months of award. Nautical will have
    20% of its costs for this well paid for by Oilexco.
   • Nautical will become operator of the license containing blocks 113/29c
    and 113/30. This license has a drill or drop option on a sizeable offshore
    prospect that could be drilled from an onshore location.
   • On block 14/30a, of which Nautical has a 20% equity interest, the
    operator, Encore Petroleum Ltd, has agreed to drill a well contingent on
    further evaluation of the 14/30a-2 heavy oil discovery.
   • Blocks 2/3 (part) and 2/4b have been offered under promote license terms
    that contain commitments to obtain and reprocess further seismic data.

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