AFR.L Regulatory News (AFR)

Afren plc (AFR LN)

Ogo drilling and resources update

Drilling results significantly above expectations P50 gross recoverable resources estimated at

774 mmboe (pre-drill estimate of 202 mmboe)

London, 19 November 2013 - Afren plc ("Afren" or the "Company") and Partners Optimum Petroleum Development Ltd and Lekoil Limited announce the suspension of current drilling operations at the Ogo prospect located on the OPL 310 licence offshore Nigeria and an update on estimated gross mean recoverable resources, significantly ahead of pre-drill expectations.

OPL 310 is located in the Upper Cretaceous fairway that runs along the West African Transform Margin. Extending from the shallow water continental shelf to deep water, the block represented a wild cat exploration opportunity in an under-explored basin. Detailed pre-drill evaluation of the block identified several prospects lying in the same Turonian, Cenomanian and Albian sandstone intervals that have yielded significant discoveries in Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire. The first exploration well drilled by the Partners was the Ogo prospect, a four-way dip-closed structure in the Turonian to Albian sandstone reservoirs, which was targeting 78 mmboe of gross P50 prospective resources. The drilling programme included a planned side-track, testing a new play of stratigraphically trapped sediments that pinch-out onto the basement high targeting 124 mmboe of gross P50 prospective resources. In total, the Partners were targeting 202 mmboe of gross P50 prospective resources.

The Ogo-1 well was drilled to a total measured depth of 10,518 ft (10,402 ft true vertical depth subsea), and encountered a gross hydrocarbon section of 524 ft, with 216 ft of net stacked pay. The Ogo-1ST reached a total measured depth (TD) of 17,987 ft (12,050 ft true vertical depth) and encountered hydrocarbon intervals in the same Turonian, Cenomanian and Albian reservoirs that were successfully drilled and logged at the Ogo-1 well. In addition, the syn-rift section encountered a 280 ft true vertical thickness gross hydrocarbon interval.

Based on the well data, the Partners estimate the P50 to P10 gross recoverable resources range to be significantly ahead of pre-drill expectations at 774 to 1,180 mmboe across the Ogo four-way dipped closed and syn-rift structures. Additional upside potential is expected in the syn-rift play. In addition, the latest PVT (Pressure-Volume-Temperature) analysis confirms excellent reservoir fluid properties with a 40 deg API, 600 GOR, 0.42 cp viscosity oil in the Turonian, a 39 deg API, 870 GOR, 0.40 cp viscosity oil in the Cenomanian and a condensate rich gas in the Albian of up to 115 bbls / mmscf. The partners expect the syn-rift to contain a light oil or a condensate rich gas.

Whilst circulating bottoms up at TD, the drill string parted at 3,390 ft and during good progress towards recovery of the drill string from the well bore, the well took a hydrocarbon kick. After the kick was safely controlled, the partners considered it prudent to move to permanently secure the well. The Partners intend to drill an appraisal well in H2 2014, ahead of development planning and will also increase 3D coverage on the block, currently covering only 25 per cent. of the block, to define further prospectivity.

Osman Shahenshah, Chief Executive of Afren, commented: 

"The Ogo and Ogo-1ST discovery continues a 100% exploration track record following discoveries at Ebok North Fault Block and the Okoro East Extension in Nigeria and the Simrit-2 and Simrit-3 exploration wells in the Kurdistan region of Iraq. Based on the well data, the Partners have identified volumes in excess of our pre-drill estimates. We look forward to further exploration results in East Africa on the El Kuran well and in Kurdistan on Maqlub-1 and the exploration tail on the BR-5".

The Partners' participating and economic interests on the block are as follows:

*Following the announcement of the farm-out to Lekoil Limited ("Lekoil") on 14 May 2013, subject to Nigerian Ministerial consent. Economic Interest post Afren and Optimum achieving cost recovery.

Link to location map - West African Transform Margin

http://www.rns-pdf.londonstockexchange.com/rns/3404T_-2013-11-18.pdf

For further information contact:

Notes to Editors

Afren plc

Afren is an independent upstream oil and gas exploration and production company listed on the main market of the London Stock Exchange and a constituent of the Financial Times Stock Exchange Index of the leading 250 UK listed companies. Afren has a portfolio of assets spanning the full cycle E&P value chain. Afren is currently producing from its assets in Nigeria and the Kurdistan region of Iraq and holds further exploration interests in Ghana, Nigeria, Côte d'Ivoire, the Kurdistan region of Iraq, Congo Brazzaville, the Joint Development Zone of Nigeria - São Tomé & Príncipe, Kenya, Ethiopia, Madagascar, Seychelles, Tanzania and South Africa. For more information please refer to www.afren.com.