8 May 2007 10:00
Embargoed for release: 1000 on 08 May 2007
Northern Petroleum Plc ("Northern" or the "Company") Appointment of Exploration and Technical Director
Northern is pleased to announce the appointment to the Board, with immediate effect, of Graham Heard CGeol FGS as Exploration and Technical Director.
Graham, aged 56, has been the Exploration Manager of Northern for the last four and a half years. He is a former Chairman (1991) of the Petroleum Exploration Society of Great Britain. Graham has over 30 years experience as a petroleum geologist, beginning his career with Arco and then gaining extensive international experience with independents Siebens Oil and Quintana Petroleum. He subsequently held various executive positions with Sovereign Oil & Gas Plc, Neste Production Limited and Sands Oil & Gas Plc.
Richard Latham, Chairman of Northern commented:
"Northern is now in a very active operational phase as we move to development of our assets in the Netherlands. The Company is also now well placed financially to accelerate the development of our very large asset base in Italy. Graham has played a leading role in creating these opportunities for the Company and the Board will now be able to take advantage of his wisdom and expertise during a period of rapid growth ahead. The recently announced Strategic Alliance with Dyas B.V. added to our existing programme of other exploration and development wells additionally benefits from Graham's appointment as Exploration and Technical Director. I look forward to working with him very much indeed."
The following information is disclosed pursuant to Schedule 2 (g) of the AIM Rules:
Current Directorships - Northern Group Companies:
Balnapaling Energy Holdings LimitedGas Storage LimitedNigg Environmental Services LimitedNorthern Petroleum (GB) LimitedNorthern Petroleum (UK) LimitedNP Netherlands LimitedNP North Sea LimitedNP Solent LimitedNP Weald LimitedOverseas Gas Storage LimitedPozas LimitedCurrent Directorships - Other:Lord Roberts Mews Management LimitedOil & Gas Investments Limited
Past Directorships (within the last five years):
ATI Oil Plc (formerly NP Italy Limited) AYOOPCO Limited (formerly Northern Petroleum Exploration Limited) Medusa Hydrocarbons Limited
There is no other information to disclose in accordance with Schedule 2 (g) of the AIM Rules.
Current shareholding in Northern: 12,133 shares and 525,000 warrants
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For further information please contact:
Northern Petroleum Plc Tel: +44 (0) 20 7743 6080Richard Latham, ChairmanDerek Musgrove, Managing DirectorGraham Heard, Exploration and Technical DirectorInvestec Tel: +44 (0) 20 7597 5000Michael AnsellPanmure Gordon & Co Tel: +44 (0) 20 7459 3600Katherine RoeBishopsgate Communications Tel: +44 (0) 20 7562 3350Maxine Barnes / Fran ReadNotes to Editors:Northern Petroleum Plc
Northern Petroleum Plc is an AIM listed oil and gas production, development and exploration company with core interests under its management in The Netherlands, Italy and the United Kingdom.
Northern is currently embarked upon a programme to place two oil fields and four gas fields into production with works on the first two, Ottoland and Brakel starting in March and April 2007.
The Company has recently acquired the management interests in the producing Waalwijk gas field where it intends to implement plans to increase late phase gas, production and move to develop a 30 Bcf underground gas storage facility alongside Essent and Star Energy. The receipt of an interest in Netherlands offshore block P12 as part of the NPN deal with Dyas is the second gas production acquisition in 2007 to date.
Northern's Netherland partner list is impressive.
The Company has the second largest exploration position in Italy of licences under management where activities can be expected to pick-up as the result of the extra funds now available. In addition the Company has announced plans to drill a projected eastward extension of the producing Horndean oil field in West Sussex and another exploration well in the county.
Further information on Northern is available at www.northpet.com.
NORTHERN PETROLEUM PLC