Cabot Energy Regulatory News (CAB)

NORTHERN PETROLEUM PLC - Guyane Update

PR Newswire

London, April 17

Embargoed for release: 17th April 2013 at 1140

Northern Petroleum Plc (AIM:NOP) announces the joint venture decision to extendcurrent drilling operations on the Guyane Maritime permit in French Guiana. TheGM-ES-3 exploration well is the second well of a four well exploration drillingcampaign that commenced in 2012 to follow up the oil discovery at GM-ES-1 in2011.

The GM-ES-2 well had exploration objectives in the major Cingulata fan systemwithin which the original oil discovery was made in two ages of formation.GM-ES-3 has been planned to deliver exploration information in the subsidiaryPriodontes fan system to the north west of the Zaedyus oil discovery.

The GM-ES-3 well intersected a 50 metres gross section of oil stained sands inthe lower part of the Bradypus fan which was not a target formation at thislocation although it is also within the main Cingulata fan system. A 325 metresgross interval of sandstones was encountered in the targeted Priodontes fan,but these were logged with no significant hydrocarbon shows.

It has been decided by the Shell, Total, Tullow Oil and Northpet InvestmentsLimited joint venture that this well provides a suitable location to drilldeeper in a plan to penetrate the full post Atlantic rift sequence. Theduration of this additional drilling will depend upon results from theformations encountered.

This information may prove crucial to a fuller understanding of the explorationpotential of this very large licensed area. Although this extension may cause asmall delay to the further wells in this exploration programme, the earlier thedeeper formations are examined, the better the advantages to be gained from itsuse in the second part of the drilling programme and aid efforts towardsdiscovering more oil.

The well is now targeted to reach a final depth of 6438 meters subject tooperational factors.

Derek Musgrove, Managing Director of Northern stated:

"Following the oil discoveries of GM-ES-1 in 2011, the task before us was toexplore the licence to ascertain its wider potential. Whilst the sand packagein the primary target proved not to have significant hydrocarbons at thislocation, the oil staining encountered in the Bradypus fan is encouraging ofthe broader active hydrocarbon systems and potential.

"Northern supports this fuller exploration approach to this well. It is likelyto provide Partners with further geological data imperative to gaining furtherunderstanding of the complex geology in this area"

In accordance with AIM Rules - Guidance for Mining and Oil & Gas Companies, theinformation contained in this announcement has been reviewed and signed off bythe Exploration and Technical Director of Northern, Mr Graham Heard, CGeol.FGS, who has over 35 years' experience as a petroleum geologist. He hascomplied, read and approved the technical disclosure in this regulatoryannouncement. The technical disclosure in this announcement complies with theSPE/WPC standard.

For further information please contact:

Derek Musgrove, Managing Director

Graham Heard, Exploration and Technical Director

Richard Baty - Corporate Finance

Northern is a full cycle oil and gas company currently holding numerouslicences in a number of low risk areas and is continuing with its strategy ofadding and securing value for shareholders as it engages with projects at allstages of the E&P value chain.

Comprehensive information on Northern and its oil and gas operations, includingall press releases, annual reports and interim reports are available fromNorthern's website www.northpet.com