Circle Oil Plc Regulatory News (COP)

6 May 2014

Circle Oil Plc 

("Circle" or the "Company")

Operating Update Egypt

Circle Oil Plc (AIM: COP), the international oil and gas exploration, development and production company, is pleased to announce the following operating update.

Al Amir SE Field ("AASE") and the Geyad Field

The AASE-21 well was spud on 9 March 2014 and is located about 1,100 metres south-east of the AASE-4 well and 750 metres north-west of the AASE-1X well to appraise both the Shagar and Rahmi sands for production. The well encountered the Kareem sands with 19 feet of net oil pay in the Shagar and 4 feet of net oil pay in the Rahmi, both zones of good reservoir quality. The well has been completed as a Shagar producer and initial short term testing has yielded flow rates, on a 48/64" choke, of 3,005 bopd and 3.228 MMscf/d of gas (587 boepd) for a total of 3,592 boepd.

Current gross daily production rate over the last month from the AASE and Geyad fields continues at approximately 11,000 bopd and 11 MMscf/d. Total gross production from the NW Gemsa fields has now exceeded 15.3 MMbo of 42 degree API crude oil with a water injection total of 19.9 MMbw.

After drilling the AASE-21 well the rig was moved to drill AASE-22, planned as an infill support injector well, 500 metres north and up dip of the AASE-8 injector in the western central part of the field. Following completion of AASE-22 the rig will be released on sub contract for the rest of 2014.

A dynamic reservoir model to assess reservoir behaviour for the future is in construction to provide input for the effective and efficient management of the AASE field. This reservoir management study will also permit the planning for any future infill drilling both for producers and injectors to maximise reserve recovery for the medium and long term.

The Al Amir and Geyad Development Leases cover an area of 82 square kilometres, and lie about 300 kilometres south-east of Cairo in a partially unexplored area of the Gulf of Suez Basin.

The concession agreement included the right of conversion to a production licence of 20 years, plus extensions, in the event of commercial discoveries. The NW Gemsa Concession partners include: Vegas Oil and Gas (50% interest and operator); Circle Oil Plc (40% interest); and Sea Dragon Energy (10% interest).

Prof Chris Green, CEO, said

"Circle is very pleased with the results of the infill producer AASE-21 well, which will provide additional oil and gas production from the Al Amir SE field."

Glossary

In accordance with the guidelines of the AIM Market of the London Stock Exchange, Professor Chris Green, Chief Executive Officer of Circle Oil Plc, an explorationist and geophysicist with over thirty years oil & gas industry experience, and Dr Stuart Harker, VP Geology, also with over 30 years experience, are the qualified persons as defined in the London Stock Exchange's Guidance Note for Mining and Oil and Gas companies, who have reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this announcement. Professor Green and Dr Harker have relied on primary information supplied by the operator in carrying out their review.

For further information contact:

Circle Oil Plc (+44 20 7638 9571)

Professor Chris Green, CEO

Investec (+44 20 7597 5970)Chris SimGeorge Price

James Rudd

Liberum Capital Limited (+44 20 3100 2222)Simon Atkinson

Citigate Dewe Rogerson (+44 20 7638 9571)Martin JacksonShabnam Bashir

Murray Consultants (+353 1 498 0320)Joe MurrayJoe Heron

Notes to Editors

Circle Oil Plc (AIM: COP) is an international oil & gas exploration, development and production Company holding a portfolio of assets in Morocco, Tunisia, Oman, and Egypt with a combination of low-risk, near-term production, and significant upside exploration potential. The Company listed on AIM in October 2004.

Internationally, the Company has continued to expand its portfolio over the past years and now has assets in the Rharb Basin, Morocco; the Ras Marmour Permit in southern Tunisia; the Mahdia Permit offshore Tunisia, and the Zeit Bay area of Egypt. Circle also has the largest licensed acreage of any company in Oman. In addition to its prospective Block 52 offshore, Circle has an ongoing exploration programme in Block 49 onshore.

Circle's strategy is to locate and secure additional licences in prospective hydrocarbon provinces and, through targeted investment programmes, monetise the value in those assets for the benefit of shareholders. This could be achieved through farm-outs to selected partners who would then invest in and continue the development of the asset into production, or Circle may opt to use its own expertise to appraise reserves and bring assets into production, generating sustained cash flow for further investment.

Further information on Circle is available on its website at www.circleoil.net.