Empyrean Regulatory News (EME)

13 Apr 2006 09:57

Empyrean Energy PLC13 April 2006 Empyrean Energy PLC ("Empyrean" or the "Company"; Ticker: (EME)) Drilling Update • Good oil shows encountered whilst drilling at Eagle North-1 in California, USA. • Oil encountered is in the target lower Mary Bellocchi oil sands. AIM quoted Empyrean Energy PLC today announces the following update on the EagleNorth-1 well, California, USA:Victoria Petroleum NL as operator for the Eagle North-1 horizontal well in theEagle Oil Pool Development Project in the San Joaquin Basin advises that at 2300hours Central Pacific Time 12 April 2006, the current operation at Eagle North-1horizontal well was drilling ahead at 4,272 metres (14,015 feet) measured depthafter encountering oil shows in the target lower Mary Bellochi oil sand. The operator has advised good oil shows for the drilling conditions were firstseen in drill cuttings at 4,255 metres (13,960 feet ) measured depth (4,152metres TVD KB) and continue to be present. The forward plan is to drill another 25 metres to 4,293 metres (14,085 feet) andthen pull out of the hole to run 4 1/2 inch casing. The well bore is currentlyat an angle of 87 degrees from the vertical. With the Kreyengagen Shale behind the 41/2 inch liner, the Gatchell target oilsands will be drilled with a normal pressured water based KCL-Clarizan mudminimising formation invasion and maximing the evaluation of the oil bearingpotential of the oil sand. Following setting of the intermediate 41/2 inch liner, a 3 3/4 inch horizontalwell bore will then be drilled over a distance of 320 metres to within 30 metresof the Mary Bellocchi-1 oil well. This horizontal well bore will then becompleted for production with a 2 7/8 inch slotted production liner. A further update will be made as information becomes available. Executive Director - Tom Kelly commented "This type of oil show is extremelyencouraging and we look forward to being able to provide a further update as ourcompletion operations progress." The information contained in this announcement has been reviewed by theTechnical Director of Empyrean Energy Plc, Mr Frank Brophy BSc (Hons) who hasover 40 years experience as a petroleum geologist. For further information Laurence Read/ Angus Prentice Conduit PR Tel: +44 (0)207 429 6603 Mob: +44 (0)7974 982 512 Imran AhmadToby Howell HB-CorporateTel: +44(0)207 510 8600 Empyrean Energy plcTel : +44(0)207 932 2442 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange