Faroe Petroleum Plc Regulatory News (FPM)

15 March 2017

Faroe Petroleum plc

("Faroe", "Faroe Petroleum", the "Company")

Boné Exploration Well Results

Faroe Petroleum, the independent oil and gas company focusing principally on exploration, appraisal and production opportunities in Norway and the UK, announces that drilling has reached target depth on the7183/12-2 Boné exploration well in the Barents Sea (Faroe 20%).

The Boné well has been drilled to a total depth of 3,501 metres. The well encountered approximately 106 metres of gross water bearing reservoir in the primary target, the Realgrunnen Group. Data acquisition and sampling has been undertaken including logging and water sampling.

The Boné exploration well was operated by Eni using the Scarabeo 8 drilling rig and is now being plugged and abandoned as planned.

Licence PL716 was awarded to Faroe in June 2013 in the Norwegian 22nd Licensing Round together with co-venturers Eni Norge AS (30% and operator), Bayerngas Norge AS (20%), Petoro AS (20%) and Point Resources AS (10%).

Graham Stewart, Chief Executive of Faroe Petroleum, commented:

"While we are disappointed that no hydrocarbons were present in the Realgrunnen section at this frontier location, the well provides important new data and information which will allow further evaluation of this extensive licence in the Barents Sea province.

"Our 2017 drilling programme continues with plans progressing well for the appraisal of the 2016 Brasse discovery this summer, which will be operated by Faroe. We are also maturing a number of exciting new drilling targets in Norway with potential to take advantage of the continuing low drilling costs.

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For further information please contact:

Andrew Roberts, Group Exploration Manager of Faroe Petroleum and a Geophysicist (BSc. Joint Honours in Physics and Chemistry from Manchester University), who has been involved in the energy industry for more than 30 years, has read and approved the exploration and appraisal disclosure in this regulatory announcement.

Notes to Editors

The Company has, through successive licence applications and acquisitions, built a substantial and diversified portfolio of exploration, appraisal, development and production assets in Norway, the UK and Ireland. 

Faroe Petroleum is an experienced licence operator having operated several exploration wells successfully in Norway and the UK and is also the production operator of the Schooner and Ketch gas fields in the U.K. Southern Gas Basin and the Trym and Oselvar fields in the Norwegian North Sea. Faroe also has extensive experience working with major and independent oil companies both in Norway and in the UK.

The Company's substantial licence portfolio provides a considerable spread of risk and reward. Faroe has an active E&A drilling programme and has interests in a portfolio of producing oil and gas fields in the UK and Norway, including the Schooner and Ketch gas fields and the Blane oil field in the UK, and interests in the Brage, Ringhorne East, Ula, Tambar, Oselvar and Trym fields in Norway. In December 2016 the Company completed the acquisition of a package of Norwegian producing assets from DONG Energy including interests in the Ula, Tambar, Oselvar and Trym fields. Full year average production for 2017, is estimated to be between 12,000-15,000 boepd. 

In November 2013 and March 2014 Faroe announced the Snilehorn and Pil discoveries in the Norwegian Sea in close proximity to the Njord and Hyme fields. More recently, in July 2016 the Company announced the Brasse discovery, next to the Brage field, and the Njord North Flank discovery, next to the Njord field, both in Norway.

Norway operates a tax efficient system which incentivises exploration, through reimbursement of 78% of costs in the subsequent year. Faroe has built an extensive portfolio of high potential exploration licences in Norway which, together with its established UK North Sea positions provides the majority of prospects targeted by the Company's sustainable exploration drilling programme.

Faroe Petroleum is quoted on the AIM Market of London Stock Exchange. The Company is funded from cash reserves and cash flow, and has access to a $250million reserve base lending facility, with a further US$100million available on an uncommitted "accordion'' basis. Faroe has a highly experienced technical team who are leaders in the areas of seismic and geological interpretation, reservoir engineering and field development, focused on creating exceptional value for its shareholders.