Genel Energy Regulatory News (GENL)

Genel Energy plc

12 April 2012

Operational Update

Genel Energy plc ("Genel Energy") notes that DNO International ASA ("DNO"), as operator of the Tawke license in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, has today issued the following press release:

"DNO announced today that it has completed drilling of the Peshkabir-1 exploration well in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and is preparing to test observed oil shows across three potentially producing intervals. Full and sidewall cores suggest a continuous hydrodynamic column within the Cretaceous interval and the additional shows in the Jurassic and Triassic are the first encountered by the Company at lower depths in the Tawke license.

The Peshkabir-1 well was designed to probe a large undrilled feature west of the currently producing Tawke field. It reached total depth of 4,092 metres, the deepest well yet for the Company in Iraq. The well was spud in September 2011. Wireline logging and coring operations are underway and will be followed by a minimum of five planned flow tests, two in the Triassic, one in the Jurassic and two in the Cretaceous.

In providing further updates on drilling and other operations across its portfolio, the Company announced that the Tawke-15 well, drilled and completed in the Cretaceous in 2011 but previously shut in due to low productivity, has now tested 7,000 barrels of oil per day following a just-completed workover operation. The well has been connected to the existing pipeline and processing facilities, further boosting Tawke field deliverability.

A third well, the Tawke-14 well is drilling ahead of schedule at over 1,800 meters. The well is located within the northern flank of the field and is another of the planned 2012 wells designed to confirm and delineate the potential of the Cretaceous in an untested up-structure location. The well is expected to reach a total depth of 2,665 meters in the second quarter of 2012."

Tony Hayward, chief executive of Genel Energy said:

"Operations on the Tawke field continue according to plan and we are on track to increase capacity to 100,000 barrels of oil per day by the end of 2012.  Peshkabir-1 is the first well in our extensive exploration programme of 7 high impact wells that we are drilling over the next 18 months, and we look forward to the completion of the testing programme."

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Notes to editors:

Genel Energy is an independent oil and gas exploration and production company listed on the main market of the London Stock Exchange (LSE: GENL). The company, with headquarters in London and additional offices in Ankara and Erbil, is the largest independent oil producer and the largest holder of reserves in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. For further information, please refer to www.genelenergy.com

Genel Energy holds a 25% interest in the Tawke Field, DNO holds a 55% operated working interest and the Kurdistan Regional Government holds the remaining 20% interest.