Nighthawk Energy Regulatory News (HAWK)

16 October 2013

NIGHTHAWK ENERGY PLC

("Nighthawk" or "the Company")

Drilling Update

New Drilling Programme Underway

Nighthawk, the US focused oil development and production company (AIM: HAWK and OTCQX: NHEGY), announces an update on drilling at its 100% controlled and operated Smoky Hill and Jolly Ranch projects in the Denver-Julesburg Basin, Colorado.

Highlights

· Drilling of the Big Sky 12-11 well at Arikaree Creek commenced on 15 October 2013

· Big Sky 12-11 is the first well in a drilling programme scheduled to run into early 2014 comprising both development and exploration wells

· Development wells have the primary objective of increasing production whilst gathering additional information on the Arikaree Creek reservoir

· Exploration wells will target both Mississippian and Pennsylvanian formations and the programme will include extensive logging, testing and data collection, including coring

Big Sky 12-11 Well

The Big Sky 12-11 well is located in the same structural block at Arikaree Creek as the Silverton 16-10 and Snowbird 9-15 wells. These wells commenced production in July 2013 and are currently producing a combined total of 250 barrels of oil per day. Both wells produce water which is disposed of through the Company's salt-water disposal wells at Jolly Ranch. The planned target depth for the Big Sky 12-11 well is 8,700 feet, with a primary target of the Mississippian Spergen formation which is the producing zone in the Arikaree Creek oil-field. The well will be logged and cored and any additional stacked pay opportunities will be assessed.

Additional Wells

Following drilling of the Big Sky 12-11 well, the drilling rig will move to the John Craig 1-2 location, south of Limon, to drill an appraisal well targeting the Pennsylvanian Cherokee formation. This well is located immediately east of Nighthawk's John Craig 6-2 well and the decision to drill this well early in the programme follows reports of recent successful Cherokee development drilling by neighbouring operators in the immediate vicinity of the John Craig 1-2 location.

Subject to permitting and evaluation of the results from Big Sky 12-11, Nighthawk currently anticipates drilling two further Arikaree Creek development wells in November/December 2013. These additional wells will have the same objectives as the Big Sky 12-11 well.

Nighthawk plans to drill a number of additional locations within the current programme and a further announcement will be made regarding the well locations and objectives as the programme develops.

Stephen Gutteridge, Chairman of Nighthawk, commented:

"We are pleased to have this drilling programme underway on schedule. With a mix of development and exploration wells it promises to be an interesting next step in Nighthawk's development, and, in addition to further growth in our production, we anticipate adding substantially to our understanding of both the Arikaree Creek oil-field and our wider acreage position."

Chuck Wilson, Chief Operating Officer of Nighthawk, who has over 33 years of experience in the oil and gas industry and meets the criteria of qualified persons under the AIM guidance note for mining and oil and gas companies, has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this announcement.

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