IAE.L Regulatory News (IAE)

7 March 2011

Rheochem Plc

("Rheochem" or the "Company")

Athena Field Final Development Well - Drilling Commenced by Ithaca Energy

Rheochem plc, the oil and gas business with oil services, production, development and exploration assets notes the announcement made on 7 March 2011 by Ithaca Energy Inc relating to the Athena project. Rheochem has a net 10% interest in this field through its 100% ownership of Zeus Petroleum Limited.

"Ithaca Energy Inc.

Athena Field Final Development Well - Drilling Commenced

Ithaca Energy Inc. (TSX VENTURE:IAE)(AIM:IAE) announces today that the Sedco 704 semi submersible drilling unit has commenced the drilling of the final production well for the development of the Athena field ("Athena").

Well 14/18b-A2 ("the well") is being drilled from the Athena drill centre and is the final well to be drilled of a 180 day campaign of drilling and completion activities. The well is planned to be directionally drilled to produce oil reserves lying in the north west of Athena. In addition, this well is planned to intersect the top reservoir (Top Scapa A sands) at a point within the appraised Athena oil pool and continue north, drilling at a high angle to provide valuable information relating to an area of the field targeted for future development. The drilling and completion of the well as a producer is scheduled to last approximately 80 days.

Co-venturers in the Athena are Ithaca (operator, 22.5%), Dyas UK Ltd (47.5%), EWE Aktiengesellschaft (20%) and Zeus Petroleum Limited (10%).

In accordance with AIM Guidelines, Hugh Morel, BSc Physics and Geology (Durham), PhD Hydrogeology (London) and senior petroleum engineer at Ithaca Energy is the qualified person that has reviewed the technical information contained in this press release. Dr Morel has 30 years operating experience in the upstream oil industry.

Ithaca Energy Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiary Ithaca Energy (UK) Limited ("Ithaca" or "the Company"), is an oil and gas exploration, development and production company active in the United Kingdom's Continental Shelf ("UKCS"). The goal of Ithaca, in the near term, is to maximize production and achieve early production from the development of existing discoveries on properties held by Ithaca, to originate and participate in exploration and appraisal on properties held by Ithaca when capital permits, and to consider other opportunities for growth as they are identified from time to time by Ithaca.

Not for Distribution to U.S. Newswire Services or for Dissemination in the United States

Forward-looking statements

Some of the statements in this announcement are forward-looking. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding the intent, belief and current expectations of Ithaca Energy Inc. or its officers with respect to various matters. When used in this announcement, the words "expects," "believes," "anticipate," "plans," "may," "will," "should", "scheduled", "targeted", "estimated" and similar expressions, and the negatives thereof, whether used in connection with the estimated production levels, actual production levels from the Athena development, anticipated timing of the Athena development, oil in place, hydrocarbon composition or otherwise, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements are not promises or guarantees, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcome to differ materially from those suggested by any such statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this announcement. Ithaca Energy Inc. expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement contained herein to reflect any change in its expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any forward-looking statement is based except as required by applicable securities laws."

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