Northern Petroleum Plc announces that its wholly owned subsidiary, Northern Petroleum Nederland B.V., (“Northern”) has now analysed the results of the hydraulic fracturing (“fraccing”) of the gas reservoirs at Wijk en Aalburg and Brakel. The results suggest that the planned combined initial production rates for later in 2009 could be more than doubled.

In late 2008 production preparation workovers and fraccing operations were conducted on the Wijk en Aalburg and Brakel gas wells. After a period of clean-up at even higher flow rates at Brakel to recover excess fluids and proppants injected during the fraccing operations, sustained flow rates were measured:

• Wijk en Aalburg - 6.0 mmcfd over a 48 hour period on a 28/64 inch choke
• Brakel - 15.8 mmcfd over a 20 hour period on a 44/64 inch choke

The Brakel flow rates were much greater than any previous predictions. The downhole pressure measuring instruments have now been recovered and current analysis of the results means that production could be initiated and sustained at rates towards the upper limit of the gas plant designed capacity around 11 mmcfd. Only after a period of production will it be possible to make a more precise assessment of the reserves with a view to revision.

The levels of petroleum liquids per unit volume of gas recovered during testing were also higher than anticipated.

The licence interests are held:

Derek Musgrove, Managing Director, Northern Petroleum Plc. stated:

“Even at current prices these fields are expected to make a meaningful contribution to the bottom line.

This is tremendously encouraging news. The flow rates in terms of barrels of oil equivalent are 2630 boed for Brakel and 1000 boed for Wijk en Aalburg. The improvements to reservoir productivity as a result of hydraulic fraccing have been well beyond expectations. It should be noted that, whilst we have always expected that flow rates would be enhanced by fraccing to levels justifying the expenditures, such increases have not been incorporated in our forecasts.

The higher than expected quantities of petroleum liquids will make a useful contribution to sales revenues. They also give rise to intriguing questions regarding the oil below the gas-oil contact in a reservoir sequence not currently thought capable of being considered an economic production unit”.

 In accordance with the AIM Rules – Guidance for Mining and Oil & Gas Companies, the information contained in this announcement has been reviewed and signed off by the Exploration and Technical Director of Northern, Mr Graham Heard CGeol FGS, who has over 30 years experience as a petroleum geologist.

For further information please contact:

Northern Petroleum Plc
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7469 2900
Richard Latham, Chairman
Derek Musgrove, Managing Director
Chris Foss, Finance Director
Graham Heard, Exploration & Technical Director

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