VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA — (Marketwire) — 11/26/12 — Africa Oil Corp. (TSX VENTURE: AOI)(OMX: AOI) (“Africa Oil” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce the second significant oil discovery in Kenya at the Twiga South-1 well. The Twiga South-1 exploration well, located in Block 13T, onshore Kenya, has encountered 30 metres of net oil pay in Tertiary sandstone reservoirs with further potential to be assessed by testing. In addition, the well has also encountered a thick sequence of fractured rock section exhibiting oil and wet gas shows over a gross interval of 796 metres.
Twiga South-1 has been drilled to a total depth of 3,250 metres and has been successfully logged and sampled. Three sandstone reservoir units, analogous to Ngamia-1, were encountered and moveable oil, with an API greater than 30 degrees, has been recovered to surface from all three zones. Further potential exists up dip of the well and will be subsequently appraised.
In addition to the net pay in shallower reservoirs, the well also penetrated a thick section of lower porosity fractured rocks below 2,272 metres that had extensive hydrocarbon shows over a gross interval of 796 metres. Moveable oil with an API greater than 30 degrees was also successfully sampled from this section. This fractured rock section is a new play-type for the region that will be further evaluated by testing to understand its extent and any productive potential.
The Twiga South structure is the second prospect to be tested in the Lokichar Basin as part of a multi-well drilling campaign in Kenya and Ethiopia and is the first oil discovery in Block 13T. It is located over 22km to the north of the Ngamia-1 discovery and further de-risks a number of other similar features on the western margin of the basin.
A series of flow tests will now be conducted on the well over the next 4-8 weeks. Following completion of the testing program, the rig will move back to flow test the Ngamia-1 well.
Elsewhere in Africa Oil–s East African Rift basin portfolio, the Paipai-1 well in Block 10A in Kenya is drilling as planned and results are expected to be released by the end of the year. Mobilization of the drilling rig for the Sabisa-1 well in the South Omo Block in Ethiopia is proceeding and the well is expected to commence drilling by the end of December.
Keith Hill, President and CEO of Africa Oil commented, “This second discovery, immediately following the basin-opening Ngamia-1 well result earlier this year, reaffirms the considerable prospectivity of the Lokichar Basin. Of notable interest, is the new fractured play opportunity which has been encountered for the first time in East Africa. We are very pleased with these exciting results to date and have significantly expanded our plans in Kenya and Ethiopia. With over 100 significant prospects and leads identified and an active drilling program with at least 3 drilling rigs operational, there is much to look forward to in 2013 as the exploration campaign and testing program move ahead.”
The Twiga South-1 well is operated by Tullow Oil plc who hold a 50% working interest. Africa Oil holds the remaining 50% interest.
Africa Oil Corp. is a Canadian oil and gas company with assets in Kenya, Ethiopia and Mali as well as Puntland (Somalia) through its 45% equity interest in Horn Petroleum Corporation. Africa Oil–s East African holdings are in within a world-class exploration play fairway with a total gross land package in this prolific region in excess of 300,000 square kilometers. The East African Rift Basin system is one of the last of the great rift basins to be explored. New discoveries have been announced on all sides of Africa Oil–s virtually unexplored land position including the major Albert Graben oil discovery in neighboring Uganda. Africa Oil–s recent Ngamia-1 discovery extends the Albert Graben play into Kenya where Africa Oil along with partner Tullow holds a dominant acreage position. Newly acquired seismic and gravity data show robust leads and prospects throughout Africa Oil–s project areas. The Company is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange and on First North at NASDAQ OMX-Stockholm under the symbol “AOI”.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain statements made and information contained herein constitute “forward-looking information” (within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation). Such statements and information (together, “forward looking statements”) relate to future events or the Company–s future performance, business prospects or opportunities. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to estimates of reserves and or resources, future production levels, future capital expenditures and their allocation to exploration and development activities, future drilling and other exploration and development activities, ultimate recovery of reserves or resources and dates by which certain areas will be explored, developed or reach expected operating capacity, that are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management.
All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking statements. Statements concerning proven and probable reserves and resource estimates may also be deemed to constitute forward-looking statements and reflect conclusions that are based on certain assumptions that the reserves and resources can be economically exploited. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as “seek”, “anticipate”, “plan”, “continue”, “estimate”, “expect, “may”, “will”, “project”, “predict”, “potential”, “targeting”, “intend”, “could”, “might”, “should”, “believe” and similar expressions) are not statements of historical fact and may be “forward-looking statements”. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements. The Company believes that the expectations reflected in those forward-looking statements are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements should not be unduly relied upon. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable laws. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties relating to, among other things, changes in oil prices, results of exploration and development activities, uninsured risks, regulatory changes, defects in title, availability of materials and equipment, timeliness of government or other regulatory approvals, actual performance of facilities, availability of financing on reasonable terms, availability of third party service providers, equipment and processes relative to specifications and expectations and unanticipated environmental impacts on operations. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD
Keith C. Hill, President and CEO
Africa Oil–s Certified Advisor on NASDAQ OMX First North is Pareto Ohman AB.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Contacts:
Africa Oil Corp.
Sophia Shane
Corporate Development
(604) 689-7842
(604) 689-4250 (FAX)