Drilling Report

Fusion Oil & Gas PLC 10 September 2002 Fusion Oil & Gas plc ('Fusion' or 'the Company') Routine Drilling Progress Report Fusion announces that the 'Deepwater Discovery' drillship is on location at the Banda exploration prospect and is anticipated to commence drilling shortly. Following guidelines from the Mauritanian authorities, this exploration well will be designated Chinguetti-4-3. The Banda exploration prospect is an independent geological feature, situated in a water depth of 300 metres, and located approximately 21 kilometres to the east of the Chinguetti accumulation. The Banda exploration prospect is within the same reservoir sand system as the Chinguetti accumulation and will test a different geological trapping configuration. Fusion estimates that the Banda exploration prospect could hold a potential recoverable resource in the range 250 to 300 million barrels. The close proximity of the Banda exploration prospect to the Chinguetti accumulation could, in the event of joint success, result in a combined development, with potential commercial benefits. The Banda exploration prospect lies on the border between PSC B and PSC A, with the Chinguetti-4-3 well located in PSC A. The Chinguetti-4-2 well has been temporarily suspended following mechanical failure of the testing equipment during preparation for a second production test. In the interests of drilling efficiency, the Joint Venture has decided to temporarily suspend the Chinguetti-4-2 well whilst replacement equipment is obtained and commence drilling of the Banda exploration prospect. Following completion of the Chinguetti-4-3 (Banda) well, it is anticipated that the drillship will return to the Chinguetti-4-2 well to conduct a second production test prior to drilling a southerly appraisal well on the Chinguetti accumulation (Chinguetti-4-4). The forward programme will be confirmed prior to completion of the Chinguetti-4-3 exploration well. Fusion has a 6% interest in PSC B and a 3% interest in PSC A. Under terms of an agreement with the original Licencees, Fusion will contribute 6% of the cost of drilling this first well in PSC A. Alan Stein, Managing Director of Fusion, commented: 'We are encouraged by the information collected from the Chinguetti-4-2 well, which has confirmed the presence of oil in the upthrown fault block in the Chinguetti structure. The primary reservoir zone encountered in Chinguetti-4-2 consists of a variety of oil bearing reservoir sand intervals. Although sand influx prevented a representative production flow being achieved during the test of the first interval within this zone, this is commonly indicative of excellent productive potential. It is expected that significantly higher flow rates could be achieved from appropriately designed production wells. The Chinguetti-4-3 well is a test of a new exploration play concept that could have implications for the development of the Greater Chinguetti Area. Accordingly we look forward to the results of this well with considerable interest'. 10th September 2002 For further details please refer to the company's web page www.fusionoil.com.au or contact: Fusion Oil & Gas plc Alan Stein, Managing Director Tel: +61 89 226 3011 Fax: +61 89 226 3022 e-mail: astein@fusionoil.com.au College Hill Associates James Henderson Tel: 020 7457 2020 Fax: 020 7248 3295 Peter Rigby e-mail: Peter.Rigby@collegehill.com This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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