WESTERN GEOPOWER ACQUIRES SECOND GEOTHERMAL RES...

Corporate news announcement processed and transmitted by Hugin AS. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------- NEWS RELEASE DATE: May 6, 2009 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE TRADING SYMBOLS: TSX-V (CANADA): WGP.V FRANKFURT: WE6.F WESTERN GEOPOWER ACQUIRES SECOND GEOTHERMAL RESERVOIR IN CALIFORNIA VANCOUVER, Canada, May 6, 2009, TSX Venture Exchange Trading Symbol: WGP - Western GeoPower Corp., a renewable energy company, today announced the acquisition of approximately 3,000 acres of private geothermal leases with a confirmed high-temperature geothermal reservoir, at South Brawley, in Imperial County, California. The South Brawley leases grant Western GeoPower the right to develop the geothermal reservoir and build a plant for electricity generation. Commercial geothermal power has been generated continuously throughout Imperial County since the early 1980s, with the present generation level being about 530 megawatts (MW) from the Salton Sea, East Mesa and Heber plants. The Western GeoPower leasehold is situated in the South Brawley Known Geothermal Resource Area, with extensive infrastructure throughout the region providing ready access for development. A preliminary review of earlier data from the Western GeoPower South Brawley leases conducted by independent consultants GeothermEx, Inc., has determined that the leases lie at the core of a geothermal anomaly which has been well defined from geophysical surveys. Four deep wells plus a side-track of a well (varying in depth from 13,381 feet to 14,000 feet) were drilled and flow tested on the Western GeoPower property between 1978 and 1982. In addition, a prolonged (34-day) pressure interference test was run in this field during 1982-1983. Although these wells are now plugged and abandoned, they have confirmed the existence of a high temperature (up to 278 C or 532 F) reservoir, and pressure interference testing has demonstrated the existence of high flow and storage capacities within the reservoir. A wellhead productivity of 700,000 pounds per hour (equivalent to about 7 MW) had been demonstrated by well testing. However, these wells had a narrower diameter than is conventional for geothermal wells today and the wells showed major formation damage. New wells with a larger diameter drilled on the property should have a much higher productivity. The reservoir fluid is hyper-saline with a total dissolved solids content of 22% to 23% and a non-condensable gas concentration in the total fluid of 2% to 2.5%. The reservoir brine is highly enriched in dissolved zinc, lead and silver. Preliminary modeling indicates that the property can readily support simultaneous power generation and commercial production of zinc, lead and silver. "The South Brawley leases complement Western GeoPower's strategy to acquire geothermal projects with demonstrated production potential," said Kenneth MacLeod, President and Chief Executive Officer of Western GeoPower. "We are confident of achieving substantial time and cost savings by taking advantage of the earlier well testing data and targeting new wells to intersect the known productive zones." Western GeoPower will retain GeothermEx, Inc. of Richmond, California, to provide an independent assessment of the potential for the South Brawley leases and design a drilling program to confirm the resource. GeothermEx has conducted well test analyses, resource assessment, reservoir simulation and mineral recovery modeling for this site for various parties since the inception of this project in the late 1970s. About Western GeoPower Corp. Western GeoPower Corp. is a renewable energy company dedicated to the development of geothermal energy projects for the delivery of clean, sustainable, baseload electricity generation. The Company is developing The Western GeoPower Unit 1 geothermal power plant at The Geysers Geothermal Field in Sonoma County, California, United States; the South Brawley geothermal project in Imperial County, California, United States; and the South Meager geothermal project in British Columbia, Canada. On behalf of the Board of Western GeoPower Corp "Kenneth MacLeod" Kenneth MacLeod, President & CEO Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this press release contain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws in Canada ("forward-looking information"). The words "anticipates", "believes", "budgets", "could", "estimates", "expects", "forecasts", "intends", "may", "might", "plans", "projects", "schedule", "should", "will", "would" and similar expressions are often intended to identify forward-looking information, although not all forward-looking information contains these identifying words. The forward-looking information in this press release includes, but is not limited to: new wells with a larger diameter drilled on the property should have a much higher productivity; preliminary modeling indicates that the property can readily support simultaneous power generation and commercial production of zinc, lead and silver; we are confident of achieving substantial time and cost savings by taking advantage of the earlier well testing data and targeting new wells to intersect the known productive zones; and, the Company will retain GeothermEx, Inc. of Richmond, California, to provide an independent assessment of the potential for the South Brawley leases and design a drilling program to confirm the resource. The forecasts and projections that make up the forward-looking information are based on assumptions which include, but are not limited to: the Company is not subjected to any material adverse events normally associated with exploration, development and production of natural resources; the Company is not subjected to additional governmental regulation and that political attitudes towards geothermal production does not change; the Company is able to remain in compliance with its debt obligations; the Company's resource estimates are accurate; the Company's insurance is adequate and that it does not incur any material uninsured liability; the Company is able to comply with environmental regulations; the Company has access to suitable infrastructure; no title defects affect the Company's properties; the Company receives necessary permits on acceptable terms; no material new competition; no significant fluctuation in currency exchange rates and interest rates; the Company is able to access additional capital; no material fluctuations in energy prices; continued access to the Company's key personnel; and, no conflicts of interest arise. The forward-looking information is subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from historical results or results anticipated by the forward-looking information. The factors which could cause results to differ from current expectations include, but are not limited to: risks normally associated with exploration, development and production of natural resources; risks relating to government regulation; risks relating to indebtedness; risks relating to the reliability of resource estimates; no history of geothermal production; insurance and uninsured risks; environmental risks and hazards; lack of access to required infrastructure; land title defects; risks relating to obtaining permits on acceptable terms; competition; fluctuations in currency exchange rates and interest rates; risks relating to raising additional capital; fluctuations in energy prices; reliance on key personnel; conflicts of interest; and, other risks described in the Company's Management Discussion & Analysis and other continuous disclosure documents. All forward-looking information in this press release is qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement and, except as may be required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking information as a result of new information, future events or otherwise after the date hereof. The TSX Venture Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. For more information or to be put on our email list, please contact our office: (604) 662-3338 or US/Canada Toll Free: 1-866-662-3322, email: info@geopower.ca Investor Relations: ir@geopower.ca IR@geopower.ca --- End of Message --- Western GeoPower Corp. 837 West Hastings Street Suite 411 Vancouver, BC<br>V6C 3N6 Canada WKN: 254049; ISIN: CA95827Q1037; ;
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