Drilling Update

4 December 2008 AIM: XTR XTRACT ENERGY PLC ("Xtract" or the "Company") DRILLING UPDATE Further to the announcement made on 26 November 2008, Xtract provides the following update on the Sarikiz-2 well in Turkey which is being drilled on behalf of Extrem Energy A.S. ("Extrem Energy"). The well was spudded at 1930hrs on Friday 31 October 2008. As at 0800hrs on 26 November, drilling was in progress at a depth of 1,454m. Subsequently, at 1,478m, 3 cones of the drilling bit were broken and became detached in the well. This was due to a sudden lithology change upon entering into hard sandstones of Alasehir formation from very soft clays of Adala formation. To recover the cones (junk) a new string was prepared and drilled with junk basket. While working with the junk basket, core from the sandstones of the Alasehir formation was recovered together with some pieces of metal from the cones of the bit. The cores taken from the sandstone contained high API oil and showed bright yellow to white fluorescence. The sandstone layer extended 25m from 1,478m to approximately 1,503m. This is an additional sandstone layer to the one previously tested during the drilling by Sarikiz-1, so the existence of oil in it provides possible upside potential. The main reservoir sands are expected to be encountered between 1,640m and the target depth. After 3 days of recovery operations, normal drilling restarted at 0430hrs on 2 December. As at 0600hrs on 4 December, normal drilling was going on at 1,542m. Sandstones are inter-bedded with the marls and clays of the Alasehir formation. The programmed target depth of the well is 1,800m +/-50m which is now expected to be reached on or before Sunday 7 December. Depending on the drilling results, first production could be expected in the first half of 2009. The rig is operated by Guney Yildizi of Turkey. Xtract currently holds a 20% interest in Extrem Energy and has the option of increasing its shareholding to 34% by contributing a further investment of US$3.5m before June 2009. Further progress updates will be provided as appropriate. The above information has been reviewed and approved by Ongun Yoldemir, Managing Director of Extrem Energy, who has a masters degree in Geological engineering and worked as an explorationist in the oil and sector in the middle east, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and north sea, has over 28 years' experience in the resource and energy sector and is a member of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, European Association of Geologists and Engineers, the Society of Exploration Geophysicists and several related Turkish institutions. Enquiries please contact: Xtract Energy Andy Morrison, CEO +44 (0)20 7079 1798 Smith & Williamson David Jones +44 (0)20 7131 4000 Corporate Finance Azhic Basirov Scott Harris Ian Middleton +44 (0)20 7653 0030 James O'Shaughnessy About Xtract Energy Xtract identifies and invests in a diversified portfolio of early stage energy sector technologies and businesses with significant growth potential. The Company aims to work closely with the associated management teams to achieve critical project milestones, to finance later development stages, and to build and crystallise value for all shareholders and partners. For further information on Xtract please visit www.xtractenergy.co.uk A short description of the principal assets of Xtract is set out below. These assets are either held directly or through wholly owned subsidiaries of the Company. MEO Australia Ltd ("MEO") MEO (ASX: MEO) aims to become an integrated Australian Gas-to-Liquids ("GTL") company. In 2008, MEO made significant gas discoveries in the Australian Timor Sea, in an area of shallow water known as Tassie Shoal. Early commercialisation of these discoveries is planned through construction of Liquified Natural Gas ("LNG") and Methanol plants and export terminals on the off-shore Tassie Shoal. MEO has already secured Australian Government environmental approvals for two large scale (1.8 Mtpa) methanol plants and a 3 Mtpa LNG plant on Tassie Shoal. Xtract owns approximately 13.9% of MEO's issued share capital. Elko Energy Inc. ("Elko") Elko is a Canadian registered oil & gas exploration company which has interests in exploration and production licences in the Danish and Dutch North Sea. Its major asset is in the Danish North Sea; an 80% interest on 26 offshore blocks in a 5,400 sq km exploration and production licence close to the prolific Central Graben oil field. Technical work indicates the potential for significant reserves. Elko also holds a 33% operating interest in gas-bearing license blocks P1 and P2 in the Dutch North Sea. Xtract owns approximately 35.4% of Elko's issued share capital. Extrem Energy AS ("Extrem Energy") Extrem Energy is an exploration and production joint venture with Merty Energy of Turkey. The JV's aim is to create a new medium-sized oil and gas exploration and production business, initially focused on Turkey where Merty Energy has particular experience and expertise. Extrem Energy has a portfolio of licence interests including the high potential prospect at Candarli Bay in south-west Turkey. Xtract owns 20% of the issued share capital of Extrem Energy and has the option of increasing its shareholding to 34% before 30 June 2009. Xtract Oil Ltd ("XOL") Xtract's wholly owned subsidiary, XOL, is focused on the development of the Company's oil shale resources in Australia and the technology for oil extraction from oil shale resources. Xtract has oil shale exploration rights over mining tenements in the Julia Creek area of Queensland. XOL is also developing proprietary technology for the commercial extraction of liquid hydrocarbon products from oil shale which could partially address the global decline of conventional oil reserves with significant environmental benefits and higher yields over previously employed extraction methods. Xtract Energy (Oil Shale) Morocco SA ("XOSM") XOSM is a joint venture with Alraed Limited Investment Holding Company WLL, a company controlled by His Highness, Prince Bandar Bin Mohd. Bin Abdulrahman Al-Saud of Saudi Arabia. XOSM has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Office National des Hydrocarbures et des Mines for the purposes of evaluation and possible development of an oil shale deposit near Tarfaya, in the south west part of Morocco. Xtract currently holds 70% of the joint venture. Wasabi Energy Ltd ("Wasabi") Wasabi (ASX: WAS) is a diversified investor in traditional and renewable energy technologies. Amongst its listed assets it holds approximately 38% of Rum Jungle Uranium Ltd (ASX: RUM) which has interests in uranium exploration licenses covering some 4,150 sq km of Australia's Northern Territory and approximately 12.5% of Greenearth Energy Ltd (ASX:GER) which aims to explore and develop geothermal resources in Australia and the wider Pacific Rim. Xtract owns approximately 19.4% of the issued share capital of Wasabi. Zhibek Resources Ltd ("Zhibek Resources") Zhibek Resources is an oil and gas exploration and production company which has a 72% interest in the Tash Kumyr and Pishkoran exploration licences in the Kyrgyz Republic. Xtract has entered a farm-out agreement to fund a seismic and drilling programme for 2008-09. Xtract owns 25.0% of the issued share capital of Zhibek Resources. ---END OF MESSAGE--- This announcement was originally distributed by Hugin. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
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