Africa Oil Third Quarter of 2012 Financial and Operating Results

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - Nov 20, 2012) - Africa Oil Corp. (TSX VENTURE:AOI)(AOI.ST) ("Africa Oil", "the Company" or "AOC") is pleased to announce its financial and operating results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012.

  • Following the significant light oil discovery at Ngamia-1 exploration well in Block 10BB, the Company and its partner Tullow Oil plc ("Tullow") moved the rig 23 kilometers to drill the Twiga South-1 exploration well in Block 13T (Kenya) which is on trend with Ngamia-1. Twiga South-1 has successfully encountered oil, drilling is ongoing and an announcement of the well results is expected in late November after target depth has been achieved and necessary sampling and analysis has been completed.

  • The Company and its partners have selected Sabisa-1 as the first drilling location in the South Omo Block (Ethiopia). The Sabisa-1 well site has been prepared and the rig and associated equipment is in the process of being mobilized within country to the well site. Sabisa-1 is expected to spud around the end of 2012. Additionally, work has commenced on the acquisition of an additional 500 kilometers of 2D seismic in the eastern portion of the South Omo Block (Chew B''hir Sub-Basin).

  • The Company and its operating partners on Block 10A (Kenya) spud the Paipai-1 exploration well in the quarter. The Paipai-1 well is planned to a total depth of 4,150 meters, and will test a large four-way closed structure with Cretaceous-age sandstone targets at multiple depths. Paipai-1 spudded in September 2012 and is scheduled to be completed in early 2013.

  • In Puntland (Somalia), the Company, through its 44.6% ownership interest in Horn Petroleum Corporation ("Horn"), completed Shabeel North-1, the second well of a two well exploration program. Both well sites have been restored to original condition and demobilization from Puntland has been completed. While the Company was disappointed that the first two exploration wells in Puntland did not flow oil, the Company remains highly encouraged that all of the critical elements exist for oil accumulations and based on this encouragement, the Company and its partners have entered into the next exploration period in both the Dharoor Valley and Nugaal Valley PSC''s which carry a commitment to drill one exploration well in each block by October 2015.

  • The Company completed a farmout transaction with Tullow on Block 12A (Kenya) in the quarter whereby Tullow paid the Company $1.1 million in consideration of past exploration expenditures to acquire an additional 15% interest in Block 12A in Kenya. Tullow will also fund 15% of the Company''s working interest share of expenditures related to the acquisition of 520 kilometers of 2D seismic until an expenditure cap of $10.3 million on a gross basis.

  • The Company completed a farmout transaction with Marathon Oil Corporation ("Marathon") subsequent to the end of the quarter whereby Marathon acquired a 50% interest in Block 9 (Kenya) and a 15% interest in Block 12A (Kenya). In accordance with the farmout agreement, Marathon paid the Company $32.0 million in consideration of past exploration expenditures, and has agreed to fund the Company''s working interest share of future joint venture expenditures on these blocks to a maximum of $25.0 million. The Company has retained a 20% working interest in Block 12A and a 50% working interest in Block 9.

  • The Company completed a farmout transaction with New Age (Africa Global Energy) Limited ("New Age") subsequent to the end of the quarter whereby New Age acquired an additional 25% interest in the Company''s Blocks 7 & 8 (Ethiopia), together with operatorship of Blocks 7 & 8 and the Adigala Area (Ethiopia). In accordance with the farmout agreement, New Age paid the Company $1.5 million in consideration of past exploration expenditures. The Company has retained a 30% working interest in Blocks 7/8.

  • The Company continues to actively acquire process and interpret 2D seismic over Blocks 10BA, 10BB, 12A, 13T and South Omo with three seismic crews currently active.

  • Africa Oil ended the quarter with cash of $55.4 million and working capital of $32.0 million as compared to cash of $109.6 million and working capital of $90.2 million at December 31, 2011. Proceeds of $33.5 million received in relation to the Marathon and New Age farmouts subsequent to the end of the quarter have positively impacted the Company''s near term liquidity and capital position.