VAALCO Energy Acquires Working Interest Offshore Equatorial Guinea

HOUSTON, Nov. 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- VAALCO Energy, Inc. (NYSE: EGY) today announced that, having received the approval of the Government of Equatorial Guinea, it has acquired a 31% non-operating working interest in a production and development area ("PDA") in Block P, offshore Equatorial Guinea from PETRONAS CARIGALI OVERSEAS SDN BHD.  VAALCO paid $10 million for the working interest. 

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The PDA, which is operated by GEPetrol, the national oil company of Equatorial Guinea, contains the Venus field discovered in 2005. The Venus field is estimated to contain between 15 and 30 million gross recoverable barrels of oil. The PDA also contains a number of exploration prospects that VAALCO believes are highly attractive, primarily the SW Grande Prospect and the Marte Prospect, each of which has the potential to add substantial reserves to VAALCO.

VAALCO expects the near-term plans for the PDA will be the drilling of exploration wells on both the SW Grande and Marte prospects in 2013 followed by completing a plan of development, including the Venus discovery. 

Robert Gerry, Chairman and CEO, commented: "With this acquisition, we believe we will expose our shareholders to significant upside potential from the offshore prospects in Block P. Oil is present, as proved by the Venus discovery, and we are of the opinion that additional accumulations are potentially present on Block P in the untested prospects, which are expected to be drilled in 2013."

Additional partners in the PDA include GEPetrol (38.4%), Atlas Petroleum International Limited (5.6%), and Crown Energy Ventures Corporation (5.0%).  In addition, the government of Equatorial Guinea has a 20% carried working interest. 

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.  All statements, other than historical fact, included in this press release that address activities, events or developments that VAALCO expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements.  These statements include prospect evaluations, objectives and timing of future drilling and development, capital expenditures, future production rates, reserve growth and other operations and activities.  These statements are based on assumptions made by VAALCO based on its experience perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors it believes are reasonable.  Such statements are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond VAALCO's control.  These risks include, but are not limited to, inflation, general economic conditions, oil and gas prices, lack of availability of goods, services and capital, actions by VAALCO's venture partners, environmental risks, drilling risks, foreign operational risks, regulatory changes and risk factors contained in VAALCO's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 and other reports filed with the SEC.  Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and that actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements.  These risks are further described in VAALCO's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, VAALCO's quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2011 and other reports filed with the SEC which can be reviewed at http://www.sec.gov, or which can be received by contacting VAALCO at 4600 Post Oak Place, Suite 300, Houston, Texas 77027, (713) 623-0801.  VAALCO disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

About VAALCO
VAALCO Energy, Inc. is a Houston based independent energy company principally engaged in the acquisition, exploration, development and production of crude oil.  VAALCO's strategy is to increase reserves and production through the exploration and exploitation of oil and natural gas properties with high emphasis on international opportunities.  The Company's properties and exploration acreage are located primarily in Gabon and Angola, West Africa and the United States.

SOURCE VAALCO Energy, Inc.