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Noble Energy Announces Deepwater Gulf of Mexico Discovery at Santa Cruz

Posted on: Wednesday, 1 April 2009, 07:15 CDT

HOUSTON, April 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Noble Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NBL) announced today a discovery at the Santa Cruz prospect in Mississippi Canyon Blocks 519/563. The well, located in 6,515 feet of water, was drilled to a total depth of approximately 18,900 feet. Open-hole logging indicated over 140 feet of net gas condensate pay and more than 110 feet of net oil pay in multiple high-quality reservoirs. The overall thickness of the reservoirs encountered was greater than originally expected.

David Stover, Noble Energy's Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, said, "The results at Santa Cruz complement the successful momentum we have been experiencing in our worldwide exploration programs. Our discoveries at Santa Cruz and Isabela will be an important development program for our Company. Current plans consist of subsea tiebacks to nearby infrastructure, and we anticipate first production from this area in 2011.

"Our deepwater Gulf of Mexico program is positioned very well, with a combination of existing production, several ongoing developments of recent discoveries, and a growing exploration portfolio. Our next exploration test will likely be late in the year at Deep Blue in the Green Canyon region, which will be testing our largest deepwater Gulf of Mexico prospect to date," Stover added.

Noble Energy operates the Santa Cruz discovery with a 23.25 percent working interest. Other interest owners in the discovery are Houston Energy, L.P. with 10 percent, Red Willow Offshore, LLC with 20.25 percent, and BP Exploration & Production Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of BP America Inc. (NYSE: BP) with the remaining 46.5 percent.

Noble Energy is a leading independent energy company engaged in worldwide oil and gas exploration and production. The Company operates primarily in the Rocky Mountains, Mid-Continent, and deepwater Gulf of Mexico areas in the United States, with key international operations offshore Israel, UK and West Africa. Noble Energy is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and is traded under the ticker symbol NBL. Visit Noble Energy online at www.nobleenergyinc.com.

This news release may include projections and other "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Any such projections or statements reflect Noble Energy's current views about future events and financial performance. No assurances can be given that such events or performance will occur as projected, and actual results may differ materially from those projected. Risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected include, without limitation, the volatility in commodity prices for crude oil and natural gas, the presence or recoverability of estimated reserves, the ability to replace reserves, environmental risks, drilling and operating risks, exploration and development risks, competition, government regulation or other action, the ability of management to execute its plans to meet its goals and other risks inherent in Noble Energy's business that are detailed in its Securities and Exchange Commission filings. Words such as "anticipates," "believes," "expects," "intends," "will," "should," "may," and similar expressions may be used to identify forward-looking statements. Noble Energy assumes no obligation and expressly disclaims any duty to update the information contained herein except as required by law.

SOURCE Noble Energy, Inc.

Source: PR Newswire

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