Hungarian Farm-in

Ascent Resources PLC 19 December 2007 Ascent Resources plc / Epic: AST / Index: AIM / Sector: Oil and Gas 19th December 2007 Ascent Resources plc ('Ascent' or 'the Company') Hungarian farm-in with Toreador Resources Ascent Resources plc, the AIM-traded oil and gas exploration and production company, has entered into a farm-in agreement with Toreador Resources Corporation ('Toreador') to drill two exploratory wells and acquire 170 square kilometres of 3-D seismic in Toreador's Szolnok exploration permit in Central Hungary. The Szolnok exploration permit is one of the largest in Hungary spanning 2,620 square kilometres. The permit is located at the northern end of the Mako trough which has sourced numerous large gas fields which are currently producing in the surrounding area. Many exploration and appraisal opportunities have already been identified in the Szolnok block in both the shallow Pannonian and deeper Miocene formations. The seismic acquisition and the drilling of the two farm-in wells are planned for the first half of 2008. Ascent will be appointed joint technical operator of the Szolnok Project and has agreed to pay 36.67% of the cost of a two well drilling and seismic acquisition programme, which is estimated to cost a total of €6.5 million (dry hole case), to earn a 27.5% interest in the project. Toreador will retain a 25% working interest. Ascent Managing Director Jeremy Eng said, 'We see this agreement with Toreador as a great opportunity to benefit from our expertise in Hungary and to increase the value of our portfolio. Alongside the Bajsca field redevelopment in the south west and the Peneszlek development in the eastern Nyirseg region, the Toreador farm-in provides the platform for a third producing area to be established and with success, could open up yet another cashflow stream for Ascent in 2009.' * * ENDS * * For further information visit www.ascentresources.co.uk or contact: Jeremy Eng Ascent Resources plc Tel: 020 7251 4905 Hugo de Salis St Brides Media & Finance Ltd Tel: 020 7242 4477 Max Hartley Cenkos Securities plc Tel: 020 7397 8924 Notes Ascent Resources plc has a diversified portfolio of over 20 hydrocarbon exploration and development projects across six countries in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, Hungary, Spain, Slovenia and Netherlands. Ascent's portfolio contains a solid base of field redevelopment projects with selected exposure to exploration upside. The portfolio is focussed on gas and with the exception of the shallow water Netherlands project, all of its projects are located onshore where operating and development costs are substantially lower than they are offshore. Toreador Resources Corporation is an independent international energy company engaged in the acquisition, development, exploration and production of natural gas, crude oil and other income-producing minerals. It holds interests in developed and undeveloped oil and gas properties in France, Hungary, Romania and Turkey. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
UK 100