Operations Update

Ascent Resources PLC
27 April 2006

      Ascent Resources plc / Epic: AST / Index: AIM / Sector: Oil and Gas



27 April 2006

                Ascent Resources plc ('Ascent' or 'the Company')

                                Operation update



Ascent Resources plc, the European focused oil and gas exploration and
production company, is pleased to announce the some details of its 2006 Drilling
Programme of six operated wells and an operational update on its production and
exploration assets in Spain, Italy, Hungary, Switzerland, Romania and Holland.



This drilling programme, which does not include the four wells planned for
Romania, primarily focused on previous discoveries, is in the table below.
Contractors with suitable drilling rigs have confirmed their availability for
each of these wells although all are subject to permitting and regulatory
approval for the location which is in progress.


            Well               Area           Exploration Permit     Target            Commencing
  1        Tozo-1      Spain -Sedano Basin      Basconcillos H         Oil               August
  2        PHNS-1          N-E Hungary          Nyirseg Szatmar        Gas               August
  3        PHND-1          N-E Hungary            Nyirseg Del          Gas              September
  4       Anagni-1    Italy - Latina Valley        Frosinone           Oil              September
  5         FA-1       Italy - Latium Coast      Fiume Arrone          Gas               October
  6      Hontomin-4    Spain - Sedano Basin        Huemeces            Oil               October



Spain: Oil Production and Exploration

Production from the Ayoluengo field continues to average a gross of 115 barrels
of oil per day. The project's cashflow has been improved with the recent rise in
international oil prices. Well work-overs (maintenance and upgrading work) are
planned for the field and will commence in May subject to delivery of equipment
and materials.



The two wells to be drilled in 2006 are the Tozo 1 re-entry and Hontomin 4
appraisal. Both are close to the Ayoluengo field and target oil discoveries that
were made by Chevron in the 1970's.



Italy - Oil and Gas Exploration:

In the Po Valley, based on the results from the reprocessing and interpretation
of the seismic acquired from ENI in the Cento and Bastiglia exploration permits,
the permitting of the first two locations is now underway and a further two will
commence shortly.  The drilling of these gas exploration wells is to be included
in the 2007 Drilling Programme.



In the Latina Valley, where the focus is on oil exploration, a 60km seismic
survey and the drilling of the Anagni-1 well are both scheduled for September
2006.



In the Fiume Arrone permit, close to Rome's Fiumicino airport, a gas exploration
well is planned for October 2006.



Hungary

Having received results from last year's seismic programme conducted on the
Nyirseg permits, by Ascent's Hungarian Joint Venture PetroHungaria, the work
programme for this area has now been prioritised and two wells are planned for
late summer.



The Joint Steering Committee of PetroHungaria's project involving the
rehabilitation of low permeability gasfields in conjunction with MOL Hungarian
Oil and Gas plc, has approved the commencement of Phase 2.  This includes the
detailed planning of three horizontal recompletions in a producing gasfield in
South Western Hungary.



Switzerland

In the Canton of Bern, re-processing of existing seismic in the area around the
two existing gas discovery wells, Linden (1972) and Hermrigen (1982), is
underway.  Subsequent geological modelling with the incorporation of all
hydrocarbon exploration data will lead to a prospectivity report to be published
later this year.  Subject to the results of this report, wells will be scheduled
for the 2007 Drilling Programme.



In the Canton of Vaud, the application that surrounds the Essertines (1962) oil
discovery well, drilled by BEB, has passed all regulatory stages and the issue
of the permit is expected imminently.



Romania

Ascent recently acquired a 5% interest in three prospective exploration blocks,
through its acquisition of MIRC.  In Brodina, the first gas production is
expected from the Bilca development in late July. An active exploration
programme is underway in all three blocks including new seismic work and it is
anticipated that four exploration wells will be drilled by the end of 2006.



Holland

Ascent made applications for six exploration licenses submitted last year.
Following a three month gazettal period, competing bids have been submitted to
the authorities on two of the six areas, and their decision on these two is
awaited.  The remaining four are uncontested.



                                  * * ENDS * *





Contacts:

Jeremy Eng                   Ascent  Resources plc          Tel: [phone]

Hugo de Salis               St Brides Media & Finance Ltd   Tel: [phone]





Notes

Ascent Resources plc has assembled an extensive portfolio of 20 oil and gas
exploration and production assets across Europe since March 2005.  These assets
include oil production from the Ayoluengo Field of northern Spain along with
nearby oil exploration, oil and gas exploration in Switzerland and Italy, gas
exploration and development in Hungary and Romania, as well as applications for
new acreage offshore Holland and minor assets in Gabon.



With the strong and stable European gas market, the Company's portfolio is
balanced in favour of gas over oil and with the exception of Holland, projects
are located onshore where operating and development costs are very much less
than offshore.  Over the next 12 months, six exploration wells are planned: two
in Spain, two in Italy and two in Hungary.  Suitable drilling equipment has been
sourced and the permitting of these wells is in progress with drilling to
commence in the late summer.



In parallel with acquiring the oil and gas assets, the Company has appointed to
the Board a team of experienced directors who are specialists in the European
oil and gas business and each of whom has expertise and experience in
commercialising oil and gas assets.






                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange