Vaalco Energy (EGY)

[OilStockReport]

Completed Purchase in the Bakken

VAALCO Energy, Inc. ("VAALCO") (NYSE:EGY - News) today announced that the Company has entered into a definitive agreement with Magellan Petroleum Corporation (NASDAQ:MPET - News) to acquire and develop an operating working interest in approximately 23,000 net mineral acres of oil, gas and mineral leases covering the Bakken and deeper formations in the East Poplar Unit and the Northwest Poplar Field in Roosevelt County, Montana ("the Poplar Field"). Under the terms of the agreement, VAALCO has paid Magellan $5 million and committed to spend approximately $15 million to drill three wells.

(Logo: photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100316/NY71495LOGO )

VAALCO has agreed to drill three wells to the Bakken formation and to formations below the Bakken ("the Deep Intervals") in the Poplar Field. All three wells will be drilled by the end of 2012 and one well will be drilled on or before June 1, 2012. Of these, one well will be drilled horizontally to test the Bakken Formation, one well will be drilled vertically to test the Red River Formation, and the third will be targeted at VAALCO's discretion. Under the terms of the definitive agreement, VAALCO will have a 65% working interest in the Bakken and Deep Intervals within the Poplar Field.

Robert Gerry, Chairman and CEO said, "We are excited to complete this acquisition of additional Bakken Acreage, which we believe will be a powerful source of oil revenues to VAALCO over the next several years. In addition to the potential we see in the Bakken formation, we will also be evaluating deeper objectives in the Three Forks, Nisku and Red River formations. Our seismic studies indicate that there are structures in these deeper objectives that could be the source of prolific production and we are optimistic that we can prove up reserves and create shareholder value."

Magellan will retain its current ownership for all formations above the Bakken, including the currently producing Charles and Tyler formations and will retain the remaining 35% of the Bakken and deeper rights in partnership with VAALCO.