Press Releases

Adelaide, Dec 23, 2009 (ABN Newswire) - Beach Energy Limited (ASX:BPT) (PINK:BEPTF) drilling report for the week ending 23 December.

Highlights of the week's activities include:

Cooper Basin (South Australia/Queensland) - Oil Drilling

Oil development wells Narcoonowie-8 (Beach 20,21%) and Tickalara-21 (Beach 30%) were cased and suspended as successful oil wells during the week.

A Drill Stem Test conducted in Narcoonowie-8 over the Birkhead interval 1613 - 1620 metres yielded 50.4 barrels of clean oil and 2.4 barrels of drill mud in a 4 hour flow period.

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Well                    Participants
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Burke-11                BPT     20.21%
PPL 12                  STO*    66.60%
Gas Development         ORG     13.19%
C/E Basin, SA
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Weekly Progress & Summary              Primary Targets
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Report Time: 0600 hrs(CST)23/12/2009   Epsilon Formation,
Depth:       2581m (TD)                 Patchawarra Formation
Operation:   Well is cased and suspended as
             a future Toolachee, Daralingie
             and Patchawarra Formations gas producer.
Progress:    77m

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Well                    Participants
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Narcoonowie-8           BPT     20.21%
PPL 114                 STO*    66.60%
Oil Development         ORG     13.19%
C/E Basin, SA
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Weekly Progress & Summary              Primary Targets
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Report Time: 0600 hrs(CST)23/12/2009   Birkhead Formation,
Depth:       1684m (TD)                 Murta/McKinlay
Operation:   Well is cased and suspended
             as a future Birkhead Formation
             oil producer.
Progress:    742m

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Well                    Participants
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Tickalara-21            BPT     30.00%
PL 34                   STO*    70.00%
Oil Development
C/E Basin, QLD
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Weekly Progress & Summary              Primary Targets
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Report Time: 0600 hrs(CST)23/12/2009   McKinlay Member,
Depth:       1446m (TD)                 Namur Sandstone
Operation:   Well is cased and suspended as
             future Murta Formation, McKinlay
             Member and Namur Sandstone oil producer.
Progress:    29m

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Well                    Participants
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Tickalara-22            BPT     30.00%
PL 34                   STO*    70.00%
Oil Development
C/E Basin, QLD
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Weekly Progress & Summary              Primary Targets
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Report Time: 0600 hrs(CST)23/12/2009   McKinlay Member,
Depth:       153m                       Namur Sandstone
Operation:   Running surface casing.
Progress:    153m

(s)  Secondary Targets
(*)  Operator
BPT  Beach Energy Ltd
ORG  Origin Energy Resources Ltd
STO  Santos Limited

Contact

Hector Gordon Chief Operating Officer TEL: +61-8-8338-2833