Beach Petroleum Limited (ASX:BPT) Drilling Report For Chiton-1 PEL 91, Cooper/Eromanga Basin, South Australia

Adelaide, Aug 7, 2009 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Beach Petroleum Limited (ASX:BPT)(PINK:BEPTF), Chiton-1, the first of two, back-to-back wells that are to be drilled by the joint venture in PEL 91, is expected to spud on 8 August. The well is located approximately 9.5 km northeast of Murninnie-1 and 14 km north of the Callawonga oil field in adjacent Licence PEL-92. Chiton-1 will be testing an anticlinal closure on the western flank of the Patchawarra Trough, and is considered a key test of the prospectivity of the southern area of PEL 91.

The primary objective of the Chiton-1 well is the Early Cretaceous Namur Sandstone which is productive in most of the oilfields to the south in PEL 92. On a trouble free basis, Beach anticipates entering the Namur Sandstone on or about 13 August. The Birkhead Formation, Hutton Sandstone and Poolowanna Formation, also productive in the area, are secondary objectives. The Operator assesses the prospect to have mean recoverable oil reserves of 0.7mmb and a P10 or high side potential of 1.5mmb (recoverable). Interests in PEL-91 are Beach Petroleum Ltd (40%) and Drillsearch Energy Ltd (60%).

Contact

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