Aurelian Oil & Gas PLC ("Aurelian"), the exploration and production company specialising in Central Europe, announces that its Polish Subsidiary, Energia Zachod Sp. z o.o., commenced the drilling of its well on the Siekierki Structure, close to the eastern outskirts of the City of Poznan, on Wednesday 7th March.

The well will be drilled to a target depth of 3,900 metres and is anticipated to take approximately three and a half months to drill to target depth and test.

The well is designed to evaluate the Permian Rotliegendes Sandstone, the main gas reservoir of the UK and Dutch Southern North Sea which stretches into central Europe, as well as the giant Groningen gas field. The Siekierki structure is a large seismic anomaly which was tested in the 1970s by four wells, all of which recorded some gas, but at non-commercial rates.

The Trzek-1 well is designed to evaluate the performance of the reservoir using modern drilling and testing techniques which have been particularly successful in finding commercial hydrocarbons elsewhere in the Southern North Sea.

Energia Zachod Sp. z o.o. is 90% owned by Aurelian Oil & Gas PLC and 10% by Avobone S.A.

Further announcements concerning the Trzek-1 well will be made at intervals, generally following the main casing points. The next one can be anticipated after running the 9 5/8 inch casing at approximately 2,900 metres.

Michael Seymour, Managing Director of Aurelian Oil & Gas PLC commented, 'The commencement of this well is an important step for us and represents the start of a period of intense activity over the next few months during which we shall also be drilling four or five further wells in Romania and one in Bulgaria. Drilling in Romania at Radauti East-1 and at Golitza-1 in Bulgaria are both expected to commence in April. '