Wentworth Resources : Limited : Ziwani-1 Exploration Well Starts Drilling in the Mnazi Bay Concession, Ruvuma Basin, Tanzania

Wentworth is pleased to announce that the onshore Ziwani-1 exploration well (Wentworth 52.225%) spudded at 18:30 local time, February 1, 2012. This is the first new well to be drilled in the Mnazi Bay concession area since the MS-1X exploration well was drilled, logged and tested in 2007. The details of the well are as follows:

• The fifth well to be drilled in the Mnazi Bay concession; 

• Approximately 13 km to the west of the producing Mnazi Bay and Msimbati gas fields; 

• Expected vertical target depth range is 1,800 to 2,500 meters; 

• Targeting Miocene and Oligocene sandstones, similar to the reservoirs of the Mnazi Bay and Msimbati gas fields;  

• Well operator is Maurel et Prom and drilling time is estimated to be 35 days; and 

• The well is the start of the 2012 Mnazi Bay work programme, which includes this exploration well, three existing work-overs wells and one appraisal well or additional exploration well. 

Wentworth will pay 30% of the costs of the Ziwani-1 well and holds a 52.225% participating interest in this exploration well, subject to the exercise of pre-emptive rights regarding the acquisition of Cove Energy's interest in Mnazi Bay as also announced on January 30, 2012. This well and the 2012 work programme are designed to explore for additional hydrocarbon resources and to further prove up existing natural gas reserves. Proving up additional gas resources will enable the concession partners to commit to and deliver agreed quantities of natural gas to the proposed Dar es Salaam to Mnazi Bay pipeline.  The partners are in discussions with Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation with a view to agreeing a long-term Gas Supply Agreement.

Managing Director, Geoff Bury, commented:

"We are excited to start the year with a high impact work programme that has the potential to deliver significant asset growth and shareholder value in 2012. The carried interest we enjoy in the Mnazi Bay concession provides full participation with reduced financial exposure.  We look forward to updating further on the Ziwani-1 well as well as our entire work programme as we commence what is a seminal year in the Company's development."  

About the Mnazi Bay Concession

The Mnazi Bay Concession Area is located in coastal, south-eastern Tanzania in the Ruvuma (Rovuma) Basin. The area lies between Aminex and Tullow Oil's Ruvuma Concession Area and Ophir Energy and BG Group's offshore Block 1. Ophir and BG Group's Chaza-1 gas discovery lies just northeast of Mnazi Bay's marine border. The 756 km² concession area contains two discovered Tertiary aged gas fields (Mnazi Bay and Msimbati) and holds additional Tertiary, Cretaceous and Jurassic hydrocarbon potential. Four wells have been drilled to date:  MB-1, MB-2, MB-3 and MS-1X, and all four wells encountered hydrocarbons. MB-1 is currently producing gas at a rate of 1.7-2.0mmscf/d and this gas is transported via an 8", 27 kilometre pipeline to the Mtwara Power Plant where it generates electricity for numerous local communities.  

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About Wentworth Resources

Wentworth Resources is a publicly traded (AIM:WRL, OSE:WRL), independent oil & gas company with:  natural gas production; midstream and downstream assets; a committed exploration and appraisal drilling programme; and large-scale gas monetisation programmes, all in the Rovuma Delta Basin of coastal southern Tanzania and northern Mozambique.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release may contain certain forward-looking information.  The words "expect", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "may", "will", "should", "intend", "forecast", "plan", and similar expressions are used to identify forward looking information.

The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based on management's beliefs, estimates and opinions on the date the statements are made in light of management's experience, current conditions and expected future development in the areas in which Wentworth is currently active and other factors management believes are appropriate in the circumstances. Wentworth undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless required by applicable law.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. By their nature, forward-looking statements are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties that contribute to the possibility that the predicted outcome will not occur, including some of which are beyond Wentworth's control.  These assumptions and risks include, but are not limited to: the risks associated with the oil and gas industry in general such as operational risks in exploration, development and production, delays or changes in plans with respect to exploration or development projects or capital expenditures, the imprecision of resource and reserve estimates, assumptions regarding the timing and costs relating to production and development as well as the availability and price of labour and equipment, volatility of and assumptions regarding commodity prices and exchange rates, marketing and transportation risks, environmental risks, competition, the ability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources and changes in applicable law.  Additionally, there are economic, political, social and other risks inherent in carrying on business in Tanzania and Mozambique. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could vary or differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. See Wentworth's Management's Discussion and Analysis for the year ended December 31, 2010, available on Wentworth's website, for further description of the risks and uncertainties associated with Wentworth's business.

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