Jersey Oil & Gas has been advised by Equinor UK Limited, operator of the P2170 (Blocks 20/5b & 21/1d) licence area (the "P2170 licence"), that the West Phoenix rig has, on 16 January 2019 moved off contract with Equinor Norway and will shortly come on contract with Equinor UK to commence operations on the three well UKCS drilling programme operated by Equinor UK, which includes the appraisal drilling of the Verbier discovery, the third well in the programme. 

• The Verbier discovery, in which the Company holds an 18 per cent. interest, is located in Block 20/5b. Initial operator estimates of gross recoverable resources associated with the Verbier discovery are between 25 and 130 million barrels of oil equivalent ("mmboe") with an estimated mean of 69 mmboe. The purpose of the planned appraisal well is to determine the potential volume range in the discovery.
• JOG is pleased to advise that a 'fast-track' processed volume of data from the 3D seismic survey shot by PGS over the P2170 licence area and certain offset acreage earlier in the year was delivered on 13th December 2018. Interpretation of this new dataset has commenced. 
• JOG also reports that the P2170 work programme and budget for 2019 has been approved. The Company's share of the work programme will be funded from its existing cash reserves, with total Capex for 2019 expected to be in the range of £7 million to £10 million. This includes the Verbier appraisal programme expenditure which has moved from 2018 into 2019 and remains in line with previous guidance.  
• JOG further notes that, effective 24th November 2018, the Oil & Gas Authority has confirmed the new licensed area. The licensed area retains all identified prospectivity including Verbier, Cortina and Meribel. 

 Andrew Benitz, CEO of Jersey Oil & Gas, commented:
"We are pleased to note the Equinor operated UKCS drilling operations have now commenced and look forward to the safe and successful drilling of the upcoming Verbier appraisal well programme.
 
"We are now interpreting the new 3D seismic dataset and look forward to furthering our knowledge of Verbier and the additional prospectivity in and around P2170."

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