OilVoice - Cobalt International Announces Criollo Well Results and Approval of 2010 Capital Program

Cobalt International Announces Criollo Well Results and Approval of 2010 Capital Program

Saturday, January 30, 2010

Cobalt International Energy, Inc. announces well results on its Criollo prospect, the anticipated spud dates of its exploratory wells on its Firefox and North Platte prospects, its 2010 capital program and the election of Jack Golden to Cobalt's Board of Directors.

Criollo Well Results
Cobalt today announced that it reached a planned total depth of 31,145 feet TVD in the Criollo prospect exploration sidetrack well, and is in the process of suspending operations on the well. The Green Canyon 685 #1 Sidetrack is located in approximately 4,200 feet of water. The combined cost of the original well and subsequent sidetrack were within the approved AFE.

The original well discovered 55 feet of Miocene age oil bearing reservoirs and the sidetrack logged 73 feet of Miocene oil in correlative reservoirs. Both the original Criollo well and the sidetrack encountered structural complexities associated with salt, which prevented the testing of the entire prospective interval. A detailed review of the well data and reprocessing of the existing 3D pre-stack depth seismic data will be required prior to Cobalt and its partner determining the next appropriate steps, and while Criollo remains prospective, the potential size of the prospect has likely been reduced and the commerciality of the prospect has yet to be determined.

Cobalt is the operator of Criollo and has a 60% working interest in the prospect. TOTAL E&P USA, INC. owns the remaining 40% working interest.

The original well and the sidetrack were drilled using Transocean's Development Driller 1 rig. Cobalt is releasing this rig following the suspension of the sidetrack well.

Anticipated Firefox Spud Date
The next exploratory well in Cobalt's 2010 drilling program, Firefox #1, is scheduled to spud in the first quarter of 2010. Firefox is located in Green Canyon blocks 773 and 817, where BHP Billiton Petroleum (GOM) Inc. is the operator and Cobalt owns a 30% working interest. This prospect lies within the Tahiti Basin approximately six miles northeast of the Heidelberg discovery.

Anticipated North Platte Spud Date
The next Cobalt-operated exploratory well in Cobalt's 2010 drilling program, North Platte #1, is scheduled to spud in the second quarter of 2010. North Platte targets Lower Tertiary horizons and is located in Garden Banks blocks 915, 916, 958, 959 and 960. Cobalt is the operator of North Platte and has a 60% working interest in the prospect. Total E&P USA, Inc. owns the remaining 40% working interest. Negotiations are currently in progress to secure a drilling rig to drill this well.

2010 Capital Program
Cobalt's Board of Directors has approved a 2010 capital program of $430 million. This does not include $147 million for letters of credit to cover Cobalt's Angolan work program which were previously approved by the Board of Directors. In the Gulf of Mexico, this program includes the commencement of three Cobalt-operated exploratory wells (North Platte, Aegean and Ligurian), three partner-operated exploratory wells (including Firefox) and one partner-operated appraisal well (Heidelberg #2).

Cobalt's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Joseph H. Bryant, said:
'Our IPO has given the company the funding to embark on a robust exploration program. The number one priority for Cobalt is to drill these exploratory wells and convert through the drill-bit the company's prospective resources into discoveries.'

Election of Jack Golden
Jack Golden was elected to Cobalt's Board of Directors. Mr. Golden's election brings the number of Directors to ten. His initial term as Director is effective immediately and will expire at Cobalt's 2010 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, at which time he will be up for re-election.

Mr. Golden has well-rounded expertise and experience in the global oil and gas industry. After earning his PhD. in Physics, Mr. Golden joined Shell in 1977, later joining BP p.l.c. ('BP') in 1982. He held numerous executive positions in North America including President of BP's North American E&P business. For much of his last decade with BP he served as Group Vice President - Exploration and Production. During this period he was involved with the development and operation of BP's business in North America, Europe, South America, West Africa and Russia. Mr. Golden retired from BP at the beginning of 2006. He is currently managing partner of Edgewater Energy Partners, a Texas-based consulting firm focused on the oil and gas industry, and a director of Atwood Oceanics, Inc., an international offshore drilling company.

Since March 2007, Mr. Golden has served as an advisor to Cobalt's Board of Directors. Commenting on the election, Mr. Bryant said, 'Jack has played an important role as an advisor to the Board since early 2007 and we are fortunate that he has now joined the Board. Jack's industry experience will be a tremendous asset to Cobalt as we execute our business plan.'

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