OilVoice - Range Resources Announces Africa Oil Operational Update

Range Resources Announces Africa Oil Operational Update

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

• Mobilisation of seismic crew is proceeding smoothly with recording planned to start in May
• Drilling programme scaled back from July
• President of Somalia (Transitional Federal Government) issues broad endorsement of concession agreements

Range Resources, the AIM- and ASX-listed energy exploration company, announces that Africa Oil Corp. (AOI - TSXV), Range Resources' 80% joint venture partner in its two onshore Puntland oil and gas concessions, has released the following operational update.

Africa Oil reports that the mobilisation of a seismic crew to the Dharoor Valley block in northern Puntland is proceeding smoothly. Recording is still planned to start before the middle of May. Approximately 2600 km2 of high quality 2D data will be acquired as part of the comprehensive exploration programme planned for the Dharoor Valley.

Preparations for drilling in the Nogal Valley block have also been proceeding well. Although plans to spud the first well in July were well advanced, it has been decided to delay the start of the drilling programme. The recent upsurge in civil unrest in southern Somalia and piracy around Somalia's coast have given rise to significant logistical difficulties in shipping large amounts of heavy equipment and supplies to the drilling location. After close consultation with the Puntland Government, it has been decided that the prudent course of action is to delay the drilling programme temporarily while local issues are resolved by relevant authorities.

In a related matter, Africa Oil is pleased to announce that the President of the Transitional Federal Government, H.E. Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed, has been fully briefed on the Company's activities. His Excellency has subsequently issued a broad endorsement of those activities and acknowledged the legitimacy of its concession agreements, promising full support for our work programme.