WesternZagros Declares Commercial Discovery at Kurdamir

First horizontal development well expected in Q4 2014

CALGARY, ALBERTA -- (Marketwired - Aug. 20, 2014) - WesternZagros Resources Ltd. (TSX VENTURE:WZR) ("WesternZagros" or "the Company") and its co-venturer, Talisman (Block K44) B.V. ("Talisman"), have submitted a Declaration of Commercial Discovery ("DoC") to the Kurdistan Regional Government ("KRG") for the oil and gas discovery in the Kurdamir Block. A phased development plan, outlining future production wells, facilities and supporting infrastructure, is under preparation for submission to the KRG.

"This is a long anticipated, important milestone for WesternZagros as well as the Kurdistan Region. We estimate the Kurdamir block to hold nearly 1 billion barrels of oil equivalent (BOE) of contingent resources on a mean basis. In addition, the three stacked reservoirs in Kurdamir hold significant upside potential, of an additional estimated 1.6 billion BOE of prospective resources on a mean basis. Declaring Kurdamir as a commercial discovery is another key step as we continue our evolution from an explorer to a producer and towards generating cash flow," said Simon Hatfield, WesternZagros Chief Executive Officer.

Future expansion phases will be determined by the success of the first phase of the development drilling campaign. The co-venturers are advancing plans for the first horizontal development well with an anticipated spud date in Q4 2014, subject to KRG approval.

The DoC submission was accompanied by an Appraisal Report, which reflects the work conducted during an exploration and appraisal program on the Kurdamir field that began in 2009 and concluded in May 2014. The program consisted of acquiring 2D and 3D seismic, drilling three exploration wells, performing numerous formation tests and carrying out an extended well test ("EWT"). Positive results from the Kurdamir-2 EWT were a key component in advancing the DoC.

WesternZagros currently holds a 40 percent working interest in the Kurdamir Block. Talisman holds a 40 percent working interest and is the operator, while the KRG holds the remaining 20 percent.


About WesternZagros Resources Ltd.

WesternZagros is an international natural resources company focused on acquiring properties and exploring for, developing and producing crude oil and natural gas in Iraq. WesternZagros, through its wholly-owned subsidiaries, holds a 40 percent working interest in two Production Sharing Contracts with the Kurdistan Regional Government in the Kurdistan Region. WesternZagros's shares trade in Canada on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "WZR".


This news release contains certain forward‐looking information relating, but not limited, to future submission of development plans, future drilling plans, the timing associated with such plans and future production potential. Forward-looking information typically contains statements with words such as "anticipate", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "potential", "could", or similar words suggesting future outcomes. The Company cautions readers not to place undue reliance on forward‐looking information as by its nature, it is based on current expectations regarding future events that involve a number of assumptions, inherent risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by WesternZagros. Readers are also cautioned that disclosed test rates and results are not necessarily indicative of long-term performance or of ultimate recovery. In addition, the forward‐looking information is made as of the date hereof, and the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise such to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law.

Forward‐looking information is not based on historical facts but rather on management's current expectations and assumptions regarding, among other things, plans for and results of drilling activity and testing programs, future capital and other expenditures (including the amount, nature and sources of funding thereof), continued political stability, continued security in the Kurdistan Region, a return to normal industry conditions in the Kurdistan Region, the resumption of operations on the Kurdamir block, timely receipt of any necessary government or regulatory approvals, the Company's continued ability to employ qualified staff and to obtain equipment in a timely and cost efficient manner, the participation of the Company's co-venturers in joint activities and the ability to sell any future production and the prices to be received in connection therewith. Although the Company believes the expectations and assumptions reflected in such forward‐looking information are reasonable, they may prove to be incorrect. Forward‐looking information involves significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by WesternZagros including, but not limited to, risks associated with the oil and gas industry (e.g. operational risks in exploration; inherent uncertainties in interpreting geological data; changes in plans with respect to capital expenditures; interruptions in operations together with any associated insurance proceedings; the uncertainty of estimates and projections in relation to costs and expenses and health, safety and environmental risks), the risk of commodity price and foreign exchange rate fluctuations, the uncertainty associated with negotiating with foreign governments, the risk of adverse determinations by governmental authorities, the risk of arbitrating and enforcing claims against entities that may claim sovereignty and other risks associated with international activity, including the lack of federal petroleum legislation and ongoing political disputes in Iraq and recent terrorist activities in Iraq in particular. For further information on WesternZagros and the risks associated with its business, please see the Company's Annual Information Form dated March 13, 2014 ("AIF") which is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

In addition, statements relating to "resources" contained herein are deemed to be forward-looking statements, as they involve the implied assessment, based on certain estimates and assumptions that the resources described can be economically produced in the future. Terms related to resource classifications referred to herein are based on the definitions and guidelines in the Canadian Oil and Gas Evaluation Handbook which are as follows. "Prospective resources" are those quantities of petroleum estimated, as of a given date, to be potentially recoverable from undiscovered accumulations by application of future development projects. Prospective resources have both an associated chance of discovery (geological chance of success) and a chance of development (economic, regulatory, market, facility, corporate commitment or political risks). The chance of commerciality is the product of these two risk components. The estimates referred to herein have not been risked for either the chance of discovery or the chance of development. There is no certainty that any portion of the prospective resources will be discovered. If a discovery is made, there is no certainty that it will be developed or, if it is developed, there is no certainty as to the timing of such development or that it will be commercially viable to produce any portion of the prospective resources. "Contingent resources" are those quantities of petroleum estimated, as of a given date, to be potentially recoverable from known accumulations using established technology or technology under development, but which are not currently considered to be commercially recoverable due to one or more contingencies. Contingent resources have an associated chance of development (economic, regulatory, market and facility, corporate commitment or political risks).

The contingent resources estimates referred to herein have not been risked for the chance of development. There is no certainty that the contingent resources will be developed and, if developed, there is no certainty as to the timing of such development or that it will be commercially viable to produce any portion of the contingent resources. The resource estimates presented are gross volumes for the indicated reservoirs, without any adjustment for the Company's working interest or encumbrances. A barrel of oil equivalent (BOE) is determined by converting a volume of natural gas to barrels using the ratio of 6 thousand cubic feet (Mcf) to one barrel. BOEs may be misleading, particularly if used in isolation. A BOE conversion ratio of 6 Mcf:1 BOE is based on an energy equivalency conversion method primarily applicable at the burner tip and does not represent a value equivalency at the wellhead. Given that the value ratio based on the current price of oil as compared to natural gas is significantly different from the energy equivalency of 6:1, utilizing a conversion on a 6:1 basis may be misleading as an indication of value. The Company's Statement of Oil and Gas Information contained in the AIF contains additional detail with respect to the Company's resource assessments and includes the significant risks and uncertainties associated with the estimates and the recovery and development of the resources, and the specific contingencies which prevent the classification of the contingent resources as reserves. In addition, total or combined mean estimates of resources which are presented herein are an arithmetic sum of the mean estimates for individual reservoirs and each such individual mean estimate is the average from the probabilistic assessment that was completed for the reservoir. Readers should refer to the AIF and the material change report for a detailed breakdown of the high (P10), low (P90) and best (P50) estimates for each of the individual reservoir assessments.

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WESTERNZAGROS RESOURCES WAS RECOGNIZED AS A TSX VENTURE 50® COMPANY IN 2012 AND 2013. TSX VENTURE 50 IS A TRADE-MARK OF TSX INC. AND IS USED UNDER LICENSE.

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CONTACT INFORMATION

WesternZagros Resources Ltd.
Greg Stevenson, Chief Financial Officer
(403) 693-7007

Tony Kraljic, VP Business Development
(403) 693-7011

Lisa Harriman, Manager of Investor Relations
(403) 693-7017
investorrelations@westernzagros.com
www.westernzagros.com

Smithfield Group
John Kiely
+44 (0) 20 7360 4900
jkiely@smithfieldgroup.com

James McFarlane
+44 (0) 20 7360 4900
Jmcfarlane@smithfieldgroup.com

Brett Jacobs
+44 (0) 20 7360 4900
bjacobs@smithfieldgroup.com