Apache Details Liquids-Rich Identified Resource Inventory

HOUSTON, June 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Apache Corporation (NYSE, Nasdaq: APA) today released new, detailed resource estimates of its oil- and liquids-rich portfolio, including substantial Permian and Anadarko basin holdings, recently acquired acreage in the liquids-rich Mississippian Lime and Williston Basin resource plays, and significant new plays and oil exploration prospects in Canada, Argentina, Alaska and Kenya.

"For Apache, this is the time to drill more wells: We have captured a vast, liquids-rich resource base and drilling costs are declining," said G. Steven Farris, Apache's chairman and chief executive officer. "By remaining committed to Apache's historical focus on returns and preserving our conservative financial structure – which means living within our cash flow – our portfolio is positioned to continue to deliver long-term growth and value for our shareholders."

Resource estimates released Thursday at the company's annual investor day include:

• Apache, the second-largest producer and acreage owner in the Permian Basin of West Texas and eastern New Mexico, has identified approximately 34,500 drillable locations with an estimated net resource of 3.8 billion barrels of oil equivalent (Boe).
• In the Anadarko Basin in western Oklahoma and the Texas Panhandle, Apache has identified approximately 32,500 drillable locations primarily in the Granite Wash, Cleveland, Tonkawa and Marmaton formations with an estimated net resource of 5.4 billion Boe.
• In northern British Columbia, Canada, Apache has validated an outstanding new shale play in the Liard Basin with net estimated sales gas of 48 trillion cubic feet of natural gas (8 billion Boe) across 430,000 acres held with a 100-percent working interest.
  The resource estimate at Liard is based on recent drilling, test results and earlier well control points. "The D-34-K well is one of the best shale wells we've seen in any play," Farris said. "Our analysis indicates that the formation characteristics are remarkably consistent across this large basin."
• In Argentina, Apache estimated that its 450,000-acre position in the Vaca Muerta oil shale has a net potential recoverable resource of 800 million Boe.

New exploratory oil prospects include:

• Apache has built a 580,000-acre (net) position in the Mississippian Lime play in Kansas and Nebraska with an inventory of 7,200 potential locations and an estimated resource potential of 2 billion barrels of oil.
• Apache assembled a 300,000-acre position (net) in the Williston Basin in Daniels County, Montana, with more than 1,900 potential locations and potential resource of 1 billion barrels of oil.
• In Alaska – where this year Apache plans to drill its first well – the company has identified 1.3 billion barrels of oil of yet-to-be-found potential.
• In Block L-8 offshore Kenya, Apache has identified eight prospects with net potential of 1.4 billion barrels of oil. Apache expects to commence drilling its first well in the deepwater block in the third quarter.

"Apache has captured the largest inventory of liquids-rich drillable locations in our history, including additional upside potential from exploration activities in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico, Egypt and Australia," Farris said. "We are well-positioned to deliver long-term profitable growth with our balanced portfolio, focus on rate of return, and prudent financial structure."

About Apache

Apache Corporation is an oil and gas exploration and production company with operations in the United States, Canada, Egypt, the United Kingdom North Sea, Australia and Argentina. Apache posts announcements, operational updates, investor information and copies of all press releases on its website, www.apachecorp.com.

Forward-looking statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "seeks," "believes," "estimates," "expects," "forecasts" and similar references to future periods. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements about potential drilling locations and Apache's ability to execute on exploration, production and development plans. While forward-looking statements are based on our assumptions and analyses that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances, whether actual results and developments will meet our expectations and predictions depend on a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results, performance and financial condition to differ materially from our expectations. See "Risk Factors" in our 2011 Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a discussion of risk factors that affect our business. Any forward-looking statement made by us in this news release speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Factors or events that could cause our actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of them. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future development, or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

Cautionary note to investors

The United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) permits oil and gas companies, in their filings with the SEC, to disclose only proved, probable and possible reserves that meet the SEC's definitions for such terms. Apache uses certain terms in this presentation, such as "resource potential" "resource base," "potential resource," "resource estimates," "net resources," "net potential recoverable resource," and similar terms that the SEC guidelines strictly prohibit Apache from including in filings with the SEC.  "Resource potential," "resource base," "potential resource" "resource estimates," "net resources," "net potential recoverable resource," and other such terms do not take into account the certainty of resource recovery, which is contingent on exploration success, technical improvements in drilling access, commerciality and other factors, and are therefore not indicative of expected future resource recovery and should not be relied upon. Investors are urged to consider carefully the disclosure in Apache's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended Dec. 31, 2011, and amendments thereto, available from Apache at www.apachecorp.com or by writing Apache at: 2000 Post Oak Blvd., Suite 100, Houston, Texas 77056 (Attn: Corporate Secretary). You also may obtain this report from the SEC by calling 1-800-SEC-0330 or from the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.

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SOURCE Apache Corporation