Marathon Oil Announces Entry Into Ethiopia‏

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Marathon Oil said Wednesday day that its subsidiary Marathon Ethiopia Limited B.V. has entered into a sale and purchase agreement with Agriterra Limited to acquire their 20 percent working interest in the South Omo concession in Ethiopia with an effective date of Aug. 17, 2012.

The companies expect to close the transaction, subject to completion of the necessary Ethiopian government approvals, before the end of the year.

Ethiopia
Ethiopia

Tullow Oil is the operator of the South Omo concession with a 50 percent working interest, and Africa Oil holds the remaining 30 percent working interest. The concession has an area of approximately 7.2 million gross acres (29,465 gross square kilometers). An exploration well is anticipated to spud in South Omo in the fourth quarter of 2012.

In consideration for the assignment of these interests, Marathon Oil will pay Agriterra $40 million, before closing adjustments, with an additional payment of $10 million due upon Marathon Oil’s participation in a declaration of a commercial discovery.

“This acquisition is a strong addition to Marathon Oil’s position in the Tertiary rift trend onshore East Africa and is on trend with the recent Ngamia-1 discovery in Kenya,” said Annell Bay, Marathon Oil vice president, Global Exploration. “We are excited to build on our partnership with Tullow and Africa Oil.”

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