Coastal Energy Company (the "Company" or "Coastal Energy") (TSX-V: CEN) (AIM: CEO), an independent exploration and production company with assets in Thailand, announces the financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2010. The functional and reporting currency of the Company is the United States dollar.

First Quarter 2010 Highlights

--  Average offshore production of 7,068 bbl/d in the first quarter;
    average total Company production of  8,900 boe/d
--  EBITDAX of $34.2 million, or $0.31 per fully diluted share
--  Net income of $10.2 million, or $0.09 per fully diluted share
--  Completion of workover operations on the Songkhla A-04 well and
    installation of higher capacity pumps on the Songkhla A-01 and A-03
    wells

Operations Highlights

During Q1 2010, Coastal Energy continued to progress its offshore field development. Offshore oil production at Songkhla A has increased significantly since late 2009 and onshore gas production from Sinphuhorm has remained strong. Production from Songkhla A is currently averaging approximately 8,500 bbl/d. Offshore production at Songkhla A was restored to its full potential and the Company completed preparations for the development of its Bua Ban field.

Installation of the production and processing facilities at Bua Ban was completed in February. The drilling rig was mobilized to the Bua Ban platform in mid-May and the first well was spudded in late May. Surface casing has been set for the first five Bua Ban wells which will expedite the drilling process.

At Benjarong, installation of the MOPU was completed in late May and testing is anticipated to begin in the next two weeks with results expected by mid-July. Testing will be performed using a workover unit to reduce costs and allow the development of Bua Ban to proceed during testing. The Company anticipates further gains in offshore production as Bua Ban is developed.

Randy Bartley, President and CEO of Coastal Energy, commented:

"Great progress has been achieved during the three months to March, with a significant increase in offshore oil production from Songkhla A and onshore gas production from Sinphuphorm remaining strong. We have set a solid foundation for 2010, when Coastal will see further increases in offshore production as Bua Ban is developed.

"Financial results have continued to improve as we have strived to control costs and deploy capital in a conservative manner. Coastal saw record EBITDAX, net income and earnings per share in the first quarter. We expect 2010 to continue to yield improving results for the Company and our shareholders."

                                               3 months ended March 31,
Three months ended March 31,                    2010             2009
                                           --------------   --------------
                                                  $                $

Revenues
 Oil and natural gas                               49,510            8,200
 Royalties                                         (3,650)            (541)
 Loss on derivative risk management
  contracts (Note 5)                                  (65)          (1,087)
 Interest income                                        2               11
                                           --------------   --------------
                                                   45,797            6,583
                                           --------------   --------------
Expenses
 Production                                        10,137            3,320
 General and administrative                         3,797            3,193
 Foreign exchange loss (gain)                         464             (368)
 Interest (Notes 4 and 5)                             348            1,019
 Debt financing fees                                  124              900
 Depletion, depreciation and accretion             13,294            3,158
                                           --------------   --------------
                                                   28,164           11,222
                                           --------------   --------------
Net income (loss) before taxes, earnings
 from significantly influenced investee
 and non-controlling interest                      17,633           (4,639)

Income taxes                                      (10,225)               -
                                           --------------   --------------
Net income (loss) before earnings from
 significantly influenced
 investee and non-controlling interest              7,408           (4,639)
Earnings from significantly influenced
 investee (Note 2)                                  2,805            1,410
                                           --------------   --------------
Net income (loss) before non-controlling
 interest                                          10,213           (3,229)

Non-controlling interest (Note 9)                       5                -
                                           --------------   --------------
Net income (loss) and comprehensive income
 (loss) attributable to shareholders               10,218           (3,229)
Deficit, beginning of period                      (16,702)         (16,587)
                                           --------------   --------------
Deficit, end of period                             (6,484)         (19,816)
                                           --------------   --------------
Basic and diluted earnings (loss) per
 share (Note 8)                                      0.09            (0.03)
                                           ==============   ==============






                                                 March 31,    December 31,
                                                   2010           2009
                                               ------------   ------------
                                                    $              $
Assets
Current assets
 Cash and cash equivalents                            6,729         21,229
 Restricted cash                                      3,452          3,829
 Accounts receivable                                  6,150          6,111
 Derivative asset (Note 5)                                1             66
 Inventory                                            3,877          5,310
 Prepaids and other current assets                      436            526
                                               ------------   ------------
                                                     20,645         37,071

Investment in and advances to Apico LLC
 (Note 2)                                            57,489         55,225
Property, plant and equipment (Note 3)              270,351        233,014
Deposits and other assets                               305            299
                                               ------------   ------------
Total assets                                        348,790        325,609
                                               ============   ============

Liabilities
Current liabilities
 Accounts payable and accrued liabilities            42,769         31,325
 Deferred income (Note 6)                            12,876         23,060
 Income taxes payable                                   996             38
 Amounts due to shareholder (Note 4)                  3,538          5,164
 Current portion of long-term debt (Note 5)           7,875         10,266
                                               ------------   ------------
                                                     68,054         69,853

Long-term debt (Note 5)                              21,696         24,284
Asset retirement obligations (Note 7)                 6,872          2,809
Future income tax liability                          37,631         27,695
                                               ------------   ------------
Total Liabilities                                   134,253        124,641
                                               ------------   ------------

Commitments and contingencies (Note 12)

Non-controlling interests (Note 9)                    6,362          5,617
                                               ------------   ------------
Shareholders' equity
Share capital (Note 8)                              200,562        198,121
Contributed surplus (Note 8)                         14,018         13,779
Warrants (Note 8)                                        79            153
Deficit                                              (6,484)       (16,702)
                                               ------------   ------------
Shareholders' equity                                208,175        195,351
                                               ------------   ------------
Total liabilities, non-controlling interests,
 and shareholders' equity                           348,790        325,609
                                               ============   ============







                                               3 months ended March 31,
Three months ended March 31,                    2010             2009
                                           --------------   --------------
                                                 $                $
Operating activities
 Net income (loss) for the period                  10,218           (3,229)
 Earnings distributions from significantly
  influenced investee                                 541              723
 Items not involving cash
   Depletion, depreciation and accretion           13,294            3,158
   Future income taxes                              9,261                -
   (Gain) applicable to non-controlling
    interest                                           (5)               -
   Unrealized foreign exchange (gain) loss            675             (382)
   Stock based compensation                         1,259              576
   Issuance of warrants with notes payable              -              294
   Share of earnings of significantly
    influenced investee, net of taxes              (2,805)          (1,410)
   Unrealized loss on derivative instrument            65            1,526
 Change in non-cash working capital
  (Note 13)                                        (7,038)           4,775
                                           --------------   --------------
                                                   25,465            6,031
                                           --------------   --------------
Investing activities
 Decrease in restricted cash                          377            1,106
 Purchase of property, plant and equipment        (36,332)         (16,313)
 Contributions from non-controlling
  interest partner                                    750                -
 Other                                                 (6)              (3)
                                           --------------   --------------
                                                  (35,211)         (15,210)
                                           --------------   --------------
Financing activities
 Issuance of shares for cash                        1,840                -
 Repayments of long-term debt                      (4,979)          (6,941)
 Borrowings under amounts due to
  shareholder                                           -            1,000
 Repayment of amounts due to shareholder           (1,750)               -
 Proceeds from issuance of notes payable                -           15,000
 Repayments of notes payable                            -           (1,000)
                                           --------------   --------------
                                                   (4,889)           8,059
                                           --------------   --------------
Net effect of foreign exchange on cash
 held in foreign currencies                           135              (48)
                                           --------------   --------------

Change in cash and cash equivalents               (14,500)          (1,168)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of
 period                                            21,229            6,434
                                           --------------   --------------
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period            6,729            5,266
                                           ==============   ==============

Cash and cash equivalents consists of:
 Cash                                               6,071            5,266
 Short term money market instruments                  658                -
                                           --------------   --------------
                                                    6,729            5,266
                                           ==============   ==============

Supplemental cash flow information (Note 13)

Randy Bartley, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineering and Jerry Moon, Vice President, Technical & Business Development, a member of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, a Licensed Professional Geoscientist and a Certified Petroleum Geologist in the state of Texas, have reviewed the contents of this announcement.

Additional information, including the Company's complete competent person's report may be found on the Company's website at www.CoastalEnergy.com or may be found in documents filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

This statement contains 'forward-looking statements' as defined by the applicable securities legislation. Statements relating to current and future drilling results, existence and recoverability of potential hydrocarbon reserves, production amounts or revenues, forward capital expenditures, operation costs, oil and gas price forecasts and similar matters are based on current data and information and should be viewed as forward-looking statements. Such statements are not guarantees of future results and are subject to risks and uncertainties beyond Coastal Energy's control. Actual results may differ substantially from the forward-looking statements.

These securities have not been registered under United States Securities Act of 1933 (the "US Securities Act") or the securities laws of any state and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to US persons (as defined in Regulation S under the US Securities Act) unless an exemption from registration is available.

The TSX Venture Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release is not for dissemination in the United States or through United States newswire services

Enquiries: Coastal Energy Company Randy L. Bartley Chief Executive Officer +1 713 877 6705 William C. Phelps Chief Financial Officer +1 713 877 6727 Email: Email Contact Strand Hanson Limited (Nominated Adviser) +44 (0) 20 7409 3494 Rory Murphy Paul Cocker Thomas Weisel Partners (Broker) +44 (0) 20 7877 4300 Paul Colucci Macquarie Capital (Europe) Limited (Broker) +44 (0) 20 3037 2000 Ben Colegrave Paul Connolly Buchanan Communications Tim Thompson +44 (0) 20 7466 5000 Catherine Breen Katharine Sutton

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