RNS Number:9828D
Venture Production PLC
18 September 2007


18 September 2007

                             VENTURE PRODUCTION plc


                         First Gas From Chiswick Field


Venture Production plc ("Venture"), the Aberdeen headquartered UK independent
oil and gas production company, today announces that it has successfully
completed and tested the first production well in the new Chiswick gas field.


Following a successful multiple fracture well stimulation, the Chiswick Alpha
well tested at rates approaching 50 million cubic feet per day ("MMcfpd") on a
restricted 72/64 inch choke setting. The reservoir quality and well production
performance are in line with expectations and the well is expected to reach
gross production rates of between 55 and 60 MMcfpd following completion of the
ongoing clean-up programme through the platform facilities. This equates to
additional production net to Venture of between 9,000 and 10,000 barrels of oil
equivalent per day ("boepd"), including associated gas condensate production.


It is anticipated that the field will commence commercial production once the
current Markham field annual shut-down is completed around the end of September.
The new field is already tied back to the Venture-operated Markham J6A platform.


The Chiswick Alpha well (49/4a-C1y) (Venture operated - 95%) was drilled from
the Noble Kolskya jack-up rig during the first half of 2007. During August a
programme of five hydraulic fracture procedures was successfully carried out to
maximise deliverability of gas from the field and the Noble Kolskya rig is now
moving back to complete the drilling of the second development well, Chiswick
Gamma.


The potential for a successful development of the Chiswick field was one of the
primary drivers behind the acquisition of CH4 Energy in 2006. Work has already
commenced to prepare for up to three more wells to be drilled in the Chiswick
field targeting incremental reserves in the Gamma Block and the undrilled Beta
Block, subject to performance from the first two wells.

Commenting on the news, Mike Wagstaff, Chief Executive said:

"Delivery of production from Chiswick, one of the largest undeveloped gas
discoveries in the southern North Sea, illustrates how a highly focused operator
can deliver the substantial additional value remaining in indigenous UK gas. Our
project development team has successfully delivered a challenging project
consisting of both a long, complex well and a sophisticated fracturing operation
in a market which has been very tight for services and equipment. I am delighted
that we have now demonstrated the value of the CH4 deal, our largest acquisition
in 2006, and we are now looking forward to further development of stranded gas
in the Greater Markham Area."

                                      ENDS


Contact:

Mike Wagstaff, Chief Executive
Jon Murphy, Chief Operating Officer
Marie-Louise Clayton, Finance Director
Rod Begbie, Corporate Development Director                          01224 619000

Patrick Handley, Brunswick
Chris Blundell, Brunswick                                          020 7404 5959

John MacDonald, Weber Shandwick (Scottish Press)                    01224 806600



                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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