drilling update from empyrean

expect FAR to be up again

RNS Number:5730B
Empyrean Energy PLC
18 April 2006




Empyrean Energy PLC
("Empyrean" or the "Company"; Ticker: (EME))

Drilling Update

Eagle North-1 well in California, USA

• Oil shows encountered over a horizontal measured interval of 98 feet
whilst drilling the curved part of the well.
• Casing of the curved part of the well now complete.
• Preparing to drill final horizontal stage before setting production
liner.

AIM quoted Empyrean Energy PLC today announces the following update on the Eagle
North-1 well, California, USA:

Victoria Petroleum NL as operator for the Eagle North-1 horizontal well advises
that at 1800 hours Central Pacific Time 17 April 2006, the current operation at
the Eagle North-1 horizontal well was preparing to drill ahead after setting 41/
2 inch casing at 4,281metres (14,045 feet) measured depth after having
encountered good oil shows from the interval 4,255 metres (13,960 feet )
measured depth (4,152 metres TVD KB) to 4,285 metres (14,058 feet). The well
bore is currently at an angle of 87 degrees from the vertical.

As per previous announcement, the forward plan is to drill a 3 3/4 inch
horizontal well bore for a distance of approximately 320 metres to within 30
metres of the Mary Bellocchi-1 oil well. This horizontal stage will be drilled
with a normal pressured water based KCL-Clarizan mud minimising formation
invasion and maximising the evaluation potential of the oil bearing sand. This
will result in a planned measured depth of 4,600 metres (15,090 feet).

This horizontal well bore will then be completed for production with a 2 7/8
inch slotted production liner. Production testing will follow.

A further update will be made as information becomes available.

Executive Director - Tom Kelly commented "We are pleased with the recent
progress of completion operations and look forward to the next stage of
horizontal drilling before setting production liner to test."

The information contained in this announcement has been reviewed by the
Technical Director of Empyrean Energy Plc, Mr Frank Brophy BSc (Hons) who has
over 40 years experience as a petroleum geologist.


For further information

Laurence Read/ Angus Prentice
Conduit PR
Tel: +44 (0) 207 429 6603
Mob: +44 (0) 7974 982 512

Toby Howell
HB Corporate
Tel: +44(0) 207 510 8600

Empyrean Energy plc
Tel : +44(0) 207 932 2442