LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM -- (Marketwire) -- 11/06/12 -- Serica Energy plc (TSX:SQZ)(AIM:SQZ) announces that well 15/21a-60, drilled to appraise a possible easterly extension of the Spaniards discovery in Block 15/21a, has reached a total depth of 10,694 feet and is being plugged and abandoned. The well, operated by Premier Oil, encountered 75 feet of Jurassic sands but these were interpreted to be water bearing from the log data.

Tony Craven Walker, Chairman and Interim CEO stated: "There was a reasonable pre-drill expectation that the Spaniards discovery extended over a wider area and, given its proximity to existing production facilities, could therefore be commercial. Whilst a full analysis of the well results will be required before a final conclusion can be reached, the initial interpretation now indicates that the accumulation is likely to be confined to a more limited area around the original discovery well."

The technical information contained in the announcement has been reviewed and approved by Peter Sadler, Business Development Director of Serica Energy plc. Peter Sadler is a qualified Petroleum Engineer (MSc Imperial College, London, 1982) and has been a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers since 1981.

NOTES TO EDITORS

Serica Energy was formed in 2004 and, since then, has drilled in locations as diverse as the UK Offshore, the Atlantic margin offshore Ireland, offshore Indonesia (North West Sumatra, East Kalimantan and Java) and offshore Vietnam. Seventeen wells were drilled by the Company as Operator, fourteen of the wells encountered oil or gas and six of these were commercial. The first of the commercial discoveries, the Kambuna field in North West Sumatra, was developed by the Company. The second, the Columbus field in the UK North Sea, is now in the pre-development stage with project sanction pending. The Company also has a residual economic interest in the Bream oil field offshore Norway, which will be crystallised when the field is developed, and licence interests offshore Ireland, Morocco and Namibia.

The Company is listed on both the Toronto Stock Exchange and the London AIM under the ticker SQZ.

To receive Company news releases via email, please contact serica@collegehill.com and specify "Serica press releases" in the subject line.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This disclosure contains certain forward looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties, some of which are beyond Serica Energy plc's control, including: geological, geophysical and technical risk, the impact of general economic conditions where Serica Energy plc operates, industry conditions, changes in laws and regulations including the adoption of new environmental laws and regulations and changes in how they are interpreted and enforced, increased competition, the lack of availability of qualified personnel or management, fluctuations in foreign exchange or interest rates, stock market volatility and market valuations of companies with respect to announced transactions and the final valuations thereof, and obtaining required approvals of regulatory authorities. Serica Energy plc's actual results, performance or achievement could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward looking statements and, accordingly, no assurances can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward looking statements will transpire or occur, or if any of them do so, what benefits, including the amount of proceeds, that Serica Energy plc will derive therefrom.