Shell announced a frontier(1) exploration discovery offshore Gabon, West Africa. The well Leopard-1 encountered a substantial gas column with around 200 metres net gas pay in a pre-salt(2) reservoir.

Leopard-1 is located around 145 kilometres off the Gabonese coast, west of Gamba. It was drilled in water 2,110 metres deep to a total vertical depth of 5,063 metres. Shell and partners are planning to undertake an appraisal programme to further determine the resource volumes.

“Shell has been exploring in Gabon for over 50 years. This latest deep-water discovery is a testament to the innovation of our explorers in pursuing new plays, and application of our global sub-surface expertise,” said Andy Brown, Shell Upstream International Director. “We are proud to be sharing this success with CNOOC Limited, our partner in the licence.”

Leopard-1 was drilled in licence BCD10, operated by Shell (75%). Second partner in the venture is CNOOC Limited (25%).

This frontier discovery follows recent deep-water exploration successes in the heartlands for Shell Exploration in the Gulf of Mexico and Malaysia.

(1) Frontier is one of the themes that Shell distinguishes in its exploration portfolio, which covers under-explored basins.

(2) Pre-salt means that the target reservoir is situated below a layer of salt, which is a very good seal for hydrocarbons.

About Royal Dutch Shell plc

Royal Dutch Shell plc is incorporated in England and Wales, has its headquarters in The Hague and is listed on the London, Amsterdam, and New York stock exchanges. Shell companies have operations in more than 70 countries and territories with businesses including oil and gas exploration and production; production and marketing of liquefied natural gas and gas to liquids; manufacturing, marketing and shipping of oil products and chemicals and renewable energy projects.

About CNOOC

China National Offshore Oil Corporation ("CNOOC"), the largest offshore oil and gas producer in China, is a mega government owned company operating directly under the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council of the People's Republic of China. In 2013, the Company's rankings in the Fortune Global 500 rose to 93. In 2012, our position in Petroleum Intelligence Weekly's World Top 50 Oil Companies rose to 33rd. Standard & Poor's and Moody's continue to rate the Company with creditratings of AA- and Aa3, the highest for a Chinese corporation.