Petroceltic International plc, the upstream oil and gas exploration and production company focused on North Africa and the Mediterranean is pleased to announce that the contract for the provision of all wellsite services, including wireline evaluation, testing and cementing services and civil works for the Company's upcoming drilling programme on the Isarene permit in Algeria has been awarded to Sahara Well Construction Services ("Sahara").

Sahara is a joint venture between Schlumberger, the leading oilfield services provider, and L' Enterprise Nationale de Forage ("Enafor"), the Algerian National Enterprise for Drilling, a subsidiary of Sonatrach, the Algerian state Oil and Gas Company.

Petroceltic has a 75 per cent interest in the Isarene permit in association with Sonatrach, the Algerian state Oil and Gas Company, which holds the remaining 25 per cent.

The Company also announces that the drilling campaign on the Isarene permit in Algeria is now expected to commence in early May 2009, having been delayed by some weeks due to the customs importation procedure for importation of the KCA Deutag T-212 rig into Algeria taking longer than anticipated.

Petroceltic expects to be in a position to announce further details of its upcoming operational programme in the near future, once the final details for the programme have been agreed between the Company and Sonatrach.

The Company confirms that there are no other material announcements in respect of the Company to be made at this time.