21st May 2007

Irvine Energy Plc Commences Seismic Programme in Kansas, USA

Irvine Energy plc, the AIM listed oil and gas exploration company, has commenced the first stage seismic programme on the Company's oil and gas leases in Kansas, USA. Permitting and surveying for the seismic programme has started, with 3D and 2D seismic shooting expected to begin in late May 2007 and completion targeted for late August 2007.

Approximately 55 square miles of 3D and 15 line miles of 2D will be shot in the Butler, Cowley and Barber counties, at a total cost of approximately US$$2.5 million, of which Irvine will contribute US$$2.25 million of the costs. Processing and interpretation of the data will begin in June and carry through September as surveys are completed.

The programme is being run to generate several conventional oil and gas exploration targets in the multiple shallow stacked conventional oil and gas reservoirs from 500-1,700 meters. As many as 12 conventional production intervals have produced in the area at depths of 1,500-5,000 ft (500-1,525m) with three, Arbuckle, Mississippian and Pennsylvanian, being prolific. In addition, evaluation of the Chattanooga shale will allow for the evaluation and proper placement of future shale completions.

Initial drilling for conventional targets is proposed to begin in early Q4 2007. Evaluation and testing of the Chattanooga shale is proposed to commence in late Q4 2007 and carry into 2008.

Irvine Managing Director Aaron Close said, "The commencement of the seismic programme is an exciting phase for the Project and the Company, following on from the aggressive land acquisition programme. The programme is being undertaken in a historically productive region, with multiple oil and gas reservoirs, that has lacked the application of state-of-the-art exploration techniques, including 3D seismic. It is the Company's near term objective to build production and a reserve base on the conventional targets and generate early cash flow. We will then collect data to evaluate the shale potential of the region while drilling wells that are on conventional targets to gain data at minimal cost that will potentially provide Irvine with further significant upside potential within the Chattanooga shale."

For further information please visit www.irvineenergy.com or contact:

Irvine Energy plc
Aaron Close, Tel: +1 281 647 7770

Irvine Energy plc
Michael Frayne, Tel: +44 (0)20 7766 7500

Nabarro Wells & Co Ltd
Hugh Oram Tel: +44 (0)20 7710 7400

St Brides Media & Finance
Hugo de Salis Tel: +44 (0)20 7242 4477

St Brides Media & Finance
Felicity Edwards Tel: +44 (0)20 7242 4477

Notes to Editors:

The Project

The Company has an oil and gas exploration and development joint venture with the Metro Energy Group ("Metro") in Kansas, USA ("the Project"). Metro is the Operator of the Project and has significant experience in the development of conventional and unconventional oil and gas projects.

The Company having acquired a 75% working interest in over 107,000 acres, with Metro holding the remaining 25% working interest, has achieved the first objective of building a large acreage position concentrated in areas with multiple oil & gas reservoirs, both conventional and unconventional.

The Project has an area of mutual interest ('AMI') covering approximately seven million acres in eleven contiguous counties in Kansas. The AMI has a prolific oil and gas production history, with one county producing as much as 500 million barrels of oil, as well as extensive infrastructure. The past lack of application of state-of-the-art exploration techniques in the AMI, provides significant upside potential.

It is the Company's near term objective to build production and a reserve base on these conventional targets and generate early cash flow and high rates of return. As many as 12 conventional production intervals have produced in the area at depths of 1,500-5,000 ft (500-1,525 m) with three, Arbuckle, Mississippian and Pennsylvanian, being prolific. Importantly, the area has many operating advantages. These include low cost drilling primarily due to shallow reservoir depths, extensive infrastructure and locally available services and rigs, as well as favourable lease terms. The first two targets include the Arbuckle, prematurely abandoned when the oil price was circa US$$12 and the Mississippian chert, which is prolific in the AMI and in adjacent Oklahoma.

The AMI importantly houses the highly prospective Chattanooga Shale formation, which has successfully been drilled across state lines, in Arkansas by Southwest Energy and in Oklahoma by Devon Energy and Newfield Inc, both billion dollar shale gas specialists, where flow rates were highly economic. The Chattanooga Shale is relatively shallow and is an extension of the proven Woodfood shale. With a land position of over 107,000 acres, Irvine has first mover-advantage in an area that has significant gas potential. Shale gas, due to the development of new extraction techniques, is the USA's fastest growing energy sector. The Barnet Shale in Texas has transformed companies such as EOG Resources, Encana, and Devon Energy. Irvine believes the Chattanooga area has great potential to deliver in the future.

The Company aims to exploit the conventional oil and gas reservoirs, to reduce overall project risk and generate early cash-flow from conventional sources, while at the same time test the Chattanooga Shale gas potential.

The Operator

The Metro Group has oil and gas operations in Oklahoma, Louisiana and Kansas and has significant in-house experience and expertise in geology, prospect generation, field operations, and oil and gas marketing. The principals of the Metro Group have over 40 years combined experience in the oil and gas industry. The Metro Group has a proven track record in shale gas development, including an operating agreement in the Woodford Shale gas play in Oklahoma with Devon Energy, one of the largest shale gas developers in the USA.