News Releases - Anadarko

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sep. 16, 2009-- Anadarko Petroleum Corporation (NYSE:APC) today announced a deepwater discovery at the Venus exploration well in block SL 6/07 offshore Sierra Leone. The Venus B-1 well was drilled to a total depth of approximately 18,500 feet in about 5,900 feet of water and encountered more than 45 net feet of hydrocarbon pay. Venus is the first deepwater test in the Sierra Leone-Liberian Basin.

"The Venus discovery confirms the existence of an active petroleum system in the basin and enhances the prospectivity of our vast West Africa acreage position," said Bob Daniels, Anadarko Sr. Vice President, Worldwide Exploration. "With Jubilee on the east and Venus on the west, we have established bookends spanning approximately 1,100 kilometers (700 miles) across two of the most exciting and highly prospective basins in the world. Anadarko and our partners are evaluating the initial results of the well and the forward plan for the prospect, and anticipate additional drilling in the area. We are optimistic that the continued success of our West African Cretaceous program will create substantial value for our stakeholders as well as the people of West Africa through continued investment and increased activity. Anadarko plans to drill two to five wells in the trend next year."

The Venus prospect is one of Anadarko's more than 30 identified prospects and leads on its West Africa acreage position, which includes interests in almost 8 million acres across 10 blocks offshore Sierra Leone, Liberia, Cote d'Ivoire and Ghana. Anadarko operates seven of the blocks and the majority of the identified prospects with an average working interest of approximately 40 percent.

The company plans to continue its West Africa drilling operations in the Cretaceous Trend by drilling the South Grand Lahou exploration well in block CI 105 offshore Cote d'Ivoire once activities are completed at the Venus discovery well.

Anadarko operates the Venus well with a 40-percent working interest. Co-owners in the discovery include Woodside (25-percent working interest), Repsol (25-percent working interest) and Tullow (10-percent working interest).

A map of the Venus discovery and Anadarko's West Africa acreage position will be available under the "Media Center/Anadarko News" tab at www.anadarko.com.

CONFERENCE CALL TODAY AT 7:30 A.M. CDT, 8:30 A.M. EDT

Anadarko will host a conference call today, Sept. 16, 2009 at 7:30 a.m. Central Daylight Time (8:30 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time) to discuss the results of the Venus well and its ongoing West Africa exploration program. The dial-in number is 888.679.8040 in the United States or 617.213.4851 internationally. The confirmation number is 90952793. For complete instructions on how to listen to the conference call or live audio webcast, please visit www.anadarko.com. A replay of the call will also be available on the Web site for approximately 30 days following the conference call.

Anadarko Petroleum Corporation's mission is to deliver a competitive and sustainable rate of return to shareholders by exploring for, acquiring and developing oil and natural gas resources vital to the world’s health and welfare. As of year-end 2008, the company had approximately 2.3 billion barrels-equivalent of proved reserves, making it one of the world's largest independent exploration and production companies. For more information about Anadarko, please visit www.anadarko.com.

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Anadarko believes that its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions. No assurance, however, can be given that such expectations will prove to have been correct. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the projections, anticipated results or other expectations expressed in this news release, including Anadarko's ability to successfully drill, complete, test and produce the wells identified in this news release. See "Risk Factors" in the company's 2008 Annual Report on Form 10-K and other public filings and press releases. Anadarko undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements.

Source: Anadarko Petroleum Corporation

Anadarko Petroleum Corporation
Media:
John Christiansen, 832-636-8736
john.christiansen@anadarko.com
Matt Carmichael, 832-636-2845
matt.carmichael@anadarko.com
Investors:
John Colglazier, 832-636-2306
john.colglazier@anadarko.com
Chris Campbell, CFA, 832-636-8434
chris.campbell@anadarko.com
Dean Hennings, 832-636-2462
dean.hennings@anadarko.com