Declaration of Commerciality for the Carioca area

20 December 2013

Declaration of Commerciality for the Carioca area, offshore Brazil

BG Group today confirms that its partner, Petróleo Brasileiro S.A. (Petrobras) - the operator of block BM-S-9 in the pre-salt Santos Basin - has submitted a Declaration of Commerciality (DoC) to the Brazilian National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP), for the oil and gas accumulations in the Carioca area, offshore Brazil.

As part of the DoC, the consortium has suggested that the new field be named Lapa.

The Lapa field is located approximately 270 kilometres off the coast of São Paulo state, in water depths of around 2 140 metres. The DoC notification to the ANP also includes the operator's estimates of total recoverable volumes associated with the initial stage of development.

BG Group is working with the consortium partners to achieve further optimisation of the development plan following encouraging results from the recent Carioca SW appraisal well drilled in October 2013.

The DoC submission was accompanied by the Final Report of the Discovery Assessment Plan following an exploration and appraisal programme which began in 2007 and consisted of acquiring 3D seismic, drilling five wells as well as performing three formations tests and an extended well test. 

BG Group has a 30% interest in the BM-S-9 concession, offshore Brazil (Petrobras, operator 45%, Repsol Sinopec Brasil 25%).

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Notes to Editors:

BG Group plc (LSE: BG.L) is a world leader in natural gas, with a broad portfolio of business interests focused on exploration and production and liquefied natural gas. Active in more than 20 countries on five continents, BG Group combines a deep understanding of gas markets with a proven track record in finding and commercialising reserves. For further information visit: www.bg-group.com

There are matters set out within this announcement that are forward-looking statements. Such statements are only predictions, and actual events or results may differ materially. For a discussion of important factors which could cause actual results to differ from these forward-looking statements, refer toBG Group's Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2012. BG Group does not undertake any obligation to update publicly, or revise, forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent legally required.

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