Director's Dealing

Kea Petroleum plc

("Kea" or the "Group")

 Director's Dealing

Kea Petroleum plc (AIM:KEA) was informed that Thornaby Limited, a company wholly owned by the trustees of the I R Gowrie-Smith Family Settlement, of which I R Gowrie-Smith, the Chairman of Kea Petroleum, is a beneficiary, purchased 1,500,000 Ordinary Shares of 1p each in Kea at a price of 4.75p per share on 13 July 2011.

Following this transaction Thornaby Limited's total beneficial interest in Kea is 68,500,000 Ordinary Shares, representing approximately 13.45% of its issued share capital

For further information please contact:

Kea Petroleum plc Tel: +44 (0)20 7340 9970

David Lees, Executive Director

RBC Capital Markets Tel: +44 (0)20 7653 4000

Matthew Coakes / Daniel Conti Martin Eales (NOMAD)

Buchanan Communications Tel: +44 (0)20 7466 5000Tim Anderson / James Strong

Notes to Editors:

Kea Petroleum is an AIM listed oil and gas exploration company with interests in six petroleum exploration permits in Taranaki and Northland Basins of New Zealand. Kea listed on AIM in February 2010.