Kea spuds Hoadleys-1

Kea Petroleum plc

("Kea" or the "Group")

 Kea spuds Hoadleys-1

Kea Petroleum plc (AIM:KEA) is pleased to announce that the Hoadleys-1 exploration well in the ATP837P licence area in Australia's onshore Surat Basin was spudded on 25 June 2011, and has already run and set surface casing to 254m.

It is anticipated that the well will be drilled to a total depth of 2,200m by late July 2011, and will test for oil in the Lower Evergreen and Precipice Sands. Both of these targets are producers in the nearby Moonie oil field.

In the event of success Kea's gross median reserve estimate is approximately one million barrels, with a potential upside of up to several million barrels.

This release has been approved by non-executive director Peter Mikkelsen FGS, AAPG, who has consented to the inclusion of the technical information in this release in the form and context in which it appears.

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.