PARIS, February 10 /PRNewswire/ -- GDF SUEZ and its license partners, Venture Production Plc and Endeavour Energy UK Limited, are pleased to announce that appraisal well 44/12a-3 has been a success, further extending the Cygnus Gas Field. The ultimate recoverable reserves for the whole field will lead to Cygnus being ranked as one of the more significant Southern North Sea development projects in recent years.

The well is located in the Southern Basin sector of the United Kingdom Continental Shelf, six kilometers East North-East of the previous Cygnus well 44/12a-2. The well was drilled to a total depth of 12,433 feet and tested up to 32 million standard cubic feet per day.

The well has confirmed the presence of gas in both the primary and secondary reservoir intervals. The likely reserves of the secondary reservoir are thought to be in excess of 100 billion cubic feet.

A further appraisal well is planned approximately 8 km northwest of 44/12a-3 immediately following completion of operations on this well.

Commenting on the news, Jean-Marie Dauger, Executive Vice President of GDF SUEZ in charge of Global Gas LNG said: This is an excellent result for the project as it confirms a sizeable northwards extension for Cygnus. It also provides a very solid commercial foundation for what is likely to be one of the larger UK Southern North Sea developments in recent years and will make a sizeable impact on the medium term growth target planned for GDF SUEZ.

Notes:

GDF SUEZ is operator of the P.1055 (Blocks 44/11a, 12a) license with a net equity interest of 38.75%. Venture has a net equity of 48.75% and Endeavour a net equity of 12.5%. GDF SUEZ EP UK Ltd, previously GDF Britain Ltd, is a wholly owned oil and gas exploration and production subsidiary of the GDF SUEZ Group, active in the UK.

One of the leading energy providers in the world, GDF SUEZ is active across the entire energy value chain, in electricity and natural gas, upstream to downstream. It develops its businesses (energy, energy services and environment) around a responsible-growth model to take up the great challenges: responding to energy needs, ensuring the security of supply, fighting against climate change and maximizing the use of resources. GDF SUEZ relies on diversified supply sources as well as flexible and high-performance power generation in order to provide innovative energy solutions to individuals, cities and businesses. The Group employs 196,500 people worldwide and achieved revenues of EUR74,3 billion in 2007. GDF SUEZ is listed on the Brussels, Luxembourg and Paris stock exchanges and is represented in the main international indices: CAC 40, BEL 20, DJ Stoxx 50, DJ Euro Stoxx 50, Euronext 100, FTSE Eurotop 100, MSCI Europe and ASPI Eurozone.

GDF SUEZ EP UK Limited Contact: Tel: +44(0)20-7067-4400; GDF SUEZ Press contact: Tel France: +33-(0)1-57-04-24-35, Tel Belgium: +32-2-510-76-70, E-Mail: gdfsuezpress@gdfsuez.com; GDF SUEZ Investor Relations contact: Tel: +33(0)1-57-04-66-29, E-Mail: ir@gdfsuez.com