Trans-Orient To Begin Direct Operations Again

Vancouver, BC - After an 8-year hiatus during which Trans-Orient Petroleum Ltd. discontinued direct gas and oil exploration to focus on acquisition and investments, the Canadian-based company is set to resume direct oil and gas operations, focusing primarily in New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and the Timor Sea region. Amidst increasing demand for oil and natural gas, Trans-Orient is executing a strategy that combines managerial talent, advanced research, and a focused and assertive exploration program. And the company has specifically chosen this area as one of the best under-developed energy resources in the world.

Using state-of-the-art exploration technologies such as advanced seismic imaging, Trans-Orient's technical team established solid findings regarding opportunities in the Australasian region. Once the data were evaluated, the leadership team of Trans-Orient sought and was awarded permits in New Zealand for over 2.2 million acres, of which they own a 100 percent interest – featuring over 50 structural leads and prospects that remain to be tested for oil and gas. The Company has plans to continue ground geochemistry and seismic surveys on the East Coast of New Zealand to high-grade the best prospects to drill, according to a recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

In addition to the high potential conventional exploration opportunities, Trans-Orient's permit areas contain fractured oil and gas shale formations that are widespread and thickly developed across the acreage. The Waipawa and Whangai shale are comparable in organic content and oil and gas maturity levels to successful fractured shale plays being developed such as the Bakken Shale in Montana and the Barnett Shale in East Texas. The Waipawa and Whangai shale is recognized as a world-class source rock containing major quantities of oil and gas, but were not previously considered as potential reservoir rocks until recently, with advances in drilling and fracturing technologies.

"The leadership team has created a vision and mission based on a fusion of sound business practices and expert industry knowledge," says Trans-Orient President and CEO Peter Loretto. "And we have the right team of experts that can put the plan into place."

The inclusion of well-known geophysicist Dr. David Bennett on their strategic team brings Trans-Orient more than three decades of expertise in Australasian petroleum activity and international gas and oil exploration knowledge. Dr. Bennett is a proven asset in the petroleum industry and has spearheaded several impressive discoveries in the region.

"When it comes to our strategy, we are confident and aggressive in our vision and plans for action to grow and thrive," explains Loretto. "In all of our growth, we are committed to being a solid and balanced company, relying upon our knowledge experts who bring decades of oil and gas exploration, local knowledge, scientific expertise and sound business practices to Trans-Orient."

Based upon the company's solid foundation and driving growth, Trans-Orient was able to raise more than $10M from private investors to continue exploration activities.

Many believe that the demand for gas and oil will continue to increase; in response, the exploration industry must constantly strive to meet these higher demands. Companies can no longer rely on conventional thinking to grow their companies. With the mandate to resume operations, Trans-Orient is one company which has quickly and effectively adopted newer technologies with an eye towards less-explored but highly prospective locations.

"Our East Coast Basin project is diverse in terms of play types with a number of attractive exploration targets and also an unconventional opportunity to produce oil and gas from the fractured shale. These opportunities in turn offer potential for world-class success," adds Loretto. "Of course there is no guarantee for success, but we are confident that by utilizing our extensive knowledge and by implementing new drilling and completion technologies, we are setting the foundation for some very exciting times ahead."

SOURCE: Trans-Orient Petroleum Ltd.