Offshore staff

WEIN, Austria -- OMV Aktiengesellschaft is boosting its New Zealand portfolio with a new offshore exploration permit on the west coast of New Zealand's North Island. The New Zealand Government Regulatory Authority has awarded OMV subsidiary OMV New Zealand the entire offshore exploration block PEP 381200. The permit is granted for a term of five years beginning on Sept. 1, 2007.

The new offshore block lies in an average water depth of 1,000 m (3,281 ft) in the Taranaki basin. Work on the awarded block will begin early in 2008 with the acquisition of a 2D seismic survey.

"Our new exploration permit strengthens our presence in New Zealand, where further growth is scheduled," says Helmut Langanger, head of exploration and production at OMV.

OMV now has interests in seven exploration permits in New Zealand.

5/22/2007