Apache exploratory success in the Whittenburg Basin

Apache Corporation reported encouraging results in its exploratory drilling program in the emerging Whittenburg Basin play in the Texas Panhandle.

Five of six initial vertical tests were completed as oil producers in the Canyon Wash interval.

"We are very encouraged that our early results support our geological model. We plan to expand our exploratory program using newly acquired 3-D seismic," said Robert Johnston, Apache's Central Region vice president.

"Advances in horizontal drilling and multi-stage fracture stimulations have greatly improved the economics of drilling in oil and liquids-rich formations across western Oklahoma and the Texas Panhandle; the wells we have drilled thus far in the Bivins Ranch area have all the ingredients to suggest that these techniques may generate even greater productivity.

"We are eager to continue to test the acreage, and we plan to commence horizontal development drilling in mid-2012,"

Apache has leased or purchased approximately 96,000 net acres in the Bivins Ranch area, a 200-square-mile block in Hartley, Oldham, Potter and Moore counties, and operates all leases, most with 73.5-percent working interests. The block is immediately south of the prolific Panhandle Dolomite field and north of two 25-well Canyon Wash fields.

The Bivins Ranch acreage play is part of Apache's stepped-up program to explore in underdeveloped areas — beyond existing operations — that can benefit from Apache's technical expertise and financial capacity.

Prior to Apache's recent activity, just 21 wells were drilled on the block, which is located about 100 miles west of Apache's Anadarko Basin properties.

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Newfield signs Uinta Basin supply agreement

Newfield Exploration Company signed a crude oil supply agreement with HollyFrontier Corporation to provide 20,000 barrels per day of supply capacity at HollyFrontier's Woods Cross, Utah, refinery.

"We are planning to significantly increase our drilling activities in the Uinta Basin – both in our proven shallow oil developments and in new and deeper oil horizons," said Lee K. Boothby, Newfield's Chairman, President and CEO.

"This new agreement with HollyFrontier helps ensure that our oil growth will be matched by capacity expansions in the Uinta Basin. We are growing an important source of domestic oil volumes and both Newfield and HollyFrontier will benefit throughout the next decade."

The new agreement spans a 10-year period with commitments commencing in 2014. This is the second of two recent agreements by Newfield to secure approximately 40,000 BOPD of capacity for the Company's planned oil growth in the Uinta Basin. The oil price differential associated with this agreement is not materially different than Newfield's current supply contracts in the basin.

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Total exploring Angola's Kwanza Basin

Total is expanding its presence in Angola with three new exploration blocks in the deepwater Kwanza Basin.

Total signed three production sharing agreements with state-owned Sonangol on December 20, 2011.

"We are very pleased with the licensing round awards," said Marc Blaizot, Senior Vice President, Exploration at Total Exploration & Production.

"They reflect Total’s commitment to continuing as a key investor and oil operator in Angola, as well as playing a leading role in exploring this promising deepwater basin. We will be leveraging our proved deep offshore expertise and know-how. These awards demonstrate and reinforce Total’s bold exploration strategy."

Total will operate Blocks 40 and 25 with respectively a 50% and a 35% interest and be a partner with a 15% interest in Block 39. Sonangol is the concession holder for these acreages.

On Block 40, Total (operator) will be partnering with Sonangol P&P (30%) and Statoil (20%). The block is located in water depths ranging from 1,500 to 3,400 metres and covers an area of around 7,604 square kilometres.

As operator of Block 25, Total will be partnering with Sonangol P&P (30%), Statoil (20%) and BP (15%). This block is located in water depths ranging from 700 to 2,200 metres and covers an area of around 4,842 square kilometres.

On Block 39, with a 15% interest, Total will be partnering with Statoil (55%, operator) and Sonangol P&P (30%). The block is located in water depths ranging from 1,330 to 3,400 metres and covers an area of around 7,831 square kilometres.

All three blocks are located in Angola’s largely under-explored deepwater Kwanza Basin. The main objective is to explore for pre-salt deposits in these blocks, which share promising geological similarities with the prolific Santos and Campos Basins in Brazil, where in recent years, major discoveries have been made in this type of play.

Over an initial exploration period of five years, around 14,000 square kilometres of 3D seismic will be acquired and five exploration wells drilled with presalt objectives in aggregate over the three blocks.

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Crosstex energy and Apache Corporation, jointly develop, Permian Basin project

DALLAS-(BUSINESS WIRE) - The Crosstex energy companies, Crosstex energy, L.P. (NASDAQ: XTEX - News) (the partnership) and Crosstex energy, Inc. (NASDAQ: XTXI - News) (Corporation), announced today the partnership and Apache Corporation (NYSE: APA - News) invest together $ 85 million in a new natural gas of construction of processing facility in the Permian Basin in West Texas. The first phase of the project development in Glasscock County, offers intermediate and long-term image processing solutions, compression, and residue gas takeaway for Apache Deadwood. Crosstex and Apache is financed the project of processing as well and each working an interest hold 50 per cent. Crosstex will buy separately, and update a nearby rail terminal transport of natural gas liquids (NGL) deploy to the Eunice fractionation facility in the South of Louisiana.

First of all, Crosstex and Apache installed a cooling system with a capacity of 20 million cubic feet (MMcf), per day as an interim gas processing solution, compression, and food to take away, that are expected 2011 foreseen by the fourth quarter. A cryogenic processing plant with a capacity of 50 MMcf per day is expected to be operational in the second quarter of 2012. Crosstex will manage construction and operate of the facilities.

"Crosstex is excited by this common interest project with Apache, a leading independent energy company, which runs for nearly 20 years in the Permian Basin in West Texas and is one of the largest manufacturers in the region start with one active drill program." "We are very pleased that Apache with creative midstream solutions can provide Crosstex for their gas and NGL products," said Barry E. Davis, Crosstex President and Chief Executive Officer. "We look forward to continuing our long-term cooperation with Apache."

"This transaction provides Crosstex with considerable space for future growth in the Permian Basin, where we see additional business opportunities," Davis added.

In addition to purchase Crosstex and updating the abandoned Patriot Fractionator in Midland County. The system is updated and renovated to first terminal for Apache NGL make raw as a rail are used. Crosstex will transport via rail to the Eunice fractionation plant in south central Louisiana for fractionation and NGL distribution. Product will be delivered to the mesquite terminal via existing NGL pipelines or by truck. Crosstex is $ 12 million in the project invest, the completed and in the fourth quarter of 2011 to be in operation. This facility will provide for the limited infrastructure of Perm NGL takeaway until a long-term pipeline solution is available.

About the Crosstex energy companies

Crosstex energy, L.P., a midstream gas company headquartered in Dallas, Texas, operates some 3,300 km of the pipeline, nine processing plants and three fractionators. The partnership provides U.S.-daily currently for 3.2 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day, or about six percent of the marketed production.

Crosstex energy, Inc. has 2% General Partner interest, a 25 % limited partner interest and the incentive distribution rights Crosstex energy, L.P.

Learn more about the Crosstex of companies can be found at www.crosstexenergy.com.

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These statements are based on certain assumptions of the partnership and the society on the basis of management experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors that believe the partnership and Corporation are suitable in the circumstances. These statements include, but are not limited to statements regarding forecasts with regard to capacity, discussed cash flow, incremental investment and timing for ever for the projects over, as also the partnership future growth and profitability. Such statements are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and beyond the control of the partnership and Corporation, which may result in the partnership, and actual results significantly differ from those of the Corporation implies uncertainty, of which many are or expressed in forward-looking statements. These risks include, but are not limited to risks in the partnership and the Corporation discussed are filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The partnership and the Corporation are not bound to publicly update or change all forward looking statements and as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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