Noble Helium Limited advised that following November 1's tragic events, the 3D seismic contractor, BGP have confirmed acquisition of the remaining 3D seismic surveys in North Rukwa will recommence later this week. Starting with the onshore component which has not been affected by the sunk vessel, the contractor is enacting contingency plans to ensure the offshore program component is completed. The Company also advised that it has now received Fast-Track volumes for all 3 of the western 3D surveys in North Rukwa Project in Tanzania.

Each "Brute Stack" fast-track 3D volume for the Mbelele, Kachinga and Dagaa leads clearly supports structural closure, with Mbelele and Kachinga surveys demonstrating the Rukwa Basin's sedimentary layers climbing toward and forming a potential trap against the Basin Margin Fault. This trap type has a 100% success rate for oil and gas in the East African Rift basins and encouragingly each of its North Rukwa traps has an associated helium anomaly in the overlying soil gas survey data. Over the coming weeks, the full pre-stack time migration (PSTM) and pre-stack depth migration (PSDM) volumes are expected to provide full definition imaging in the subsurface.

When combined with the recently acquired Airborne Gravity Gradiometry (AGG), these 3D seismic results fully support the presence and lateral extent of the structural closures within Noble Helium's lead portfolio. The Company is also advised a redesign of the eastern surveys following the encouraging results from the soil gas survey and AGG over the Chilichili leads. A new broad 3D survey will be acquired to complement the 2 narrow Chilichili swaths.

In consequence, the Kalawi, Gege and Kambale surveys will be commuted to an anticipated second phase of seismic surveys, following the recent applications for 1,474km2 of additional licenses in the north Rukwa basin. The latter leads are the more logistically challenged in the portfolio and with multiple candidates already emerging from the 3D surveys, they are less likely to be considered for drilling in 2023. This value-adding design change has been made possible by surplus equipment brought to the Rukwa survey site by BGP.

The net result is a 54% increase in the total 2022 3D seismic program coverage to 123km at no additional cost and provides previously unavailable but highly valuable technical data such as stratigraphic and geomechanical stress field information over a wide-area to assist in selecting and optimising the two best prospects for the upcoming drilling program.