INA

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR DISSEMINATION IN
UNITED STATES


Iona Energy Inc. ("Iona" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE:INA) is pleased to
announce today that the 44/18-T6 ("T6") well on the Tyne Gas Field has been
completed as a production well and has successfully flow tested at an average
rate of 25 million standard cubic feet per day ("MMscf/d") with a peak rate of
28 MMscf/d during an 8 hour production test. The well has been handed over for
production operations and the rig is preparing to leave the Tyne area. Iona owns
a 20% non-operated working interest in both the Trent & Tyne Gas Fields with an
option to increase interest in both fields to 37.5%. 


As of December 31st, 2012 both Trent & Tyne Fields were producing at a combined
production rate of 20MMscf/d, net 4MMscf/d to Iona. The contribution from T6
raises the potential gross field production of both Trent & Tyne to 48MMscf/d,
net 9.6MMscf/d, at its 20% working interest. Iona has notified the Operator that
it intends to exercise its option to increase its interest in both fields and
plans to announce at the earliest opportunity the completion of this
transaction, which is subject to third party approvals, and has an economic date
enabling Iona to fully benefit from the higher combined production from the two
fields with the higher 37.5% interest. On the day of the production test UK
Natural Gas prices were USD$10.89 per thousand cubic feet ("Mcf").


The T6 well was drilled as a side-track from the dormant production T5 well to a
location higher up structure and to the north of T5 within the same production
compartment. The T5 well had previously produced gas at rates of up to 25MMscf/d
from a 50 foot gas column close to the gas water contact ("GWC") and had been
shut in due to water encroachment. As planned, the T6 side-track encountered top
reservoir 57 feet higher than T5 and 107 feet above the regional GWC. T6 was
drilled at a high angle through the reservoir and encountered 92 feet of gas
pay. Only the uppermost 30 feet of this pay interval was perforated, in order to
maximize the standoff from the underlying water. At the end of a 12 hour
clean-up period, the T6 well was flowing at 28MMscf/d of dry gas, which exceeded
management's expectations given the relatively short perforated interval. 


Pressure testing of the reservoir has confirmed that T6 lies within a different
reservoir compartment from production well T3 and is expected to recover new
reserves. Gaffney Cline & Associates Ltd. ("GCA") have estimated the incremental
proven plus probable reserves net to Iona to be 4.8 Bcf from T6 at an initial
gross flow rate of 20 MMscf/d, with a net upside case of 6.4 Bcf of proven plus
probable plus possible reserves (reserves estimates effective as of December 31,
2011). 


Upon acquisition of the 20% interest in the Trent & Tyne Fields, Iona committed
to fund the drilling and completion of the T6 well at a capped net cost to Iona
of GBP 21.2 million (approximately USD$32.9 million). 


Iona's Chief Development Officer, Dave Sherrard, commented: "Further side-track
opportunities have been identified in the other producing compartments of the
Tyne field and our new 3D seismic data, currently being processed, is expected
to identify yet more opportunities on the western side of the field".


Iona's Chief Executive Officer, Neill Carson, commented: "We set out to own in
our portfolio net production of 6,000 boepd by the end of 2012. We are pleased
to be close to this aspiration target, believing we can ultimately reach over
2,500 boepd net production from these gas assets in 2013 in addition to 5,000
boepd expected from the Huntington acquisition in H1 2013".


Additional information relating to the Company is available on SEDAR at
www.sedar.com.


About Iona Energy:

Iona is an oil and gas exploration, development and production company focused
on oil and gas development and exploration in the United Kingdom's North Sea.


Forward-looking statements

Some of the statements in this announcement are forward-looking, including
statements regarding Iona's plans with respect to increasing its working
interest in Trent & Tyne, as well as estimates of the quantities of proved
reserves, probable reserves, and possible reserves. Forward-looking statements
include statements regarding the intent, belief and current expectations of Iona
Energy Inc. or its officers with respect to various matters, including Trent &
Tyne reserves, production, drilling activity or otherwise. When used in this
announcement, the words "expects," "believes," "anticipate," "plans," "may,"
"will," "should", "scheduled", "targeted", "estimated" and similar expressions,
and the negatives thereof, are intended to identify forward-looking statements.
Such statements are not promises or guarantees, are based on various assumptions
by Iona's management and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause
actual outcome to differ materially from those suggested by any such statements.
These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this announcement.
Iona Energy Inc. expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release
publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement contained
herein to reflect any change in its expectations with regard thereto or any
change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any forward-looking
statement is based except as required by applicable securities laws. 


Notes Regarding Oil and Gas Disclosure 

Readers are cautioned that well flow test results are not necessarily indicative
of long-term performance or of ultimate recovery. The production rates and
related revenue estimates set forth in this press release are estimates only and
the actual production rates and realized revenue may be greater or less than
those calculated. As used in this press release, "possible reserves" are those
additional reserves that are less certain to be recovered than probable
reserves. There is a 10% probability that the quantities actually recovered will
equal or exceed the sum of proved plus probable plus possible reserves.


Additionally, this press release uses certain abbreviations as follows:



Natural Gas                                                                 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            
Mcf          thousand cubic feet                                            
                                                                            
MMscf        million standard cubic feet                                    
                                                                            
Bcf          billion cubic feet                                             
                                                                            
boepd        barrels of oil equivalent per day                              



FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: 
Iona Energy Inc.
Neill A. Carson
Chief Executive Officer
+011 (44) 1224 228400


Iona Energy Inc.
Brad G. Gunn
Chief Financial Officer
(403) 775-7442

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