Norse Energy Announces Staff Reductions

September 20, 2011

Norse Energy Corp. ASA (“NEC” ticker Oslo Stock Exchange, Norway; “NSEEY” ticker U.S. OTC) announces that is has completed staff reductions of approximately thirty percent of its work force. The Company has been working diligently to reduce its overhead costs while awaiting the opportunity to drill into the Marcellus and Utica shale formations in New York.

The full draft Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement (SGEIS) was issued on September 7, 2011 by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation with a public comment period through December 12, 2011 and an anticipated commencement of permitting in early 2012.

“We continue to focus on preservation of cash while awaiting the opportunity under the SGEIS to develop our significant shale resources”, commented Norse CEO Mark Dice.

Earlier this year Norse sold non-essential pipeline and marketing assets and, with these announced adjustments, has now reduced its work force by about 50 percent since the beginning of 2011.

Norse Energy had total contingent resources of ~3.9 TCF (~700 MMBOE) at the end of 2010. The Company has a significant land position of 180,000 net acres in New York State of which ~130,000 are in the Marcellus and Utica shale fairway.

For further information, please contact:
Richard Boughrum, Chief Financial Officer
Cell: +1 714 520 1702, Email: rboughrum@norseenergy.com

S. Dennis Holbrook, Executive Vice President

Cell: +1 716 713-2489, Email: dholbrook@norseenergy.com