Great Plains adds Rob Poole as VP Engineering & Operations

    CALGARY, Aug. 7 /CNW/ - Great Plains Exploration Inc. (TSX-GPX) (Great
Plains) is pleased to welcome Mr. Rob Poole as VP Engineering & Operations.
Mr. Poole will be responsible for managing the Company's engineering,
operations, capital budgeting and corporate reserves.
    Mr. Poole has over twenty seven years of industry experience, including
senior management positions with a number of public, junior oil and gas
companies. Mr. Poole's most recent role was Vice-President Operations and
Engineering at Gentry Resources where he played a significant role taking the
company operational and growing the company's production base from 1,300 boe/d
to approximately 5,600 boe/d. Prior thereto, he was Vice-President Operations
and Engineering at BXL Energy, where he worked closely with Mr. John Ostrom
and Mr. David Hibbert who are now key members of the Great Plains technical
team. While at BXL they increased production from 550 boe/d to over
2,700 boe/d, when the company was subsequently sold to Viking Energy Trust. In
both positions, Mr. Poole had considerable impact increasing each companies'
operated production base, dramatically improving operated recoveries and
identifying opportunities for future growth. Mr. Poole is expected to make a
significant contribution to the revamped Great Plains' exploration team where
he joins Mr. John Ostrom, P. Geol., VP Exploration; Mr. David Cairns,
P. Geol.; Mr. David Weiss, P. Geol.; Mr. David Hibbert, P. Geoph.; Mr. David
Klepacki, P. Geoph. and Mr. Barrie Dargie, P. Geol.
    Mr. Poole has a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Chemical Engineering
from Queen's University and is also a member of The Association of
Professional Engineers, Geologists and Geophysicists of Alberta (APEGGA) and
the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM), Society of
Petroleum Engineers (SPE), and the Canadian Association of Drilling Engineers
(CADE).
    Mr. Poole replaces Mr. Curt Labelle who is stepping down as VP
Engineering to pursue other opportunities. Mr. Labelle played an integral role
at Great Plains during a time in the industry that was challenged by
unprecedented increases in service costs combined with weakened commodity
prices. Mr. Labelle's insight and experience helped Great Plains refocus its
operations to projects and areas with the highest potential to create value.
The Board of Directors and management of Great Plains extend their thanks to
Mr. Labelle for his past efforts and dedication over the last two years.

    Investors should note that boes may be misleading, particularly if used
    in isolation. A boe conversion rate of 6 Mcf: 1bbl is based on an energy
    equivalency conversion method primarily applicable at the burner tip and
    does not represent a value equivalency at the wellhead.

    %SEDAR: 00020740E

For further information:

For further information: Great Plains Exploration Inc., Stephen P.
Gibson, President & CEO, Sean Bovingdon, VP Finance & CFO, Tel: (403)
262-9620, Fax: (403) 262-9622, www.greatplainsexp.com,
info@greatplainsexp.com