Orleans Energy Announces Exercise of Over-Allotment Equity Option

THIS NEWS RELEASE IS NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OR TO ANY UNITED
STATES NEWS SERVICES.


Orleans Energy Ltd. ("Orleans" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE:OEX) is pleased to
announce that the over-allotment option ("Over-Allotment Option") associated
with the Company's $25.2 million equity financing which closed on March 13, 2008
(the "Financing") has been exercised in full by the underwriters. Pursuant to
the Financing, the Company granted the Over-Allotment Option, exercisable for a
period of 30 days following the closing of the Financing, to purchase an
additional 1,050,000 common shares (representing 15% of the common shares issued
pursuant to the Financing) at a price of $3.60 per common share for gross
proceeds of $3,780,000. Orleans will use the proceeds of the Over-Allotment
Option initially for general corporate purposes. The Company presently has 45.65
million common shares issued and outstanding.


Orleans Energy Ltd. is a Calgary, Alberta-based crude oil and natural gas
company, with common shares trading on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol
"OEX". Orleans is a team of dedicated, experienced professionals focused on the
creation of shareholder value through the acquisition, exploration and
development of crude oil and natural gas assets within the province of Alberta,
Canada.


This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of
any offer to buy the securities in any jurisdiction.


The common shares offered under the Financing will not be and have not been
registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933 and may not be offered
or sold in the United States.


Certain information regarding the Company contained herein may constitute
forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws.
Forward-looking statements may include estimates, plans, anticipations,
expectations, opinions, forecasts, projections, guidance or other similar
statements that are not statements of fact. Although the Company believes that
the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it
can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. These
statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties and may be based on
assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those
anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. The Company's
forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by this
cautionary statement.