(CVL.)(CWQ.) EKHO No. 1 Reaches 11,000 Feet.

( BW)(EKHO-PROJECT)(CUV.)(LVD.)(BKR.)(CVL.)(CWQ.) EKHO No. 1 Reaches 11,000 Feet

Business Editors

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 16, 2000

(CDNX:CUV.) (CDNX:LVD.) (CDNX:BKR.) (CDNX:CVL.) (CDNX:CWQ.)

David Patterson Chairman of the EKHO Project consortium is pleased to announce that the EKHO No. 1 test well, spudded February 7, 2000, has drilled past 11,000 feet. The total target depth for the well is 19,500 feet.

Located 40 miles northwest of Bakersfield, California, the EKHO No. 1 is the first of three wells scheduled to test a large structurally controlled stratigraphic trap identified geologically and confirmed by seismic data. The primary target formation is in the Temblor sandstones, a thick package of Middle and Lower Miocene horizons in which previous drilling identified hydrocarbon prone sections. Technological advances within the industry over the past 25 years provide the opportunity to exploit these zones. In addition to the Temblor Sandstones, secondary targets exist above the target depth.

Nine Canadian Venture Exchange (CDNX) resource companies and various individual investors have funded the EKHO No. 1. The EKHO Consortium includes, Aster Ventures Corp, (ASV.V) 20%, Curion Venture Corp. (CUV.V) 20%, Lucre Ventures Ltd. (LVD.V) 12%, Berkshire International Mining Ltd. (BKR.V) 10%, CVL Resources (CVL.V) 9.64%, Consolidated Bradbury International Equities (CBN.V) 5%, Curlew Lake Resources (CWQ.V) 5%, Pan Ocean Explorations (POE.V) 5% and Prairie Pacific Energy Corporation (PRP.V) 5%.

Tri-Valley Corporation is the publicly traded parent (OTC BB &uot;TRIL&uot;) of Tri-Valley Oil &Gas Co., EKHO Project operator.

On Behalf of the EKHO Project Consortium &uot;David Patterson&uot; Chairman

The Canadian Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.