Canadian Superior Energy Inc. Commences Licensing On Mariner Project Offshore Nova Scotia.

Business Editors

CALGARY, Alberta--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 23, 2002

Canadian Superior Energy Inc. (TSX:SNG) ("Canadian Superior") of Calgary, Alberta announced today that it has commenced well licensing for drilling on its "Mariner" natural gas project offshore Nova Scotia.

Canadian Superior's 100% owned Mariner Block (EL 2409), acquired at the November 1, 2001 Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board ("CNSOPB") Land Sale by Canadian Superior, is directly offsetting five significant discoveries near Sable Island including the 1.6 TCF Venture natural gas field located 275 kilometres southeast of Halifax, Nova Scotia. The Mariner Block was successfully acquired for a Work Expenditure Bid of Cdn. $15,510,000 based on proprietary seismic shot by Canadian Superior prior to the Land Sale. The seismic has identified large Cretaceous structures on the prospect, which is located in shallow water in close proximity to existing Sable Island producing infrastructure. Similar structures in the immediate area are currently producing approximately 500 mmcf/d of natural gas into newly established Maritimes and vibrant New England natural gas markets.

The Mariner Block (EL-2409) encompasses a total area of 101,800 acres. The Mariner Project, located in less than 50 metres of water, contains hanging wall, rollover anticline geological features analogous to the Sable Offshore Energy Project deltaic fields, and holds the potential for over 1 TCF of recoverable natural gas reserves.

The Company announced today that it has filed its Environmental Assessment for Exploration Drilling for the Mariner Block (EL 2409) offshore Nova Scotia with the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board ("CNSOPB").

Speaking in Calgary today, Canadian Superior President, Greg Noval said, "Mariner is another piece of Canadian Superior's multi-well drilling plans for the Scotian Shelf and we are very excited about proceeding ahead with drilling on this exciting new project over the next 90 to 180 days."

Currently, Canadian Superior is drilling the first Marquis Project well (Marquis L-35), spudded July 6, 2002, approximately 20 kilometres (12.5 miles) northwest of Sable Island directly on trend with, and analogous to, the recent Deep Panuke Abenaki reef natural gas discovery. Deep Panuke is approximately 25 kilometres (15.6 miles) to the southwest of the Marquis Project and has successfully tested several delineation wells, each with productive capacity in excess of 50 million cubic feet per day (mmcf/d).

In Halifax, Mike Coolen, Director of East Coast Operations for Canadian Superior, commented, "We are very pleased with the progress on Marquis L-35 to date; drilling is proceeding ahead of schedule at 2,800 metres to a targeted total depth of 5,100 metres and we look forward to also drilling our first Mariner exploration well".

Canadian Superior is a Calgary, Alberta based oil and gas exploration and production company. The Company is one of the largest acreage holders offshore Nova Scotia, with a 100% interest in 934,065 acres offshore Nova Scotia (See: Canadian Superior's website at www.cansup.com to review Canadian Superior's "Marquis, Mariner and Mayflower Offshore Projects" and to view the "Table of Major Offshore Nova Scotia Acreage Holders" and "Offshore Nova Scotia Maps" and the location of new Canadian Superior lands and proposed industry wells).

Certain information regarding the above mentioned may constitute forward-looking statements under applicable securities laws. Such statements are subject to known or unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results or estimates to differ materially from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially due to changes in project schedules, operating performance, demand for oil and gas, commercial negotiations or other technical and economic factors.