Devon Energy Announces $1.4 Billion Joint Venture

Devon Energy Corporation (NYSE:DVN) today announced it has signed an agreement with Sumitomo Corporation whereby Sumitomo will invest $1.4 billion in exchange for 30 percent of Devon’s interest in approximately 650,000 net acres in the Cline Shale and the Midland-Wolfcamp Shale.

“This transaction once again demonstrates the value embedded in our high-quality portfolio,” said John Richels, Devon’s president and chief executive officer. “This arrangement will materially enhance Devon’s future returns and improve our capital efficiency. It will also further enhance our financial strength. For quite some time we have had a strong working relationship with Sumitomo and look forward to a mutually beneficial joint venture.”

Under the terms of the agreement, Sumitomo will invest $340 million in cash upon closing and an additional $1.025 billion will be invested in the form of a drilling carry. The drilling carry will fund 70 percent of Devon’s capital requirements, resulting in Sumitomo paying 79 percent of the overall drilling and completion costs during the carry period. For the full-year 2012, the partnership expects to drill approximately 40 gross wells. Based on the current work plan, Devon expects the entire $1.025 billion carry to be realized by mid-2014.

Devon will serve as operator and is responsible for commercially marketing all production from these plays into the North American market. The effective date of this transaction is January 1, 2012. Closing of the transaction is expected to occur in the third quarter of 2012.

Devon Energy Corporation is an Oklahoma City-based independent energy company engaged in oil and gas exploration and production. Devon is a leading U.S.-based independent oil and gas producer and is included in the S&P 500 Index. For additional information, visit www.devonenergy.com.

This press release includes "forward-looking statements" as defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Such statements are those concerning strategic plans, expectations and objectives for future operations. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this press release that address activities, events or developments that the company expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Such statements are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of the company. These risks include, but are not limited to the volatility of oil, natural gas and NGL prices; political, economic or public policy changes; uncertainties inherent in estimating oil, natural gas and NGL reserves; drilling risks; and environmental risks. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and that actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this press release are made as of the date of this press release, even if subsequently made available by Devon on its website or otherwise. Devon does not undertake any obligation to update the forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.