2010-09-22-2010-09-22-2010-08-23

Acquired 58,500 net Marcellus acres predominantly in Preston County, W VA, and Garret County, MD, that Enerplus will operate with an average 90% WI.

Enerplus Resources Fund, Calgary, (Toronto: ERF-UN, NYSE: ERF) has acquired 58,500 net acres of undeveloped land in the Marcellus shale play in northwestern West Virginia and Maryland from an undisclosed seller for an undisclosed price.

The acreage is predominantly in Preston County, West Virginia, and Garret County, Maryland, creating a land position that Enerplus will operate with an average 90% working interest.

Enerplus has now invested more than C$150 million in the Marcellus play in 2010 acquiring two key operated areas comprised of approximately 70,000 net acres in addition to the 127,000 net acres of nonoperated land that had been acquired since 2009.

A majority of the leases have two to three years remaining on the original five-year term with an additional five-year extension option at nominal cost. Enerplus plans to shoot seismic and begin the permitting process this fall and expects to begin drilling in 2011.