World-Renowned Petroleum Geologist Dr. George V. Chilingar, Ph.D. Joins Mainland Resources' Advisory Board

HOUSTON, Oct. 24, 2011 - Mainland Resources, Inc. (the 'Company') (MNLU-OTCBB, 5MN-Frankfurt) reports that Dr. George Chilingar joined its Advisory Board to assist the company with a strategic partnership alliance and the supporting financing effective immediately.

Dr. Chilingar states, 'I am excited by the potential of Mainland's Buena Vista shale gas project in Mississippi. It is a significant prospect where I feel I can assist the Company both with strategic partnership affiliation, financing and a greater understanding of the long term development of this play.'

Dr. Chilingar is an expert with extensive knowledge, experience and recognition in the oil and gas industry, as well as the environmental sector. He is one of the most well-known petroleum geologists in the world and the founder of several prestigious journals in the oil and gas industry.

George V. Chilingar, Ph.D., is a distinguished Emeritus Professor of civil and petroleum engineering at the University of Southern California, member of American Association of Petroleum Geologists, Certified Petroleum Geologist, Certified Professional Chemist and Certified Geologist, State of California. He received B.S. and M.S. degrees in petroleum engineering and a Ph.D. degree in geology with minor in petroleum engineering from the University of Southern California. He has been the Honorary Consul for the Republic of Honduras since 1983. Dr. Chilingar was the first American petroleum geologist elected to the Russian Academy of Sciences. He is also a member of the Armenian Academy of Sciences, the International Academy of Engineering and the President of the US Branch of the Armenian Academy of Engineering.

Since 1993, he served as the President of the US Branch of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences. He served as senior petroleum engineering adviser to the United Nations from 1967 to 1969, and then again from 1978 to 1987. He was also an energy policy adviser to California Governor Ronald Reagan in 1973.

Dr. Chilingar is author of approximately 500 original research articles, 150 scientific reviews and 70 books. Of particular importance are his works in the field of geology of petroleum reservoirs, petrophysics, sedimentology; and petroleum engineering. He has been honoured by several nations, including but not limited to Russia, India, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Thailand and Honduras. His method of identifying oil-rich rock by analyzing the ratio of calcium to magnesium in core samples is considered to be one of his greatest contributions to the petroleum industry and led to the discovery of one of Iran's largest oil fields. The particular oilfield was subsequently named in honour of him and known as the 'Chilingar Field.' Dr. Chilingar redirected exploratory efforts in the Gulf of Siam and led to the development of Thailand's offshore oil reserves.

In 2001, King Fahd of Saudi Arabia acknowledged Prof. Chilingar's contributions to the success of Saudi Aramco and the discovery and extraction of oil reserves around the world.

President of Mainland Resources, Mike Newport states, 'We are extremely pleased to have Dr. Chilingar join our Advisory Board to assist with a strategic partnership alliance. His world-class expertise lends tremendous credibility to our current Mississippi project and shows the calibre of talent that our Company is attracting. His insight and contribution will be greatly appreciated by our management.'


About Mainland Resources, Inc.

Mainland and its working interest partners control in excess of 17,800 net acres or 28 sections on the Buena Vista prospect area where the Burkley-Phillips No. 1 well was drilled to 22,000 feet, cored and logged. Upon successful completion of its proposed merger with American Exploration, Mainland would own 92% of the 28 sections in the Buena Vista prospect. As recently announced, core analysis has determined that gas in place in the Buena Vista prospect could be up to 500 BCF/section based on the cored interval.

Mainland Resources, Inc. is engaged in the exploration of oil and gas resources. The Company's current initiatives are focused on the acquisition and development of acreage in emerging and early developing oil and gas regions with the potential for material discoveries. For information see: www.mainlandresources.com

Symbol: MNLU - OTCQB, Symbol: 5MN; Frankfurt, WKN No.: A0ND6N



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Important Additional Information Will Be Filed With the SEC

THE COMPANY AND AMERICAN EXPLORATION CORPORATION INTEND TO FILE CERTAIN MATERIALS WITH THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROPOSED MERGER TRANSACTION BETWEEN THE PARTIES ANNOUNCED ON MARCH 23, 2010, INCLUDING THE FILING BY THE COMPANY WITH THE SEC OF A REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-4, WHICH WILL INCLUDE A PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS AND RELATED MATERIALS TO REGISTER THE SECURITIES OF THE COMPANY TO BE ISSUED IN EXCHANGE FOR SECURITIES OF AMERICAN EXPLORATION. THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT WILL INCORPORATE A JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/ PROSPECTUS THAT THE COMPANY AND AMERICAN EXPLORATION PLAN TO FILE WITH THE SEC AND MAIL TO THEIR RESPECTIVE STOCKHOLDERS IN CONNECTION WITH OBTAINING STOCKHOLDER APPROVAL OF THE PROPOSED MERGER. THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE COMPANY, AMERICAN EXPLORATION, THE MERGER AND RELATED MATTERS. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS CAREFULLY WHEN THEY ARE AVAILABLE. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS WILL BE ABLE TO OBTAIN FREE COPIES OF THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE, AND OTHER DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC BY THE COMPANY AND AMERICAN EXPLORATION, THROUGH THE WEB SITE MAINTAINED BY THE SEC AT WWW.SEC.GOV. THE COMPANY'S SECURITY HOLDERS WILL ALSO RECEIVE INFORMATION AT AN APPROPRIATE TIME ON HOW TO OBTAIN THESE DOCUMENTS FREE OF CHARGE FROM THE COMPANY. IN ANY EVENT, DOCUMENTS FILED BY THE COMPANY WITH THE SEC MAY BE OBTAINED FREE OF CHARGE BY CONTACTING THE COMPANY AT: MAINLAND RESOURCES, INC.; ATTENTION: MR. WILLIAM THOMAS, CFO; 21 WATERWAY AVENUE, SUITE 300, THE WOODLANDS, TEXAS 77380; FACSIMILE: (713) 583-1162.

EACH OF THE COMPANY AND AMERICAN EXPLORATION, AND THEIR RESPECTIVE DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, ALSO MAY BE DEEMED TO BE PARTICIPANTS IN THE SOLICITATION OF PROXIES FROM THEIR RESPECTIVE STOCKHOLDERS IN CONNECTION WITH THE TRANSACTION DESCRIBED HEREIN. INFORMATION REGARDING THE SPECIAL INTERESTS OF THESE DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS IN THE TRANSACTION DESCRIBED HEREIN WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS DESCRIBED ABOVE.


Mainland Resources, Inc.
Web site: http://www.mainlandresources.com