Vast Enters Into Financing Agreement With Niko Resources for Qara Dagh Block. Funds to Be Used to Deepen the Current Well and to Facilitate Operations Going Forward.

CALGARY, ALBERTA--(Marketwire - August 29, 2011) - Vast Exploration Inc. ("Vast" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE:VST) announces that it has entered into an Encumbrance for Financing Agreement ("Financing Agreement") with Nikoresources (Kurdistan) Ltd. ("Niko") in regard to the Qara Dagh Block in Kurdistan. Under the terms of the Financing Agreement Niko will provide financing of US$9,000,000 to be used by Vast to pay outstanding amounts to Niko under a joint operating agreement as well as to fund future expenses related to the deepening of the Qara Dagh well to 4,150 meters. Niko will, additionally, provide financing to Vast in regard to 34.78% of Vast's share of the cost of all operations going forward. In return, Vast will have the obligation, in the event that a commercial discovery is made and produced, to pay Niko an amount equal to the net proceeds of sale associated with an undivided 12% interest in the Qara Dagh Block. Such financing arrangements have been put in place pending Kurdistan Regional Government approval of the sale by Vast to Niko of an undivided 12% interest in the Qara Dagh Block.

The Financing Agreement with Niko remains subject to receipt of approval, if necessary, of the TSX Venture Exchange.

About Vast Exploration

Vast Exploration Inc. is an independent oil and gas company. Vast is focused on the exploration and development of its principal asset, the Qara Dagh Block, in the Kurdistan region of Iraq. The Qara Dagh Block lies on trend with existing discoveries and is located in the prolific Zagros Fold Belt of Northern Iraq, which contains several large fields including the super-giant Kirkuk field.

Regulatory Statements

This press release contains "forward looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the Financing Agreement with Niko, the prospective nature of the Qara Dagh Block, the drilling program and revised timeline for completion, exploration and development plans and projected expenses and timetable, and relationships with other companies who hold an interest in the Qara Dagh Block. Generally, forward looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. For a description of some of such risks, please see the Company's annual information form filed under the profile of the Company on SEDAR. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward looking information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.