Canadian Superior Energy Inc.

TSX: SNG
NYSE Alternext US: SNG

CALGARY, ALBERTA--(Marketwire - Jan. 23, 2009) - Canadian Superior Energy Inc. ("Canadian Superior", the "Company") (TSX:SNG)(NYSE Alternext US:SNG) announced, along with its partners, BG International Limited ("BG"), a wholly owned subsidiary of the BG Group plc (LSE:BG.L) and Challenger Energy Corp. ("Challenger") (TSX VENTURE:CHQ)(NYSE Alternext US:CHQ), that preparations are now underway to conduct flow testing on the "Endeavour" well, offshore Trinidad, on its "Intrepid" Block 5(c). As previously announced, the main targeted zone for this well has been encountered; and, has now been evaluated with a full suite of electric wireline logs, including modular dynamic testing ("MDT's") and the partners have unanimously agreed to proceed to flow testing. The "Endeavour" well has been drilled to a Final Total Depth ("TD") of approximately 17,426 feet subsea (17,515 feet MD).

Speaking today, Mike Coolen, Canadian Superior's President and CEO, said, "We are pleased with what we are learning from 'Endeavour'; not only in terms of this particular well and its related structure, but also in regard to the overall development potential of the entire 'Intrepid' Block 5(c). Test information from the well is expected to confirm productive characteristics of the reservoir tested and the net pay encountered in the well. Having information from three successful wells, along with the extensive 3D seismic coverage we have over the block and the nearby fields really makes a difference and encourages us to initiate the further appraisal of resources discovered. We look forward to completing the running and cementing in place of the 7" liner to facilitate moving forward with the flow testing program. These operations and finalizing all operations on the well will take close to the end of February to complete. At that point, we will have completed the drilling and testing of all three successful wells, 'Victory', 'Bounty' and 'Endeavour', in this initial three well exploration program on 'Intrepid' Block 5(c) and we will be releasing the drilling rig. We will have more to say on 'Endeavour' and the ongoing development planning for the 'Intrepid' Block 5(c) in the very near future."

The "Endeavour" discovery well was spudded on August 28, 2008 and was drilled by the Kan Tan IV semi-submersible drilling rig in about 1,000 feet of water, which also drilled the "Victory" and "Bounty" natural gas discovery wells on this block; and is the 3rd well, in an initial 3 well program, being drilled by Canadian Superior and its partners on the "Intrepid" Block, Block 5(c), located approximately 60 miles offshore, off the east coast of Trinidad. In 2008, Canadian Superior announced two separate natural gas discoveries on Block 5(c); in the "Victory" well, announced on January 14, 2008; and, in the "Bounty" well, announced on August 13, 2008.

Daily Updates of drilling progress at "Endeavour" will no longer be provided on Canadian Superior's website.

Canadian Superior Energy Inc. is a Calgary, Alberta, Canada based diversified global energy company engaged in the exploration and production of oil and natural gas, and liquefied natural gas ("LNG") projects, with operations offshore Trinidad and Tobago, offshore Nova Scotia, Canada, in Western Canada, in the United States and in North Africa. See Canadian Superior's website at www.cansup.com to review Canadian Superior's operations in Western Canada, offshore Trinidad and Tobago, Offshore Nova Scotia interests, in the USA and its North Africa interests. Canadian Superior has approximately 20,000 shareholders worldwide, including some of the top institutional shareholders in North America.

Canadian Superior is paying 26-2/3% of the Block 5(c) exploration program cost to maintain a 45% working interest in Block 5(c), with its partners, BG International Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of the BG Group plc, paying 40% for a 30% working interest and Challenger Energy Corp. paying 33-1/3% for a 25% working interest through Canadian Superior.

BG Group plc (LSE:BG.L) is a world leader in natural gas, with a strategy focused on connecting competitively-priced resources to specific, high-value markets. Active in 27 countries on five continents, BG Group has a broad portfolio of exploration and production, Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), transmission and distribution and power generation business interests. It combines a deep understanding of gas markets with an excellent track record in finding and commercialising reserves. See www.bg-group.com for information on BG Group plc.

Challenger Energy Corp. is a Calgary, Alberta, Canada based oil and gas exploration company which is currently focusing on "high impact" oil and gas plays offshore Trinidad and Tobago. See www.challenger-energy.com for information on Challenger.

This news release contains forward-looking information, including estimates, projections, interpretations, prognoses and other information that may or relates to future production, resource potential and/or reserves, project start-ups and future capital spending. Forward-looking information contained in this news release is as of the date of this news release. The Company assumes no obligation to update and/or revise this forward-looking information "except as required by law". Actual results, estimates, projections, resource potential and/or reserves, interpretations, prognoses and/or estimated 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 or revisions. This news release may contain the reference to the term "undiscovered natural gas resources", which are those quantities of natural gas estimated to be contained in accumulations yet to be discovered. There is no certainty that any portion of undiscovered resources (oil, natural gas, natural gas liquids or other hydrocarbons) will be discovered and that, if discovered, in this or any other discovery, the discovered resource may not be economically viable or technically feasible to produce.

Statements contained in this news release relating to future results, events and expectations are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, scheduling, re-scheduling and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, estimates, projections, resource potential and/or reserves, interpretations, prognoses, schedules or achievements of the Corporation, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. Such factors include, among others, those described in the Corporations' annual reports on Form 40-F or Form 20-F on file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.