US Quarterly Drilling Update

Aminex PLC
13 April 2000
                                       
                                       
US Quarterly Drilling Update

Aminex PLC

Aminex PLC (Aminex) the oil and gas and oilfield service group, listed on the
London and Dublin Stock Exchanges, today announces the current status of its
recent ongoing exploration and development drilling activity in the Company's
onshore Gulf Coast prospects over the Vinton Dome Field, Calcasieu Parish,
Louisiana, USA.

During the first quarter Aminex USA, Inc. has made rapid progress on the
Vinton Dome Field, based on results of the recently completed 30,000 acre 3D
seismic programme over this salt dome play.

The seismic programme around Vinton defined strong leads in the Miocene, Frio
and Hackberry formations.  Aminex USA, Inc., as operator, and its exploration
partners have now drilled 5 wells and expect to drill an additional 16 over
the dome before the end of 2000.  The results of the five wells are as
follows:


* M.G. Stream no. 1 well was drilled and completed, brought on line on 13th
December.   It is currently producing 730 mcf and 83 barrels of oil per day in
the secondary zone of the Frio formation.
* The M.G. Stream no.2 well  was brought on stream in November and is
currently producing 120 Mcf of gas per day  and 183 barrels of oil per day
from the Frio formation.
* The M.G. Stream no. R-1 was drilled on the flanks of the dome and was
unsuccessful.
* The J&L Jardell no.1 was drilled to 6,500 ft and has approximately 18 net
feet of prospective oil bearing sand.  This well will be completed for
production in the next few weeks.
* The J&L Jardell no.2 was drilled to 6,700 ft and has approximately 18 net
feet of prospective oil bearing sand in the Het formation.  This well will be
completed for production in the next few weeks.

The M.G. Stream no. 3, the sixth well of the current Vinton programme, was
spudded on 3rd April 2000 and will drill to approximately 9,000 ft to test
deeper objectives in the Vinton Dome.

The three M.G. Stream wells have not been previously announced pending
resolution of leasing issues on adjoining acreage.


The Vinton 3-D drilling programme is expected to continue for several years as
additional locations are identified form the extensive data available.
Aminex's interest in the wells varies from 70% in its core acreage to 12.5% in
the surrounding acreage with variable individual well interests, depending on
the proximity of the reservoir to Aminex's core acreage.  Aminex's cost in the
programme is carried by a previously announced financing arrangement with
McAlester Fuel Company.

In addition to operations on the Vinton Dome, Aminex also placed its nearby
Shoats Creek field on production; the first well, announced to shareholders on
21 February 2000, commenced production at a rate of 85 barrels of oil per day
and recompletion works are continuing to bring additional wells on stream in
the near future.

Additional drilling on the company's prospects in Texas is also in progress.
In Brazoria County preparations are underway for the side-tracking of the Nold
no. 1 well in the Southwest Danbury prospect.  Also in Brazoria County, the
Sebesta Gas Unit no. 1 was put on production earlier this year, the successful
drilling of which was announced to shareholders on 28 January 2000.
Production on Aminex's Somerset Field has increased to approximately 280
barrels of oil per day after a partial shut down in 1998/99 as a result of low
oil prices at that time.

Commenting on the announcement, Brian Hall, Aminex Chief Executive said:

'This update illustrates the initial successes of our extensive drilling
programme over the Vinton Dome.  The advanced 3-D seismic study of the region
is proving up important leads in a number of areas and we expect additional
drilling to increase both production and reserves significantly over Vinton.'

To visit Aminex's web site  www.aminex-plc.com

Contact:

Brian Hall         Aminex
020 7240 1600

John Evans         Financial Dynamics
020 7831 3113