Drilling Report

BowLeven Plc
19 October 2005


19 October 2005


               BowLeven Plc ('BowLeven' or 'the Company')

                          Drilling update


BowLeven announces that the Manyikebi-1 well (a Biafra sands oil prospect),
which commenced drilling on 10 October 2005 has reached total depth.  The well
was drilled to target potential oil reservoirs.  It intercepted the predicted
sequence of high quality reservoir sands and some 40ft of net gas pay but did
not encounter oil.

Wireline logging is currently under way to provide data for a post well
analysis.

After this programme the well will be plugged and abandoned as a small gas
discovery.

The Adriatic IX drilling rig will move on as soon as possible to the Company's
next drilling location, Bachuo-1, an Upper Isongo gas/condensate prospect in the
southern area of MLHP-7, as detailed in the Company's  announcement of 31 August
2005.

Apart from the removal of a possible Manyikebi-2 appraisal well, the Company
does not anticipate any impact upon its programme for the 2006/2007 drilling
campaign.


For further information contact:
Terry Heneaghan, Executive Chairman, BowLeven Plc    0131 260 5100
Philip Rhind, Chief Executive, BowLeven Plc          0131 260 5100
Adam Westcott, Noble & Company Limited               0131 225 9677
Neil Bennett, Maitland                               020 7379 5151





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