Seismic acquisition programme

BowLeven Plc
16 December 2005


16 December 2005


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

                    3D seismic acquisition offshore Cameroon


BowLeven is pleased to announce the details of its 2006 seismic programme which
together with the seismic data acquired in 2005 over Block MLHP-7 of its Etinde
Permit will provide 3D coverage over the vast majority of its Etinde Permit
area, offshore Cameroon.

The 2006 seismic programme will consist of two separate surveys as a result of
the different water depths involved.  The survey of the shallow water of Blocks
MLHP-5 and MLHP-6, covering some 700km2, will be undertaken by Veritas.  The
survey of the deeper water to the west of this area, covering some 350km2, will
be undertaken by WesternGeco.

Seismic operations are currently expected to commence in February 2006 and to
last for some 150 days.

BowLeven CEO, Philip Rhind said 'We are pleased to have assembled a first-class
team to shoot 3D Seismic over our blocks in the highly prospective Douala Basin
in early 2006, particularly given the demand for such resources in the region.
We remain confident of the prospectivity of the Etinde Permit area and believe
that the work programme for 2006 will generate drillable prospects for the
drilling campaign which is planned to commence in late 2006.'


For further information contact:

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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