Drilling Report

Cairn Energy PLC
13 January 2003



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE



                                                                 13 January 2003



                                CAIRN ENERGY PLC


             RJ-E-1 Exploration Well - Block RJ-ON-90/1, Rajasthan





Cairn announces today that it is commencing testing operations on the RJ-E-1
exploration well onshore Rajasthan.



The results of the testing will be announced in due course.





Enquiries:-



Cairn Energy PLC:


Bill Gammell, Chief Executive                              Tel:    [phone]
Dr Mike Watts, Exploration Director                        Tel:    [phone]
Kevin Hart, Finance Director                               Tel:    [phone]



Brunswick Group Limited:


Patrick Handley, Mark Antelme                               Tel:   [phone]





Notes to Editors:-



1.      'Cairn' where referred to in this release means Cairn Energy PLC and/or
its subsidiaries, as appropriate.



2.      Cairn holds a 100% interest in Block RJ-ON-90/1. ONGC has a right to 30%
in the event of a commercial discovery on the block.




                      This information is provided by RNS
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