Enterprise Oil operates Llano

Enterprise Oil PLC
17 May 2001

            Enterprise Oil assumes operatorship of US Llano field

Enterprise Oil today announced that Enterprise Oil Gulf of Mexico Inc a member
of the Enterprise Oil group, has assumed operatorship of the Llano field in
the US Gulf of Mexico from EEX subject to Minerals Management Service (MMS)
approval.

Enterprise Oil GOM is responsible for all future appraisal and development
work on the Llano field located in Garden Banks Blocks 385 and 386. The deal
has been agreed by co-venturers who have additionally balanced equity
interests across both blocks with Enterprise GOM holding a 27.5 per cent
interest in the field. Previously Enterprise GOM held a 30 per cent interest
on Block 386 and a 25 per cent interest on Block 385.

The forward programme for Llano includes an appraisal well to be spudded in
June subject to MMS approval. The well will be drilled on the unappraised
Block 385, to a depth of approximately 25,000 ft, with an anticipated
completion date of October 2001. Concurrently a project team is examining the
most appropriate development scheme for the field.

Pierre Jungels, Chief-Executive Enterprise Oil commented: 'We are pleased
Enterprise GOM is taking on the role of operator of the Llano field, and will
be working in close association with our co-venturers. This will allow EEX to
focus on exploration within the Greater Llano area, and Enterprise Oil GOM to
press ahead with appraisal work on the field. The transfer of operatorship to
Enterprise GOM has positive implications for both the Llano project and
Enterprise GOM's profile in the US Gulf of Mexico



Co-venturers interests in Block 385 and 386 are:
Enterprise Oil Gulf of Mexico Inc.                      27.5 per cent
EEX Corporation                                         27.5 per cent
PanCanadian Gulf of Mexico Inc.                         22.5 per cent
ExxonMobil                                              22.5 per cent





Ends



For further information please contact:
Patrick d'Ancona, Head of Public Relations                        020 7925 4160
Peter Reilly, Head of Investor Relations                          020 7925 4476
Sucharita Sethi, Senior External Affairs Adviser                  020 7925 4160
Chris Johnson, VP - Finance, Enterprise Oil Gulf of Mexico    00 1 713 970 2813
Inc



Notes to Editors

Llano was discovered in 1997 on Block GB 386 and encountered several high
quality hydrocarbon bearing sands. An appraisal well was drilled in 1999,
which proved the presence of hydrocarbons more than a mile away from the
original discovery. A second appraisal well was drilled in August 2000 to a
depth of 24,000 ft, and was suspended as a potential producing well. Both
wells were drilled on GB 386.

Enterprise Oil GOM acquired its interest in the Llano acreage through its 1997
agreement with EEX. Under the agreement, $65 million was committed towards
EEX's exploration drilling costs in return for an immediate assignment of 50
per cent of EEX's deep-water portfolio.