Commencement of Drilling

Gulfsands Petroleum PLC
20 November 2007


Khurbet East 3 appraisal well commences in Syria


London, 20th November, 2007: Gulfsands Petroleum plc ('Gulfsands', the 'Group'
or the 'Company' - AIM: GPX), the oil and gas production, exploration and
development company with activities in the U.S.A., Syria and Iraq is pleased to
announce that the Company has commenced drilling the Khurbet East 3 ('KHE-3')
appraisal well within Block 26, Syria.


KHE-3 Well


Gulfsands, the operator and 50% working interest owner in Block 26, has
commenced drilling the KHE-3 well to further appraise the Cretaceous Massive
reservoirs encountered in both the Khurbet East 1 ('KHE-1') discovery well and
the Khurbet East 2 ('KHE-2') appraisal well.


The drilling of this well will assist in the planning for early development and
production of the Massive reservoir in Khurbet East scheduled for the second
half of 2008.  To date, there has been no clear oil-water contact seen in either
well and no formation water has been recovered.


The total drilling depth of the KHE-3 well is expected to be approximately 2,050
metres.   The well will require approximately 45 days to drill and evaluate at a
gross cost, including rig mobilisation and demobilisation, of approximately $2.4
million ($1.2 million net to Gulfsands).


For further information please view the presentation on the Khurbet East Field
located on the Company's website at www.gulfsands.net.


ABOUT GULFSANDS:


Gulf of Mexico, USA

The Company owns interests in 54 offshore blocks comprising approximately
193,000 gross acres which includes numerous producing oil and gas fields
offshore Texas and Louisiana with proved and probable recoverable reserves net
to Gulfsands at 31 December 2006 of 41.5 BCFGE (6.9 MMBOE), consisting of 27.3
BCFG and 2.36 MMBO.


Onshore USA

Gulfsands owns interests in two oil and gas fields onshore Texas, USA (98.5%
working interest in Emily Hawes Field and 37.5% working interest in Barb Mag
Field) with proved and probable recoverable reserves net to Gulfsands at 31
December 2006 of 3.1 BCFGE (0.5 MMBOE), consisting of 2.8 BCFG and 57,000
barrels of oil.


Syria

Gulfsands owns a 50% working interest and is operator of Block 26 in North East
Syria.  Block 26 covers approximately 8,250 square kilometres and encompasses
existing fields which currently produce over 100,000 barrels of oil per day.
These fields are operated by third parties including the Syria Petroleum
Company.  In the first half of 2007 Gulfsands announced an oil and gas discovery
on Block 26 called Khurbet East.  This discovery is currently under appraisal.
The Company initiated the first extension period of exploration on Block 26 for
a further period of three years commencing on 23 August 2007.  The Company has
also formed a strategic partnership with Cham Holding for acquiring oil and gas
projects in Syria and Iraq.


Iraq

Gulfsands signed a Memorandum of Understanding in January 2005 with the Ministry
of Oil in Iraq for the Maysan Gas Project in Southern Iraq and following
completion of a feasibility study on the project is negotiating details of
definitive contract for this regionally important development.  The project will
gather process and transmit natural gas that is currently a waste by-product of
oil production and as a result of the present practice of gas flaring,
contributes to significant environmental damage in the region.


Certain statements included herein constitute 'forward-looking statements'
within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. These forward-looking
statements are based on certain assumptions made by Gulfsands and as such are
not a guarantee of future performance. Actual results could differ materially
from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements due to
factors such as general economic and market conditions, increased costs of
production or a decline in oil and gas prices. Gulfsands is under no obligation
to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable laws.


For further information, please refer to the Company's website www.gulfsands.net
or contact:


Gulfsands Petroleum (Houston)                                + 1-713-626-9564

John Dorrier, Chief Executive Officer
David DeCort, Chief Financial Officer

Gulfsands Petroleum (London)                                 020-7182-4016
Kenneth Judge, Director of Corporate Development             07733-001-002

College Hill (London)                                        020-7457-2020

Nick Elwes
Simon Whitehead

Landsbanki Securities (UK) Limited (London)                  020-7426-9000

Jeff Keating / Tom Hulme (Corporate Finance)


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