Drilling Update

Gulfsands Petroleum PLC
18 May 2007


Khurbet East - 1 Well at total depth

Production testing of Triassic reservoirs to commence

Khurbet East - 2 Appraisal Well to spud in June


London, 18th May, 2007:  Gulfsands Petroleum plc (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 Khurbet East ('KHE-1')
exploration well in Syria Block 26, which commenced drilling in mid February,
has reached total depth on schedule.  Gulfsands is operator and owner of a 50%
interest in Block 26.


Triassic Reservoirs

The KHE-1 well has reached a total drilling depth of 3,800 metres and electric
wireline logs have been acquired.  The Company has identified several zones of
interest within the Triassic aged reservoirs below 2,800 metres depth.
Production testing of these zones is expected to commence shortly.  A further
update will be provided once testing has been completed and the results
evaluated.


Tertiary and Cretaceous Reservoirs

On 28th March 2007 the Company provided an update on drilling the Tertiary
Chilou (approximately 1,319 metres depth) and Cretaceous Massive Formation
(approximately 1,917 metres depth) in the KHE-1, where wireline logs indicated
net oil pay within those formations totaling 48.9 metres.  In addition, wireline
pressure testing recorded an oil gradient in the Massive and an oil sample was
obtained in the Massive with an initial estimated API gravity of 21 degrees at
surface conditions.


Khurbet East 2 Appraisal Well

The Company will drill an appraisal well Khurbet East (KHE-2), to evaluate the
Tertiary Chilou and Cretaceous Massive reservoirs within a well-bore designed
specifically for those reservoirs.  The KHE-2 well will also provide additional
information on the continuity and lateral extent of the reservoirs.

The Company has extended the contract for the Crosco 602 rig, currently drilling
KHE-1, to enable the new well to spud immediately following completion of
operations on KHE-1.  This is currently anticipated to occur in early June.

NB: This release has been approved by Jason Oden, Gulfsands Exploration Manager,
who has a Bachelor of Science degree in Geophysics with 22 years of experience
in petroleum exploration and management and is registered as a Professional
Geophysicist.  Mr. Oden has consented to the inclusion of the material in the
form and context in which it appears.


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 11,000 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.


Iraq

Gulfsands signed a Memorandum of Understanding in January 2005 with the Ministry
of Oil in Iraq for the Misan Gas Project in Southern Iraq and following
completion of a feasibility study on the project is negotiating details of
definitive contracts 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 including the Company's recent investor presentation,
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
Paddy Blewer

Teather & Greenwood (London)                                 020-7426-9000
James Maxwell (Corporate Finance)
Tanya Clarke (Specialist Sales)




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