Operational Update - Syria

Gulfsands Petroleum PLC
24 September 2007

Second appraisal well to commence at Khurbet East


Plans initiated for early commercial development at Khurbet East


3D seismic acquisition to begin over Khurbet East


New drill rig contract executed for further drilling


London, 24th September, 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 a second appraisal well at Khurbet East ('KHE-3'), Syria, is
scheduled to commence drilling in November of 2007.  Additionally, a 3D seismic
survey is scheduled to commence in late October that will cover both Khurbet
East and adjacent exploration leads to the south of the Khurbet East discovery.

KHE-3 Well

The KHE-3 well will 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 and is scheduled to commence drilling in
November.

The drilling of this well will assist in the planning for early development and
production of the Massive reservoir in Khurbet East.  The total drilling depth
of the KHE-3 well is expected to be approximately 2,150 metres and will require
approximately 45 days to drill and evaluate at a gross cost, including rig
mobilization and demobilization costs, of approximately $2.4 million, or $1.2
million net to Gulfsands.  Utilizing its shared drilling contract with
Petro-Canada in Syria, the Company plans to drill this well with the MB3
drilling rig owned by MB Drilling Overseas Limited.

Recent additional analysis of both the KHE-1 and KHE-2 wells suggests that the
net oil pay within both wells is larger than previously indicated, with
potentially additional pay deeper in the Massive reservoirs.  Independent
wireline log analysis and production test data from KHE-2 now indicate a total
of approximately 29 metres of net oil pay in both the KHE-2 and KHE-1 wells,
thereby increasing the reserve potential of the Khurbet East discovery.

To date, there has been no clear oil-water contact seen in either well and no
formation water was recovered during the recent KHE-2 production test. The
reserve potential of the Massive reservoir in Khurbet East now exceeds the
Company's original estimates of the reserve potential of both the Cretaceous
Massive and Tertiary Chilou combined.

Early Development Plans

The Company is currently developing plans for an early production programme and
full field commercial development of the Khurbet East discovery, with initial
production targeted for the second half of 2008.  The Company expects to present
these plans, along with the initial development plan, to the Syrian Government
and the Syrian Petroleum Company in the fourth quarter of 2007 for consideration
and approval.

As part of the Contract for the Exploration, Development and Production of
Petroleum for Block 26 with the Syrian Government and the Syrian Petroleum
Company, the Company has been granted rights to utilize the local pipelines and
other infrastructure which includes an export oil pipeline located within the
presently mapped boundaries of the Khurbet East structure.  The Company may
locate the Khurbet East Field oil processing facility adjacent to this export
pipeline, thus minimizing the tie-in distance, costs and time.

The Company is also preparing its 2008 work programme for Block 26 with plans to
drill an appraisal well of both the Triassic Butmah and Kurrachine Dolomite
Formations in Khurbet East following the earlier successful production test of
the Triassic formation carried out in the KHE 1 well.  The 3D seismic survey
over the Khurbet East Field area which will commence in October will assist in
the selection of the location for this well.

3D Seismic

The Company is scheduled to commence a 3D seismic acquisition programme in Block
26 late next month. The seismic survey is designed to acquire approximately 150
square kilometres of seismic data over the Khurbet East structure and a further
240 square kilometres over an area south of Khurbet East.

The 150 square kilometres of 3D seismic data to be acquired over the Khurbet
East structure will assist in locating development and near-field offset wells
and provide support for reserves reporting.  Work on the first reserves report
for Khurbet East has commenced with the engagement of an independent engineering
firm, RPS Group plc based in London, and this should be completed before the end
of 2007.

The additional 240 square kilometres of 3D seismic data to the south of Khurbet
East will be used to evaluate exploration leads and to develop 'drill ready'
targets for the Massive and Kurrachine Dolomite formations south of Khurbet East
and within the Khurbet East 'play fairway'.

The seismic acquisition programme should be completed in January with processing
and interpretation completed in the first quarter of 2008.

Drilling Rig

In anticipation of this significant increase in activity on Block 26, the
Company has signed an amended contract with Crosco, Integrated Drilling & Well
Services, Company Ltd. for the drilling of two wells by May 2008.  Additionally,
the Company has agreed in principle with Crosco for another drilling rig to
commence work in mid 2008 for a period of one year plus an option for an
additional one year.  With these rigs the Company can fully appraise and develop
the Khurbet East Field expeditiously for the benefit of both the Company and the
Syrian Government.

Gulfsands' CEO, John Dorrier, said:

'Following the success of KHE-2, the Company is moving forward aggressively to
appraise the Khurbet East Field further, secure an approved Field Development
Plan and initiate early production as quickly as possible.  Having secured a
drilling rig for use in 2008, we will sustain considerable momentum in the
drilling campaign for both development and exploration within Block 26.  With
access rights to the nearby export pipeline granted in the PSC, we are
optimistic about the prospects for bringing the Khurbet East discovery into
production during the second half of 2008.'

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 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.

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
Paddy Blewer

Landsbanki Securities (UK) Limited (London)                  020-7426-9000
Andrew Matharu / Tom Hulme (Corporate Finance)







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