Drilling & Acquisition Update

Tullow Oil PLC
06 December 2005



News release


Tullow Oil plc - Drilling and Acquisition Update

6th December 2005 - Tullow Oil plc (Tullow) announces updates on recent drilling
activities and the acquisition of additional equity in the Hewett Field Unit
which includes the Bacton Terminal.

A full update on the rest of Tullow's activities will be provided in our Trading
Statement and Operational Update on 31 January 2006.


MAURITANIA - FAUCON-1 EXPLORATION WELL (Tullow 20%)

The Faucon-1 exploration well, currently being drilled in Block 1 offshore
Mauritania, has encountered hydrocarbon-bearing sandstones within the main
Cretaceous target zone.  Drilling has been temporarily suspended at 3,536m while
a full suite of wireline logs, formation pressures, fluid and core samples are
obtained.  Thereafter, it is the intention to deepen the well by up to a further
700m in order to fully explore the Cretaceous section.


ROMANIA - COSTISA-1Z SUSPENDED (Tullow 42%)

The Costisa-1Z exploration well, located in the EPI-3 Brates block in Romania,
reached a final total depth of 4,350m on 30 November and is currently being
plugged back prior to suspension.  The well's primary objective was not
encountered and due to poor borehole conditions, a logging programme was not
undertaken.

Subject to agreement with the partners and government approval, Tullow now
intends to transfer the Operatorship and its interest in the licence to Europa
Oil & Gas (Holdings) plc.


ANGOLA - BLOCK 10 WORK PROGRAMME ONGOING (Tullow 15%)

Drilling operations on the Ngueve-1 well in Block 10 offshore Angola are in
progress.  Once operations are completed, the rig will move onto the Henda-1
prospect in the same block.


UGANDA - M'PUTA 1 EXPLORATION WELL TO SPUD IN MID-DECEMBER (Tullow 50%)

The rig for the M'Puta prospect in Uganda is currently being mobilised to the
drilling location and the well is scheduled to spud in mid-December.  It will
target a structural prospect with multiple objectives.  Oil seeps have been
identified in the immediate area and the prospect has been defined by the 2005
onshore seismic survey.  The planned total depth for the well is 1,100m.


GABON - EQUATA WELL TO SPUD NEXT WEEK  (Tullow 47.5%)

The exploration well on the Equata prospect in the Kiarsseny licence in Gabon is
scheduled to commence next week.  The planned total depth for the well is 1,500m
and it is expected to take approximately 30 days to drill.


UK - TULLOW TO ACQUIRE ADDITIONAL 13% IN  HEWETT-BACTON (Tullow 51.68%)

Tullow and Eni have exercised rights of pre-emption in relation to the sale to
Petrofac of Centrica's 23.15% interest in the Hewett Field Unit area. Tullow
will gain an additional 12.87% interest in the Hewett fields and the Bacton
terminal on the same terms that were originally agreed with Petrofac.
Completion of the transaction is subject to governmental approvals and is
expected to occur in early 2006.


Commenting today, Aidan Heavey, Chief Executive of Tullow said:

'Today's announcement reinforces the strength and diversity of Tullow's
international portfolio and the preliminary results from Mauritania appear very
encouraging for both the Faucon prospect and the region.  Over the next six
months, Tullow will participate in a total of 13 exploration wells across six
countries.'

If you have any questions on this announcement please contact:

Tullow Oil plc               Citigate Dewe Rogerson          Murray Consultants
([phone])           ([phone])              ([phone])
Aidan Heavey                 Martin Jackson                  Joe Murray
Tom Hickey
Chris Perry


Notes to Editors

Tullow is a leading independent oil & gas, exploration and production group,
quoted on the London and Irish Stock Exchanges (symbol: TLW) and is a
constituent of the FTSE 250 Index. The Group has interests in approximately 90
production and exploration licences in 16 countries and focuses on three core
areas: NW Europe, West Africa and South Asia.

Tullow's NW Europe interests are primarily focused on gas in the UK Southern
North Sea where it has significant interests in the Caister-Murdoch System and
the Thames/Hewett areas.  Tullow operates 60% of its production from these areas
following the recent start-up of production from its Horne and Wren fields and
the acquisition of the Schooner and Ketch assets.

In Africa, Tullow has production and exploration in Gabon, Cote d'Ivoire, Congo
(Brazzaville) and Equatorial Guinea. Tullow also has exploration programmes in
Morocco, Mauritania, Senegal, Cameroon, Uganda and Angola.

In South Asia, Tullow has production and exploration interests in Pakistan and
exploration activities in India and Bangladesh.

For further information please refer to our website at www.tullowoil.com

                                      ENDS


                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange