Drilling Report

Tullow Oil PLC 22 September 2003 Tullow Oil plc 22nd September 2003 DRILLING ACTIVITY UPDATE Espoir Project, Cote d'Ivoire The drilling phase of the East Espoir Development has now finished with the completion of the fifth Espoir production well, which went into full production on September 6th 2003. Gross production from Espoir (Tullow - 21.33%) averaged 26,000 boepd for the first week of production following completion of this well, and is currently producing at approximately 26,700 boepd gross. The drilling rig is currently being demobilised from the Espoir Wellhead Tower. The West Espoir Development Project is due to be sanctioned by the field co-venturers in October, 2003, with first oil expected during the second quarter of 2005. UKCS Licence P105: Well 49/29a-10 Exploration well 49/29a-10, drilled on the Gawain SE prospect in the Southern North Sea, has been plugged and abandoned, without encountering hydrocarbons in the target reservoir. Co-venturers in the well and their equity interests are: Superior Oil (U.K.) Limited (a subsidiary of ExxonMobil) - 50% Tullow Oil UK Limited (a subsidiary of Tullow) - 50% The results from the well are being evaluated to determine the remaining potential of the area. Aidan Heavey, Chief Executive of Tullow Oil, said: 'We are delighted with the progress in East Espoir and eagerly look forward to continuing this success in West Espoir. While the Gawain outcome was disappointing, our UKCS activity is being stepped up with Watt progressing satisfactorily and further wells planned over the coming months' For Further Information Contact: Tullow Oil plc (+44 20 7333 6800) Aidan Heavey Tom Hickey Citigate Dewe Rogerson (+44 207 638 9571) Martin Jackson Murray Consultants (+353 1 498 0300) Joe Murray Notes for Editors Tullow Oil plc is one of the leading Independent International Oil & Gas Exploration and Production companies in Europe. Tullow is quoted on the London and Irish stock exchanges (symbol TLW) and is a member of the FTSE 250 Index. Strategy Tullow's strategy is to build strong and secure cash flow from low risk production acreage while applying discretionary funds to exploration territories with high potential. These activities will be undertaken in a manner that reflects a genuine concern for the environment and the health and safety of all personnel. Production and Development Assets Tullow has interests in 58 exploration and production licences spread over three core areas: UK North Sea, West Africa and South Asia In the North Sea, Tullow's principal interests are in the CMS and the Thames/ Hewett group of licences and the operatorship of the Bacton onshore gas processing terminal. North Sea gas production is expected to average 120 mmscfd in the current year. The Espoir field in Cote d'Ivoire, West Africa, is Tullow's principal source of international production and is currently achieving a production level of over 26,000 boepd. Tullow is also active in Gabon and Cameroon where it has in place fast track exploration and development programmes. In South Asia, Tullow has production and exploration interests in Pakistan, exploration activities in Bangladesh, where an extensive drilling programme is scheduled, and also in India. For further information see www.tullowoil.com This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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