Drilling Update

Tullow Oil PLC 07 May 2008 News release Drilling Update: Banda NW ST-1, Offshore Mauritania 7 May 2008 - ROC Oil, a participant in the Banda NW exploration well, in which Tullow Oil plc (Tullow) is also a partner, today issued the following press release: 'Roc Oil (Mauritania) Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of ROC, advises that as at midnight (local time) on 3 May 2008, the Banda NW ST-1 sidetrack well had been suspended. The results of the wireline logging, Modular Dynamic Tester (MDT) pressure testing and sampling indicate that Banda NW ST-1 intersected an 85 metre gross gas column, with 15 metres (18%) net gas pay and a 15 metre gross oil column, with 10 metres net oil pay (67%). The fluid contacts were as expected and the well is interpreted to be in communication with the original Banda-1 discovery well drilled in 2002, approximately 2 kilometres to the east. The Banda Field is in approximately 300 metres of water and spans PSC Area A and PSC Area B. The Atwood 'Hunter' will commence with the planned well intervention work on the Chinguetti Field, once it has completed the move from Banda NW ST-1.' Participating Interests in the PSC Area A Joint Venture are: ROC Group Companies.......................................... 4.155% PC Mauritania I Pty Ltd (Operator).......................... 53.846% Tullow Oil plc.............................................. 24.300% Mauritania Holdings B.V..................................... 13.084% Fusion Mauritania A B.V...................................... 3.000% FP Mauritania A B.V.......................................... 1.615% Participating Interests in the PSC Area B Joint Venture are: ROC Group Companies.......................................... 3.693% PC Mauritania I Pty Ltd (Operator).......................... 53.846% Tullow Oil plc.............................................. 21.600% Mauritania Holdings B.V..................................... 11.630% Premier Oil Mauritania B Limited............................. 9.231% Commenting today, Aidan Heavey, Chief Executive of Tullow said: 'The success of Banda NW and its sidetrack has presented a clear opportunity to drill an appraisal well in the east of the field to assess the size of this exciting oil and gas discovery. Additionally, data from these wells will prove invaluable in our evaluation of the remaining exploration potential of the offshore Mauritanian acreage'. For further information contact: Tullow Oil plc Citigate Dewe Rogerson Murray Consultants (+44 20 8996 1000) (+44 20 7638 9571) (+353 1 498 0300) Aidan Heavey Martin Jackson Joe Murray Tom Hickey George Cazenove Ed Micheau 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 100 Index. The Group has interests in over 100 exploration and production licences across 23 countries and focuses on four core areas: Europe, Africa, South Asia and South America. Tullow's European 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 and operates over 70% of its production. The company also has interests offshore the Netherlands and Portugal. In Africa, Tullow has exploration and production in Gabon, Cote d'Ivoire, Mauritania and Equatorial Guinea and two large appraisal and development programmes in Ghana and Uganda. Tullow also has exploration interests in Mauritania, Senegal, Congo (DRC), Tanzania, Madagascar, Namibia and Angola. In South Asia, Tullow has exploration and production in Pakistan and Bangladesh and high impact exploration activities in India. In South America Tullow has high impact exploration interests in Trinidad and Tobago, French Guiana and Suriname. For further information please refer to our website at www.tullowoil.com This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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