EAGSA Working Interest

Tullow Oil PLC
16 August 2004

16th August 2004



Tullow Oil plc Acquires Working Interest in Gryphon Marin Permit, Gabon


Tullow Oil plc is pleased to announce that its wholly owned subsidiary, Energy
Africa Gabon SA (EAGSA) has entered into a participation agreement with Forest
Oil Gryphon Marin B.V. ('Forest') whereby EAGSA will earn a 15% working interest
in the Gryphon Marin permit in the southern Gabon offshore.  This working
interest is additional to EAGSA's existing option on a 10% participation in the
event of a commercial development. Partners in the licence are Forest (40%,
Operator), PetroSA (25%) and Paladin (20%).


The Gryphon Marin Permit is located in shallow water and covers an area of 9,764
square kilometres.  The exploration programme will include reprocessing of
existing 3D seismic data, acquisition of additional 3D data and the drilling of
an exploration well in 2005.


The acquisition of the 15% interest is subject to the approval of the Gabonese
authorities.


Aidan Heavey, Chief Executive of Tullow Oil said 'The interest acquired in the
Gryphon Marin Permit adds to our exploration portfolio in Gabon.  We believe
Gabon offers significant growth opportunities for Tullow and look forward to
working with the partner group to realise the potential for commercial oil
accumulations in the permit.'


For Further Information Contact:

Tullow Oil plc ([phone])
Aidan Heavey
Tom Hickey


Citigate Dewe Rogerson ([phone])
Martin Jackson
Alexandra Scrimgeour



Murray Consultants ([phone])
Joe Murray


Notes for Editors


'Tullow' where referred to in this release means Tullow Oil plc and/or its 
subsidiaries, as appropriate.



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.



Production and Development Assets

Tullow has interests in over ninety exploration and production licences spread
over three core areas:  UK North Sea, West Africa and South Asia. Tullow
recently completed the acquisition of Energy Africa, which takes the number of
countries in which Tullow is active to sixteen.



In the North Sea, Tullow's principal interests are in the CMS and the Thames/
Hewett group of licences and the Bacton onshore gas-processing terminal on the
Norfolk coast, which it operates.



In Africa, Tullow has production in Gabon, Cote d'Ivoire, Congo (Brazzaville)
and Equatorial Guinea.  Tullow also has exploration programmes in Morocco,
Mauritania, Senegal, Cameroon, Uganda and Egypt. Tullow has interests in 15
licences in Gabon. Net production attributable to the Group's Gabon interests
currently averages over 16,000 bopd.



In South Asia, Tullow has production and exploration interests in Pakistan and
exploration activities in India and Bangladesh, where a three well drilling
programme is under way in Block 9.



For further information see www.tullowoil.com




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