Exploration Drilling Update

Tullow Oil PLC
16 June 2006

News release


Tullow Oil plc - Exploration Drilling Update

16 June 2006 - Tullow Oil plc (Tullow) provides the following Exploration
Drilling Update; a detailed update on Tullow's business will be provided in our
Trading Statement and Operational Update on 5 July 2006.

UK - K4 GAS DISCOVERY (Tullow 22.5%)

The K4 exploration well, 44/23b-13, has encountered reservoir quality gas
bearing sands in the targeted Lower Ketch Carboniferous interval and significant
upside potential has been identified.  Information obtained from the well will
now be integrated with existing data to determine the full extent of the
accumulation.

The K4 discovery lies five kilometres to the southeast of last year's Kelvin
(K3) gas discovery. Any future development of K4 will most likely be via the
Kelvin development which is expected to be developed by a minimum-facilities
platform with a pipeline to the central CMS hub at Murdoch.

The success of K4 also provides further encouragement for the remaining
exploration potential of this area.

The K4 joint venture partners are Tullow Oil plc (22.5%), ConocoPhillips (U.K.)
Limited (50%) and GDF Britain Limited (27.5%).

EQUATORIAL GUINEA - BANYAN EXPLORATION WELL (Tullow 10%)

The deep water Banyan exploration well in Block L offshore Equatorial Guinea,
targeting the Campanian reservoir, commenced drilling on 5 May and reached a
total depth of 4,076m but did not encounter hydrocarbons.  Following a farmout
in 2005, Tullow was substantially carried for the costs of this well.


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

'The K4 discovery marks Tullow's seventh consecutive gas discovery in the CMS
area since 2001. This achievement demonstrates the strength of our UK
exploration portfolio and the quality of our technical team who have upgraded a
previously under-explored geological play in the CMS area with potentially
significant implications for future exploration in the region.'


For further information contact:
Tullow Oil plc            Citigate Dewe Rogerson              Murray Consultants
([phone])        ([phone])                  ([phone])
Angus McCoss              Martin Jackson                      Joe Murray
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
exploration and production licences in 15 countries and focuses on three core
areas: NW Europe, 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 (CMS)
and the Thames/Hewett areas and operates over 60% of its production.

In Africa, Tullow has exploration and production in Gabon, Cote d'Ivoire, Congo
(Brazzaville) and Equatorial Guinea and a large gas field development and
appraisal programme in Namibia. Tullow also has exploration programmes in
Mauritania, Senegal, Cameroon, Uganda, Madagascar and Angola.

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

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