Re Contract

Tullow Oil PLC
11 April 2001

                  Tullow Oil PLC ('Tullow' or 'the Company')



                         Award of Block 9, Bangladesh



Tullow Oil PLC announces that it has today signed a production-sharing
contract with the Bangladeshi Government in respect of Block 9.  This award is
part of the Bangladeshi Government's second petroleum licensing round.  Tullow
will act as operator on the Block in which it will have a 30% interest.
Tullow's partners on the Block are Chevron (30%), Texaco (30%) and the
Bangladeshi exploration company Bapex, who will have a 10% carried interest.
In the event of a commercial discovery, the operatorship of any development
will be assumed by Chevron.



The production sharing contract, which was signed today provides for the
partners to drill three exploration wells in Block 9 over a 3 year period.



Block 9, which covers a total area of 6,880 km2 was considered to be the most
prospective Block on offer during the second Petroleum Licensing Round.
Consequently, the Block attracted significant interest from International oil
companies.  To date, six significant gas fields, including the Bakhrabad
field, have been discovered within the Block, although these are excluded from
the license.  As a result of these discoveries, there is considerable existing
infrastructure within the Block, which will provide for fast track development
of any new discovery with no dependence on an export market for the gas.
Block 9 is close to Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh, where there is a
major unsatisfied market for domestic and industrial gas.



Aidan Heavey, Chief Executive of Tullow Oil commented:



'The finalisation of the award of Block 9 positions Tullow at the heart of a
proven gas province with outstanding prospectivity. We have already conducted
a thorough review of existing seismic data and well information within Block
9; several very exciting undrilled prospects are expected to be tested. In
addition, Tullow has commenced negotiations to finalise the terms of the
production-sharing contract in respect of Block 11, also under the second
licensing round.  A further announcement will be made in due course.'



Further information:



Tom Hickey                                     00353 86 2843753
Finance Director


Judith Parry                                   01132     421171
Millham Communications


Peter Binns, Emma Mc Caffrey                   0207 786 9600
Binns & Co



Wednesday 11 April 2001