Well Test Update

Tullow Oil PLC
22 August 2006

News release



Tullow Oil Plc - Mputa Well Test Update


22 August 2006 - Hardman Resources, the operator of the Mputa well test in
Uganda, in which Tullow Oil Plc (Tullow) is a 50% partner, today issued the
following press release.


                   Uganda: Mputa-1 Flow Test update (Block 2)


Hardman Resources Limited ('Hardman') provides the following update on its flow
testing and exploration drilling operations:


Hardman has completed a successful testing campaign at the Mputa-1 discovery
well.  Since our last announcement on 15 August, the upper sand interval has now
been tested on natural flow. Results from both zones tested are summarised
below:

             Test                Perforated Interval        Choke         Flow Rate       Oil Quality
                                       (metres)                             (bopd)           o API


Lower Sand Zone (DST 2)           1,118.0 - 1,126.0        32/64'              300            32
Upper Sand Zone (DST 3)             966.5 - 974.5          40/64'              820            33

                                                               TOTAL        1,120



The test results prove not only that the oil at Mputa is mobile, but also that
the reservoir sands are capable of producing dry oil under natural flow at
potentially commercial rates. The latter aspect is particularly significant,
given that the Mputa reservoirs are at shallower depth, and are hence at lower
pressure and temperature than the corresponding reservoir units at Waraga. This
positive test result therefore expands the operating envelope over which typical
Waraga and Mputa crudes (32 degrees API) can be produced and eliminates pre-test
concerns over oil viscosity and fluid properties at these shallower depths.



Although laboratory confirmation is still awaited, the gravity of all oil flowed
at Mputa is similar to that found in the lower units of the Waraga-1 well and is
likely to be of similar origin. The Mputa-1 well is located 220 kilometres
northwest of the Ugandan capital Kampala and 8 kilometres from the shore of Lake
Albert.  The Waraga-1 well is located 19 kilometres to the northeast of Mputa-1.



This concludes the testing programme at Mputa-1. The well is presently being
suspended and the rig and test crew are being stood down. Initial guidance on
volumes will be included in the company's Half Yearly Report on 29 August 2006.



Equities in Block 2 are:
                                                                             Block 2

Hardman Petroleum Africa Pty Ltd (Operator)                                  50.0%
Tullow Oil                                                                   50.0%



Times and dates for Ugandan wells refer to Uganda time (GMT+3 hours), five hours
behind Western Standard Time (Perth).

For further information contact:

Tullow Oil plc                     Citigate Dewe Rogerson              Murray Consultants
([phone])                 ([phone])                  ([phone])
Tom Hickey                         Martin Jackson                      Joe Murray
Angus McCoss



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 and
the Thames/Hewett areas and operates over 60% of its production.



In Africa, Tullow has production and exploration 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 production and exploration interests 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