Acqn of Interest, etc

Enterprise Oil PLC
16 February 2000


Enterprise Oil strengthens its Atlantic Margin presence

Enterprise Oil today announced the signing of a deal to acquire ARCO's Irish
exploration interests. This step marks further progress in the group's
strategy to focus the exploration activity of its UK and Ireland core business
unit in the Atlantic Margin.

The acquisition of the ARCO interests follows the company's recent purchase of
an additional 3.1 per cent in the Clair field West of Shetlands, increasing
Enterprise's interest to 18.68 per cent. Detailed evaluation of the
development potential of the field is underway.

The company will also be signing a deal to purchase additional equity in
Tranche 4 West of Shetlands, increasing its stake by 16.16 per cent to 46.16
per cent, and will assume operatorship subject to government consents. Tranche
4 is located 100 kilometres to the north east of the Clair field.

Pierre Jungels, Chief Executive, commented: 'This recent activity has
significantly increased our presence in the Atlantic Margin area. We have
consolidated our position as the leading explorer in Ireland with the
acquisition of ARCO's Irish interests, and continue to seek ways of utilising
and expanding our knowledge of the Atlantic Margin throughout our UK and
Ireland core business unit. This will be underpinned by the drilling of a well
on block 154/1 in Tranche 38 in April.'




For further information please contact:
               
Patrick d'Ancona, Head of Public Relations                      020 7925 4160
Peter Reilly, Head of Investor Relations                        020 7925 4476

Web address:     www.entoil.com


Notes to Editors

ARCO

Enterprise Oil will acquire 100 per cent of the shares in ARCO Ireland
Offshore Inc. which owns the company's Irish interests. The agreement is
conditional upon Ministerial consent and will be effective from 1 January
2000. The ARCO interests together with all Enterprise's existing Irish
interests will be transferred into a new Irish subsidiary called Enterprise
Energy Ireland Ltd comprising 46 blocks. 

Clair

Clair was discovered in 1977 and since then over 20 exploration and appraisal
wells have been drilled. The field remains complex, with considerable work
required to resolve subsurface and cost uncertainties. Detailed study work is
currently in progress and is expected to be completed in the second quarter of
2000.

Tranche 4

Partners Mobil and British Borneo pre-empted Enterprise's purchase of BP
Amoco's entire 35 per cent disposal of Tranche 4. Both companies will acquire
pro-rata shares of the balance of BP's remaining interest of 18.84 per cent.