Drilling Report

ENTERPRISE OIL PLC
12 August 1999


Enterprise announces second successful appraisal of its Corrib gas field

Enterprise Oil, with its co-venturers Saga Petroleum, Statoil Exploration and
Marathon Petroleum, today announced a second successful appraisal on the
Corrib field 70 kilometres from Achill Island, off the west coast of Ireland.
 
The well 18/25-1 is located in Block 18/25 in the Slyne Trough in a water
depth of 350 metres, and is 2 kilometres from the first appraisal well -
18/20-2z. It was drilled by the Sedco 711 semi-submersible rig to 3,741 metres
total vertical depth subsea in the Triassic Sherwood sandstone.  The well
achieved test rates of up to 64 million standard cubic feet of gas per day
through a 1 1/4 inch choke with a flowing wellhead pressure of 1,653 psi. This
test rate was limited by the testing equipment.

Block 18/25 was awarded to Enterprise as part of Licence 2/93 in 1993.  The
Corrib discovery was made in October 1996.  A 420 square kilometre 3D seismic
survey was acquired over the area in 1997, which was followed by the
successful test on the well 18/20-2z in 1998.

John McGoldrick, General Manager Ireland, commented:  'This is the second good
result we have had on Corrib and we are extremely pleased with the well test.
We have successfully delineated the southern end of the reservoir.  The
results will require further evaluation but have already demonstrated enough
reserves to begin development feasibility studies. 

'The results of the well enhance the prospectivity of our acreage in the area.
The next step is to drill the Shannon prospect which lies some 8 kilometres
south of Corrib and we hope this will meet with even further success.'

Co-venturers in Block 18/25 are:

Enterprise Oil plc (Operator)                                     45 per cent
Marathon International Petroleum Hibernia Ltd                   18.5 per cent
Statoil Exploration (Ireland) Ltd                                 15 per cent
Saga Petroleum Ireland Ltd                                      21.5 per cent

For further information contact:
     
John McGoldrick, General Manager Enterprise Oil, Ireland    00 353 1 665 2200
Patrick d'Ancona, Head of Public Relations                      0171 925 4160
Paul McSharry, Fleishman Hillard Saunders                   00 353 1 618 8444


Notes to Editors:


Enterprise Oil plc has been active in Ireland since 1984 and currently holds 
36 offshore blocks. The company is one of the most significant players in the
Irish offshore industry.


Corrib and the Irish Gas Market

The Irish gas market is relatively small but rapidly expanding (annual average
demand is 350 mmscfd and is forecast to rise to 480 mmscfd in 2005). Ireland's
sole source of indigenous gas from Kinsale Head is in decline and imports are
growing in importance (50 per cent of Ireland's needs were met by imports in
1998). 

Gas demand is driven by the need to increase generating capacity and to fuel
existing capacity in order to reduce CO2 emissions. Gas is the fuel of choice
in Ireland and new sources of indigenous gas would contribute significantly to
the country's security of gas supply. 

Initial indications suggest that Corrib gas is of excellent quality being very
dry and free of contaminants.


Development 

Corrib lies 70 kilometres from Achill Island off the west coast of Ireland in 
350 metres of water. The water depth and Atlantic location both favour a
subsea development. 

Infrastructure will be required to transport the gas to market.  Feasibility
studies on pipeline routes together with market assessments are currently
underway.