First Oil From the Jotun Field

ENTERPRISE OIL PLC
27 October 1999

Enterprise announces first oil from the Jotun field

Enterprise Oil today announced first oil from the Jotun field in Norway, 200
kilometres west of Stavanger. The field came on stream at 1456 hours on 
25 October 1999.

Jotun, operated by Esso in blocks 25/8 and 25/7, employs a floating production
system which is tied back to a wellhead platform with dedicated drilling
facilities, with crude export via shuttle tanker.

The initial production of 25,000 barrels of oil per day is anticipated to rise
to a plateau rate of 100,000 barrels of oil per day early next year.

The Jotun field has estimated reserves of 210 million barrels of oil
equivalent and was first discovered in 1994 with the Elli find. A year later
the Tau discovery was made and the two were recognised to be a single
accumulation, now known as Jotun.

Pierre Jungels, Chief Executive, commented: 'This is a milestone for our
Norwegian operations. Jotun will be a key contributor to Enterprise's
world-wide production and represents the success of our partnership with Esso
in Norway. This reinforces our growth in Norway, and work will continue next
year to investigate further the potential of the Skarv/Sara trend.'

Jotun co-venturers are:

Enterprise Oil Norge Limited          45 per cent
Esso (operator)                       45 per cent
Norske Conoco                         3.75 per cent
Amerada Hess                          1.25 per cent
Statoil                               5 per cent (incl. SDFI 3 per cent)


For further information please contact:

Patrick d'Ancona, Head of Public Relations                      0171 925 4160
John Crowle, General Manager, Enterprise Oil Norge Limited   00 47 51 84 3000