Statement re Operations Update

Immediate Release   22 April 2010




                            GULFSANDS PETROLEUM PLC


                               Operations Update

                          Hanoon-1 Drilling Completed

                  Khurbet East Oil Production Reaches 8 MMbbls

London,  22nd April 2010:  Gulfsands Petroleum plc  ("Gulfsands", the "Group" or
the  "Company"  -  AIM:  GPX),  the  oil  and  gas  production,  exploration and
development  company  with  activities  in  Syria,  Iraq,  and the U.S.A., today
provides  the following  update on  the Company's  operations at Block 26, Syria
where Gulfsands holds a 50% interest and acts as operator.

Hanoon-1 Exploration Well Completed

Operations  have concluded on the Hanoon-1  exploration well, the second well in
the 2010 exploration drilling programme.

The  Hanoon-1  well,  located  approximately  8 kilometres  to  the north of the
Khurbet  East field, targeted  the Cretaceous Shiranish  and Massive Formations,
the  latter being the  producing formation in  the Khurbet East  field. The well
targeted  a structure with pre-drill  estimated reserves of 5-15 million barrels
of oil ("MMbbls").

Hanoon-1 encountered the top of the Cretaceous Shiranish Formation at
approximately 1885 metres Measured Depth ("MD"), or 1440 metres True Vertical
Depth ("TVD") below mean sea level ("bmsl"), approximately 30 metres deeper than
the pre-drilling prognosis. A few metres below this depth hydrocarbon gas was
detected and oil shows were observed on drill cuttings. On the basis of these
oil and gas shows drilling operations were suspended and two sequential coring
operations were undertaken. 24 metres of core were recovered which were
intermittently coated with viscous oil. The well was then open hole tested,
however no hydrocarbons were recovered to surface.

Drilling operations resumed and the well was deepened to the top of the Massive
Formation which was encountered at 1975 metres MD (1530 metres TVD bmsl), also
30 metres deeper than the pre-drilling prognosis. The presence of oil shows and
oil on drill cuttings shakers between 1989 and 1992 metres MD (1544 and 1547
metres TVD bmsl) prompted a further coring operation to be conducted, and an
additional 3.5 metres of core were recovered. The formation generally consisted
of tight dolomite and limestone with spotted viscous oil shows.  It is
considered likely that the quantities of oil observed at surface had emanated
from oil filled natural fractures that were detectable from wireline
logs. Further testing operations were then conducted in open hole over the
Shiranish and Massive Formations combined, inclusive of acidification of both
intervals with lift assistance provided via nitrogen injection. These operations
recovered non-commercial amounts of viscous oil to surface along with formation
water.

Consequently,  the Hanoon-1 well has been interpreted as having a non-commercial
oil  reservoir and has been plugged and abandoned. The cost to Gulfsands for its
50% share  of the Hanoon-I exploration well is estimated at approximately US$2.0
million before cost recovery and approximately US$700,000 after cost recovery.


Khurbet East-15 Development Well

Following the completion of operations at Hanoon-1, the rig will be moved to the
Khurbet East-15 ("KHE-15") well location. KHE-15 will be a horizontal production
well  that will  target the  Cretaceous Massive  Formation in  the north central
crestal area of the Khurbet East field, with the dual objectives being provision
of  additional  well  capacity  for  reservoir  management purposes, and further
development of field reserves.


Khurbet East Field Oil Production

Average daily gross oil production at the Khurbet East Field continues at a rate
of  approximately 16,700 barrels per  day with the  result that cumulative gross
oil production has exceeded 8 million barrels, with minimal water production and
minimal pressure depletion being observed to date.


Ric Malcolm, Gulfsands CEO, said:

"The results of Hanoon-1 will now be evaluated in order to understand the
implications for future exploration in the area north of the Khurbet East field.
 We are continuing to finalize drill targets on structures identified to the
south and east of the Khurbet East and Yousefieh Fields and elsewhere on Block
26.  We are pleased to be able to report the passing of yet another production
milestone at the Khurbet East Field."

This release has been approved by Richard Malcolm, Chief Executive of Gulfsands
who has a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology with 30 years of experience in
petroleum exploration and management. Mr. Malcolm has consented to the inclusion
of the technical information in this release in the form and context in which it
appears.

For more information please contact:

Gulfsands Petroleum (London)                                 [phone]

Richard Malcolm, Chief Executive Officer
Andrew Rose, Chief Financial Officer
Kenneth Judge, Director: Corporate Development &
Communications



Buchanan Communications Limited (London)                     [phone]

Bobby Morse                                                  [phone]
Ben Romney
Chris McMahon



RBC Capital Markets (London)                                 [phone]

Josh Critchley
Tim Chapman
Matthew Coakes
Martin Eales

ABOUT GULFSANDS:

Gulfsands is listed on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange.

Syria

Gulfsands owns a 50% working interest and is operator of Block 26 in North East
Syria.  The Khurbet East oil field was discovered in June 2007 and commenced
commercial production within 13 months of the discovery. This field is producing
at an average gross production rate of approximately 16,700 barrels of oil per
day through an early production facility. In January 2010, approval was received
for the commercial development of the Yousefieh oil field, discovered in
November 2008 and located approximately 3 kilometres from the Khurbet East oil
field. Block 26 covers approximately 8,250 square kilometres and encompasses
existing fields which currently produce over 100,000 barrels of oil per day, and
are operated mainly by the Syrian Petroleum Company.  The current exploration
licence expires in August 2010 and is extendable for a further two years.
 Gulfsands' working interest 2P reserves in Syria at 31 December 2009 were 46.0
mmbbls.

Iraq

Gulfsands signed a Memorandum of Understanding in January 2005 with the Ministry
of Oil in Iraq for the Maysan Gas Project in Southern Iraq, following completion
of a feasibility study on the project, and is negotiating details of a
definitive contract for this regionally important development.  The project will
gather, process and transmit natural gas that is currently a waste by-product of
oil production and as a result of the present practice of gas flaring,
contributes to significant environmental damage in the region. The Company is
actively engaged in discussions with respect to financing and potential equity
partners.  Gulfsands has no reserves in Iraq.

Gulf of Mexico, USA

The Company owns interests in 37 leases offshore Texas and Louisiana which
include 24 producing oil and gas fields with proved and probable working
interest reserves at 31 December 2009 of 4.6 mmboe.

Certain statements included herein constitute "forward-looking statements"
within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. These forward-looking
statements are based on certain assumptions made by Gulfsands and as such are
not a guarantee of future performance. Actual results could differ materially
from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements due to
factors such as general economic and market conditions, increased costs of
production or a decline in oil and gas prices. Gulfsands is under no obligation
to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable laws.

More information can be found on the Company's websitewww.gulfsands.com

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Details  of  the  offeree  and  offeror  companies  in respect of whose relevant
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Panel's Market Surveillance Unit on [phone].



[HUG#1406573]