Drilling Rig Contract

BowLeven Plc
16 November 2005

16 November 2005



               BowLeven Plc ('BowLeven' or 'the Company')

               Rig Secured for 2006/7 Drilling Programme



BowLeven announces today that the Company has signed a drilling contract with
GlobalSantaFe Corporation ('GlobalSantaFe') to continue its drilling campaign
offshore Cameroon, West Africa.

The agreement covers the drilling of four wells as part of the 2006/7 drilling
programme and the GlobalSantaFe rig Adriatic VI is expected to come on contract
to BowLeven in November 2006.

The drilling targets for the 2006/7 drilling programme will be decided after
completion of the interpretation of the 3D seismic data over Block MLHP-7 and
the acquisition, processing and interpretation of seismic data over Blocks MLHP-
5 and -6 of the Etinde  Permit. After integration of the results of the 2005
drilling programme and the interpretation of the new seismic data the Company
will consider several options including appraisal and development drilling
options.



Philip Rhind, Chief Executive of BowLeven, said

'We are pleased to have secured the GSF Adriatic VI to continue our 2006
drilling campaign.  Despite the recent results from the Manyikebi-1 well, we
remain confident that we will deliver success with the drill bit.'



For further information contact:

Philip Rhind, Chief Executive, BowLeven Plc             0131 260 5100

Adam Westcott, Noble & Company Limited                  0131 225 9677

Neil Bennett, Maitland                                  020 7379 5151




                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange