Further Nelson Maintenance

Enterprise Oil PLC
25 July 2001

                 Further Maintenance Work on Nelson Platform

Enterprise Oil has announced that its Nelson platform in the Central North Sea
will be operating at reduced output until mid August as a result of essential
maintenance work on its gas compressor.

Following the scheduled shut down of the platform in June/July, a fault was
identified in the compressor on restart. As a result, the compressor will be
returned onshore today to the original equipment manufacturer for the
necessary remedial work to be conducted safely.

Commissioning of the reassembled compressor is expected offshore within the
next fortnight, and it is anticipated that, subject to the successful
completion of the work, normal production levels will be achieved in mid
August. In the interim, production at reduced levels of around 25,000 barrels
of oil per day will come through the platform.

Enterprise has operated the Nelson field since first oil in 1994. It was
discovered in 1988 and has produced over 300 million barrels of oil.



Ends.


For further information please contact:

Patrick d'Ancona, Head of Public Relations                   020 7925 4160
Peter Reilly, Head of Investor Relations                     020 7925 4476