Drilling Report

Fusion Oil & Gas PLC 14 December 2000 Fusion Announces Rig Contract For Forthcoming Offshore Mauritania Drilling Programme Fusion Oil & Gas plc ('Fusion') is pleased to announce that Woodside Mauritania Pty Ltd ('Woodside'), as Operator of the Joint Venture for Blocks 3, 4 and 5 offshore Mauritania, has signed a contract to use the ENI-Saipem drilling rig 'Scarabeo 7' to carry out the Offshore Mauritania drilling programme scheduled for second quarter 2001. The Scarabeo 7 is a sophisticated deepwater drilling rig capable of operating in water depths up to 1500 meters, and therefore able to drill any of the prospects that have been identified by the Joint Venture as primary targets for this first programme of drilling offshore Mauritania. The 2001 work programme and budget will be presented to the Mauritanian Government in December and the Joint Venture expects that approval will be obtained to drill two firm wells in the 2001 work programme. The first well is planned to spud in April 2001. The two wells will be deemed to satisfy the contractural and farm-in obligations for Area A (shallow-water Blocks 3 and 4 and Block 5) and Area B (deep-water Blocks 4 and 5). The costs of drilling the wells in Areas A and B will be borne equally by Woodside and AGIP under the farm-in agreements entered into in August 1998. Fusion's equity participation in areas A and B is 3 per cent. and 6 per cent. respectively. Fusion's Managing Director, Alan Stein, commented 'The drilling these deepwater wells will be an important milestone for the company which has been successful in establishing a significant position in deepwater Northwest Africa through its projects in Mauritania, The Gambia, Senegal and Guinea-Bissau'. 14 December 2000 For further details please refer to the company's recently updated web page www.fusionoil.com.au or contact: Fusion Oil Tel: (61) 89 226 3011 Alan Stein, Managing Director Fax: (61) 89 226 3022 Jonathan Taylor, Exploration Director e-mail fusion@fusionoil.com.au Fusion Oil & Gas plc Level 2 Scott House 46 Kings Park Rd West Perth 6005 Western Australia College Hill Associates Tel: 020 7457 2020 Peter Brookes
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