Well Update

Tullow Oil PLC
08 August 2006

News release


Tullow Oil Plc - Mputa Well Test Update

8 August 2006 - Hardman Resources, the operator of the Mputa well test in
Uganda, in which Tullow Oil Plc (Tullow) is a 50% partner, today issued the
following press release.

                       Uganda: Mputa-1 flow test -Block 2

At 08:00 on 6 August 2006, flow testing commenced on the Mputa-1 discovery well
in Block 2. Tests of three intervals are planned at this location. Operations
commenced with a speculative test on the fractured granite basement play where
hydrocarbons were encountered during drilling. This test recovered only minor
amounts of oil, likely due to a restricted and tight fracture system.

The two principal tests aim to confirm fluid characteristics and flow potential
of oil bearing sand intervals similar to those successfully tested at Waraga-1
in the last quarter. The testing of the first of two sand intervals should
commence towards the end of this week.



Equities in Block 2 are:
                                                                       Block 2
Hardman Petroleum Africa Pty Ltd (Operator)                              50.0%
Tullow Oil                                                               50.0%



Times and dates for Ugandan wells refer to Uganda time (GMT+3 hours), five
hours behind Western Standard Time (Perth, Australis).

For further information contact:

Tullow Oil plc                     Citigate Dewe Rogerson     Murray Consultants
([phone])                 ([phone])         ([phone])
Tom Hickey                         George Cazenove            Joe Murray
Angus McCoss

Notes to Editors

Tullow is aleading independent oil & gas, exploration and production group,
quoted on the London and Irish Stock Exchanges (symbol: TLW) and is a constituent
of the FTSE 250 Index. The Group has interests in approximately 90 exploration
and production licences in 15 countries and focuses on three core areas: NW
Europe,Africa and South Asia.

Tullow's NW Europe interests are primarily focused on gas in the UK Southern
North Sea where it has significant interests in the Caister-Murdoch System and
the Thames/Hewett areas and operates over 60% of its production.

In Africa,Tullow has production and exploration in Gabon, Cote d'Ivoire, Congo
(Brazzaville) and Equatorial Guinea and a large gas field development
and appraisal programme in Namibia. Tullow also has exploration programmes
in Mauritania, Senegal, Cameroon, Uganda, Madagascar and Angola.

In South Asia,Tullow has production and exploration interests in Pakistan and
Bangladesh and high impact exploration activities in India.

For further information please refer to our website at www.tullowoil.com

                                      ENDS


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