Exploration Update

Gulfsands Petroleum PLC
29 June 2005



Gulfsands Petroleum PLC
('Gulfsands' or 'the Group')


Gulfsands Executes Seismic Contract in Syria


Gulfsands Petroleum PLC (symbol GPX), the AIM listed oil and gas exploration,
development and production company with activities in the USA, Syria and Iraq
announces it has executed a seismic acquisition contract with Geofizika D.D. to
acquire new 2D seismic within Block 26, Syria.  Geofizika D.D. is an experienced
seismic acquisition company with over 40 years experience conducting seismic
surveys in the Middle East.  They have been working in Syria for other operators
including INA-Naftaplin and most recently PetroCanada on Block 2 which is
adjacent to Block 26.


The Group plans to commence the seismic acquisition of some 1,170 kilometers of
2D seismic within the next 45 days.  After processing and interpreting the new
seismic data, the Group plans to choose its first exploration drill-sites and
commence drilling of the first exploration well on Block 26 during the first
quarter of 2006.


Gulfsands owns a 50% working interest in Block 26 and is the operator. The block
covers 11,000 square kilometers and surrounds areas which currently produce over
100,000 bopd from existing fields.  The Group has identified 27 exploitation and
exploration prospects and leads with mean resources potential of 1 billion
barrels of recoverable oil.


John Dorrier, CEO of Gulfsands Petroleum, said:

'We are pleased to be moving forward with the Block 26 seismic program so
quickly after taking over operations from Devon Energy in late May.  This
achievement reflects a concerted effort by Gulfsands' Damascus office, our
partner SoyuzNefteGas, and the Syrian Petroleum Company. We expect the new
seismic will enable us to prioritize the prospect inventory and choose the best
drill-sites for the first wells prior to beginning drilling operations in early
2006.'



                                                                    29 June 2005





Enquiries:
Gulfsands Petroleum (Houston)                                713-626-9564
David DeCort, Chief Financial Officer

College Hill (London)                                        020-7457-2020
Ben Brewerton / Jim Joseph

Seymour Pierce (London)                                      020-7107-8000
Richard Redmayne
Jonathan Wright



Note to Editors


•   Gulf of Mexico, USA

The Group has a 52.6% interest in Northstar Gulfsands, which owns interests in
39 producing oil and gas fields offshore Texas and Louisiana and operates 8 of
those fields. Northstar Gulfsands has proved and probable reserves of 4.7 mmbbls
of oil and some 29.2 bcf of gas as of 1 November 2004.


•   Syria

In Syria, Gulfsands owns a 50% working interest in Block 26 and is the operator.
The block covers 11,000 sq kms and surrounds areas which currently produce over
100,000 bopd from existing fields.  The Group is planning the acquisition of an
extensive 2D seismic programme and the drilling of the first well by the first
quarter of 2006. Gulfsands has identified 27 exploitation and exploration
prospects and leads with mean resources potential of 1 billion barrels of
recoverable oil.


•   Iraq

Gulfsands has recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of
Oil in Iraq for the Misan Gas Project in Southern Iraq and is currently
negotiating the definitive contract for the project.  The project will gather,
process and transmit natural gas that is currently a waste by-product of oil
production in the region and will end the environmentally damaging practice of
gas flaring. Gulfsands has completed a feasibility study and expects to conduct
further technical work and commercial discussions with the Iraq Oil Ministry in
the first half of 2005.


•   Onshore USA

At the Emily Hawes field, which has previously produced approximately 1.7 bcf of
natural gas before being shut-in, gas production is expected to start during the
summer of 2005.  The first well in the Barb Mag oil field is expected to be
drilled in the third quarter of 2005.  Darcy Energy has a 25% and 37.5% working
interest in these fields respectively.




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