Exploration Update

Gulfsands Petroleum PLC
02 August 2005



2 August 2005



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



Gulfsands Commences Seismic Acquisition 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 commenced operations with Geofizika D.D. to acquire new 2D
seismic within Block 26, Syria.  Geofizika D.D. is a seismic acquisition company
with over 40 years experience conducting seismic surveys in the Middle East.  It
has 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 will acquire some 1,170 kilometers of 2D seismic over the next three
to four months, followed by processing and interpreting the new seismic data, so
the Group can 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 soon
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.'



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 has contracted for the acquisition
of an extensive 2D seismic programme during the summer of 2005 and the drilling
of the first well during 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 is conducting
further technical work and commercial discussions with the Iraq Oil Ministry.



•         Onshore USA

Gulfsands operates onshore USA through its subsidiary company Darcy Energy LLC.
   At the Emily Hawes field, which has previously produced approximately 1.7 bcf
of natural gas before being shut-in, gas production is scheduled to commence in
the summer of 2005.  The first well in the Barb Mag oil field commenced drilling
in early July 2005.  Darcy Energy has a 25% and 37.5% working interest in these
fields respectively.


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