Operations Update

Immediate Release

       24 February 2009
                       Gulfsands Petroleum plc
                          Operations Update
London, 24th February  2009:  Gulfsands  Petroleum plc  ("Gulfsands",
the "Group" or the "Company" - AIM: GPX), the oil and gas production,
exploration and development company  with activities in Syria,  Iraq,
and the  U.S.A.,  is  pleased  to provide  the  following  update  on
operations in Block 26, Syria.

Yousefieh-1 Discovery Well Testing

The Company recently  undertook a cased-hole  production test of  the
Yousefieh-1 discovery well.  The objective of this test was to obtain
reservoir and production information additional to that obtained from
the open-hole drill-stem test (DST) carried out in November 2008.
A 13.5 metre interval at the top of the reservoir was perforated  and
flow tested at an average rate  of approximately 1460 barrels of  oil
per day ("bopd") on a 48/64" choke over a four hour test period,  and
570 bopd on 32/64" choke over a twelve hour test period.  These  flow
rates were  achieved  with  substantially  lower  reservoir  pressure
drawdown than during  the previous open-hole  DST, indicating  better
than expected reservoir performance.  As  a result of an  ineffective
cement bond behind  casing, vertical  isolation was poor,  and it  is
believed  that  the  whole  63   metre  net  oil  pay  interval   was
contributing to flow. This assessment is supported by the presence of
a small amount of  water (up to 5%  by volume) being produced  during
the flow  tests.  Remedial  cementation of  the production  liner  is
planned to isolate the water producing zone prior to the commencement
of production from the well.

Yousefieh-2 Appraisal Well

The Yousefieh-2 appraisal well, located approximately 1.8 km east  of
the Yousefieh-1 well,  targeting the  eastern limit of  the same  but
thinner Cretaceous  reservoir encountered  in Yousefieh-1,  has  been
successfully drilled  to a  total  depth of  2070 metres.   Based  on
preliminary wireline log interpretation, the well encountered a gross
reservoir section of approximately 85 metres (approximately 57 metres
net) with an estimated  gross oil column  of approximately 36  metres
(approximately  16   metres  net)   with  an   average  porosity   of
approximately 16%.  These results  are consistent with the  pre-drill
expectations for the well.
An open  hole drill-stem  test (DST)  was conducted  which  recovered
trace quantities of oil in  water with intermittent flow to  surface.
It is thought  this test  potentially may have  been contaminated  by
brine flows from a non-reservoir interval.   A liner will now be  set
over the  reservoir  interval  which  is  planned  be  subject  to  a
cased-hole production test at a later date using a work-over rig.

Khurbet East Field Production

The Khurbet  East Field  is producing  at an  average daily  rate  of
approximately 10,500 barrels of oil per day from 5 wells (2  vertical
and 3  horizontal)  with  cumulative production  of  approximately  2
million barrels. Only trace quantities of water have been produced to
date.  The Field oil production rate has been reduced from previously
reported levels as part of a reservoir management strategy to  extend
the period of water-free production.
The Khurbet  East  Early  Production Facility  expansion  project  is
ongoing.  The project was projected to be completed during the  first
quarter of  2009,  but following  slippage  in the  delivery  of  the
three-stage separator  unit, the  Company  now anticipates  that  the
facility expansion project will be completed prior to the end of  the
first half of 2009.   Three new production wells  will be drilled  on
the Khurbet East Field following KHE-8 in order to make provision for
the increased production capacity of up to 18,000 barrels per day.

3D Seismic Data Acquisition

Acquisition of  the 640  square  kilometre 3D  seismic survey  to  be
acquired in the area around Khurbet East and Yousefieh is  proceeding
well with approximately  30% of  the survey completed  to date.   The
survey is  intended  to compliment  and  expand the  area  previously
surveyed  by  3D  seismic,  assist  in  the  delineation  of  already
identified  leads  and  to  pursue  stratigraphic  traps  similar  to
Yousefieh.

Khurbet East 8 Delineation Well

The next well in the drilling campaign is the Khurbet East-8  (KHE-8)
delineation well in the Khurbet East Field area. The KHE-8 well  will
commence  drilling  operations   following  completion  of   drilling
operations on the Yousefieh-2 well.
KHE-8 is located on the southern flank of the Khurbet East Field  and
is designed  to  provide  reservoir  and  structural  information  in
addition to identifying the oil-water contact, with the potential  to
be used later as a water  disposal well.  Approximately 45 days  will
be required in order to complete operations on the KHE-8 well.

Khurbet East Reserves Reporting

The updated independent reserves report  for the Khurbet East  Field,
which has been  anticipated for completion  prior to the  end of  the
first quarter 2009,  is now  expected to  be completed  early in  the
second quarter 2009 in order to incorporate information gathered from
the drilling of the KHE-8 well.
Ric Malcolm, Chief Executive said  "The results from the  Yousefieh-2
appraisal well are encouraging for commerciality of the field.  Given
that the Yousefieh-1  discovery well  is just 3  kilometres from  the
intended location of  the Khurbert  East Full  Field Development,  we
will be considering what adjustments should be made to our previously
planned sizing of the Full  Field Facilities for which tendering  for
construction and supply is shortly to commence."
This release has been approved by Richard Malcolm, Chief Executive of
Gulfsands Petroleum  Plc who  has  a Bachelor  of Science  degree  in
Geology with  29 years  of experience  in petroleum  exploration  and
management. Mr.  Malcolm  has  consented  to  the  inclusion  of  the
technical information  in this  release in  the form  and context  in
which it appears.

For more information please contact:


Gulfsands Petroleum (London)                      [phone]
Ric Malcolm, Chief Executive Officer
Kenneth Judge, Director of Corporate Development  [phone]
& Communications

Buchanan Communications Limited (London)          [phone]
Bobby Morse
Ben Willey

RBC Capital Markets (London)                      [phone]
Sarah Wharry


ABOUT GULFSANDS:

Gulfsands is listed on AIM.

Syria

Gulfsands owns a 50% working interest and is operator of Block 26  in
North  East  Syria.   The  Khurbet  East  oil  field  was  discovered
following the completion of drilling of  the KHE-1 well in June  2007
and  commenced  commercial  production   within  13  months  of   the
discovery. This field is currently producing more than 10,000 barrels
of oil per  day through  the Khurbet East  Early Production  Facility
(EPF).  Block  26 covers  approximately 8,250  square kilometres  and
encompasses existing  fields  which currently  produce  over  100,000
barrels of oil per day. These fields are operated mainly by the Syria
Petroleum Company.   On 23  August 2007,  the Company  initiated  the
first extension  period of  exploration  on Block  26 for  a  further
period of three years.

Iraq

Gulfsands signed a Memorandum of  Understanding in January 2005  with
the Ministry of Oil  in Iraq for the  Maysan Gas Project in  Southern
Iraq and following completion of  a feasibility study on the  project
is negotiating  details of  definitive contract  for this  regionally
important development.  The project will gather, process and transmit
natural gas that is  currently a waste  by-product of oil  production
and as a result of the  present practice of gas flaring,  contributes
to significant environmental damage in the region.

Gulf of Mexico, USA

The  Company  owns  interests   in  48  offshore  blocks   comprising
approximately 168,000 gross acres  which includes numerous  producing
oil and  gas fields  offshore  Texas and  Louisiana with  proved  and
probable recoverable reserves net to Gulfsands at 31 December 2007 of
41.5 BCFGE (6.9 MMBOE), consisting of 27.3 BCFG and 2.36 MMBO.

Onshore USA

Gulfsands owns interests in two oil and gas fields onshore Texas, USA
(98.5% working  interest  in  Emily Hawes  Field  and  37.5%  working
interest in  Barb Mag  Field) with  proved and  probable  recoverable
reserves net  to Gulfsands  at 31  December 2007  of 3.1  BCFGE  (0.5
MMBOE), consisting of 2.8 BCFG and 57,000 barrels of oil.

Certain  statements  included   herein  constitute   "forward-looking
statements" within the meaning of applicable securities  legislation.
These forward-looking  statements are  based on  certain  assumptions
made  by Gulfsands  and  as  such  are  not  a  guarantee  of  future
performance.  Actual  results  could  differ  materially  from  those
expressed or  implied  in  such  forward-looking  statements  due  to
factors such  as general  economic and  market conditions,  increased
costs of production or a decline in oil and gas prices. Gulfsands  is
under  no  obligation  to   update  or  revise  any   forward-looking
statements, whether as a result of new information, future events  or
otherwise, except as required by applicable laws.

More  information   can   be   found   on   the   Company's   website
www.gulfsands.com

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