Tullow Oil plc (“Tullow”) is pleased to announce that the Ekales-1 wildcat, located in Block 13T in Northern Kenya, has made a new oil discovery. Results of drilling, wireline logs and samples of reservoir fluid indicate a potential net oil pay in the Auwerwer and Upper Lokone sandstone reservoirs of between 60 and 100 metres. Future flow testing aims to confirm productivity from these zones.

This is the fourth consecutive wildcat discovery, in the first oil basin opened in Northern Kenya, since our drilling commenced in 2012. The Ekales-1 well is located between the Ngamia-1 and Twiga South-1 oil discoveries and the reservoir properties at this location appear similar to those previously encountered. Once operations have completed the rig will move to drill the exploration prospect Amosing-1 south of Ngamia-1.

Tullow operates the Ekales-1 well and Africa Oil (50%) has a non-operated interest.

Elsewhere in Kenya, the Agete-1 well, also in block 13T, commenced drilling in mid-September and we expect a third rig to be operational in Q4 2013.

Angus McCoss, Exploration Director, Tullow Oil plc commented today,
“This success at the Ekales-1 wildcat is further evidence of the exceptional oil potential of our East African Rift Basin acreage. Having opened the first basin with the Ngamia-1 well last year, we are now increasing the pace of exploration in Kenya aiming for 12 wells over the next 12 months.”

About Tullow
We are one of the largest independent oil and gas exploration and production companies in Europe with a focused portfolio of world-class assets. We are Africa's leading independent oil company with recent basin opening discoveries in Ghana, Uganda and most recently Kenya. Our success in West Africa led us across the Atlantic in 2011 to a related geological play in South America and the discovery of the Zaedyus well in French Guiana which has unlocked significant exploration potential across the region.