Northern Petroleum Plc announces that drilling commenced at the Bouldnor Copse-1 well on the Isle of Wight on 17 September 2005. The well is located in PEDL 089(A) at co-ordinates 438537E 090179N and has a planned total measured depth of 5000 feet. The primary target is the Sherwood Sandstone where Northern is targeting an oil prospect independently evaluated by ECL as being of the size of up to 300 million barrels in place with the Great Oolite as a potential secondary objective.

The rig has been erected at the Bouldnor Copse-1 drill site following the completion of operations at Sandhills-2 where Northern confirmed that oil has moved into the migration range of Bouldnor Copse-1.

Northern has a 70% interest in PEDL 089(A).

Derek Musgrove, Managing Director, commented, “The Bouldnor Copse-1 prospect is both deeper and potentially larger than that of the previously drilled Sandhills-2. It should be noted that our primary target is considered to be beyond the depth for the potential for biodegradation as encountered at Sandhills-2."

As with the Sandhills-2 well the Company intends to provide at least one drilling report per week on Wednesdays during operations.

PEDL 089(A) partners are:

For further information, please contact:

Northern Petroleum Plc
Derek Musgrove
Tel: 020 7743 6080

Hansard Communications
Chris Roberts/Ben Simons
Tel: 020 7245 1100