Offshore staff

(West Africa) - Murphy Oil Corp.'s Azurite Marine #2 (85%) appraisal well drilled in the Mer Profonde Sud (MPS) block in 4,488 ft of water offshore The Republic of Congo successfully appraised the Azurite Marine oil discovery announced earlier this year.

The field is estimated to contain over 100 MMbbl of oil.

A subsequent flow test produced almost 8,000 b/d of oil per day from a single zone.

"The Azurite Marine #2 well, sidetrack, and subsequent flow test confirmed the oil discovery we made earlier this year. We are very pleased with the well results and the strong flow test conducted in a single zone," says Claiborne P. Deming, Murphy Oil Corp. president and CEO.

"Reservoir quality is excellent and we have now confirmed oil in the main compartments of this structure."

"The rig will now move to drill a new prospect, the Malachite #1 well, in the same area of MPS. A subsequent well on the Beryl prospect in MPS is planned. Once we conclude this drilling campaign, we will be in a position to determine the development options and timeline for the Azurite area of the block."

Murphy as operator, has an 85% working interest in MPS, which covers over 800,000 acres. The Congolese national oil company, Societe Nationale Petroles du Congo, holds the remaining 15%.

12/07/05