Drilling Update

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

13 July 2011

DRAGON OIL PLC

(the "Company" or together with its subsidiaries "Dragon Oil" or the "Group")

Drilling Update

Rig 40 commences drilling on the Dzheitune (Lam) 13 platform

Dragon Oil plc (Ticker: DGO), an international oil and gas exploration and production company, announces that the Group has recently refitted the previously stacked Rig 40 and commenced drilling on the Dzheitune (Lam) 13 platform. The rig has spudded the Dzheitune (Lam) development well 13/160, the first of four wells planned to be drilled from this platform. Two wells and one sidetrack are expected to be completed by the end of 2011 with the remaining two wells and another sidetrack to be completed in 2012. Later, the Rig 40 will be stacked pending consideration of options for its further use.

- end -

For further information please contact:

Investor and analyst enquiries

Dragon Oil plc (+44 (0)20 7647 7804)

Anna Gavrilova

Media enquiries

Citigate Dewe Rogerson (+44 (0)20 7638 9571)

Martin Jackson

Kate Lehane

About Dragon Oil

Dragon Oil plc is an international oil and gas development and production company, quoted on the London and Irish Stock exchanges (Ticker symbol: DGO). Its principal producing asset is in the Cheleken Contract Area, in the eastern section of the Caspian Sea, offshore Turkmenistan. 

Dragon Oil (Turkmenistan) Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Dragon Oil plc, holds 100% interest in and is the operator of the Production Sharing Agreement for the Cheleken Contract Area. The operational focus is on the re-development of two oil-producing fields, Dzheitune (Lam) and Dzhygalybeg (Zhdanov).

www.dragonoil.com

Disclaimer

This news release may contain forward-looking statements concerning the financial condition and results of operations of Dragon Oil. Forward-looking statements are statements of future expectations that are based on management's current expectations and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements. No assurances can be given as to future results, levels of activity and achievements and actual results, levels of activity and achievements may differ materially from those expressed or implied by any forward-looking statements contained in this report. Dragon Oil does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or other information.