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"We are pleased to have achieved this milestone with Neptune and lookforward to further field development in the near future," said David E.Roberts, Jr., Marathon executive vice president of Upstream. "Production fromNeptune will be a significant contributor toward our projected total companyaverage annual production growth of seven percent between 2007 and 2012."

The facility had recently undergone remediation to strengthen componentsinside the hull's pontoons. This work was carried out with the engineeringcontractor that designed the hull.

Marathon holds a 30 percent interest in Neptune, along with BHP Billitonwhich holds a 35 percent interest and serves as operator, Woodside PetroleumLimited holds a 20 percent interest, and Maxus (U.S.) Exploration Companyholds a 15 percent interest.

Marathon is an integrated international energy company engaged inexploration and production; oil sands mining; integrated gas; and refining,marketing and transportation operations. Marathon, which is based in Houston,has principal operations in the United States, Angola, Canada, EquatorialGuinea, Gabon, Indonesia, Ireland, Libya, Norway and the United Kingdom.Marathon is the fourth largest United States-based integrated oil company andthe nation's fifth largest refiner.

This news release contains forward-looking statements concerning theNeptune development and anticipated future development and drilling activity.These forward-looking statements may be affected by a number of factors or arebased on a number of assumptions including, among others, pricing, supply anddemand for petroleum products, amount of capital available for exploration anddevelopment, regulatory constraints, timing of commencing production from newwells, unforeseen hazards such as weather conditions, acts of war or terroristacts and the governmental or military response thereto, and other geological,operating and economic considerations. In accordance with the "safe harbor"provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, MarathonOil Corporation has included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the yearended December 31, 2007, and in subsequent Forms 10-Q and 8-K, cautionarylanguage identifying other important factors, though not necessarily all suchfactors that could cause future outcomes to differ materially from those setforth in the forward-looking statements.

Media Relations Contacts: Lee Warren 713-296-4103 Scott Scheffler 713-296-4102 Investor Relations Contacts: Howard Thill 713-296-4140 Chris Phillips 713-296-3213 Michol Ecklund 713-296-3919SOURCE Marathon Oil Corporation