Exxon Mobil Corp. (XOM) is studying a possible entry in Tullow Oil PLC's (TLW.LN) Ugandan project, people familiar with the matter said Monday, as oil majors seek to expand into new African territories.

A spokesperson for ExxonMobil said it "routinely evaluates potential development opportunities around the world" but declined to comment further.

Tullow and the Ugandan government declined to comment on any potential partner.

-By Benoit Faucon, Nicholas Bariyo and Elizabeth Adams, Dow Jones Newswires; +44-20-7842-9266; benoit.faucon@dowjones.com (Will Connors from the Wall Street Journal in Lagos contributed to this report.)