Rockhopper Regulatory News (RKH)

For immediate Release: 10 July 2012

Rockhopper Exploration plc

("Rockhopper" or the "Company")

Posting of 2012 Annual Report

Rockhopper Exploration plc (AIM: RKH), the North Falkland Basin oil and gas exploration company, confirms that copies of its Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2012 have been posted to those shareholders who elected to receive a hard copy. The 2012 Annual Report is now available on the Company's website at www.rockhopperexploration.co.uk. If you wish to receive a hard copy of the 2012 Annual Report please contact the Company Secretary, Jan Davies, on the number below or by email jan@rockhopperexploration.co.uk.

The documentation and details of the arrangements for the Annual General Meeting, which is scheduled to be held on Tuesday, 11 September 2012, will be despatched in due course.  

Enquiries:

Rockhopper Exploration plc

Jan Davies - Company Secretary

Tel. +44 (0)20 7920 2340 (via M: Communications)

M: Communications

Patrick d'Ancona or Ben Simons

Tel. +44 (0)20 7920 2340

Canaccord Genuity Limited

Robert Finlay / Henry Fitzgerald-O'Connor

Tel. +44 (0) 20 7523 8000

Notes to Editors

Rockhopper was established in February 2004 with a strategy to invest in and carry out an offshore oil exploration programme to the north of the Falkland Islands. The Company floated on AIM in August 2005 and holds a 100 per cent. interest in four offshore production licences: PL023, PL024, PL032 and PL033 which cover approximately 3,800 sq. km. Rockhopper also farmed in (7.5% working interest) to licences PL003 and PL004, which are operated by Desire Petroleum. In addition to the original farm-in, and in consideration for drilling one well on the north-western acreage of licence PL004, known as Area 1, which contains the extension to the Sea Lion field as well as the Beverley, Casper and Casper South features, Rockhopper farmed-in with operatorship and an aggregate 60% interest in Area 1.

An extensive work programme has been carried out over a number of years on the licences operated by Rockhopper. This has included 2D and 3D Seismic and Controlled Source Electromagnetic Mapping (CSEM). In February 2010, the Ocean Guardian drilling rig arrived in Falkland waters to carry out a multi-well drilling campaign. Rockhopper drilled an exploration well on its Sea Lion prospect during April and May 2010, the result of which was the first oil discovery and Contingent Oil Resource in the North Falkland Basin. The Sea Lion discovery was successfully tested during September 2010 and June 2011 and was the first oil to flow to surface in Falkland Islands waters. Rockhopper's drilling campaign lasted from 16 April 2010 to 8 January 2012 and resulted in seven successful wells of the ten drilled, with three oil discoveries, three gas discoveries, multiple successful Sea Lion appraisal wells and a successful appraisal well on Casper.

Rockhopper Exploration plc www.rockhopperexploration.co.uk