Exploration Drilling Update

26 Apr 2006 07:02

Roc Oil Company Limited26 April 2006 26 April 2006 ROC OIL COMPANY LIMITED ("ROC") STOCK EXCHANGE RELEASE EXPLORATION DRILLING UPDATE 1. Wei-6-12-S-1, Block 22/12, Beibu Gulf, Offshore China (ROC: 40% and Operator) At 1200 hrs local time on 25 April 2006 the COSL 931 jack-up drilling rigcommenced drilling the Wei-6-12-S-1 exploration well. As at 1900 hrs on 25 Aprilthe well had drilled to a depth of 124 metres and the current operation wasrunning 20 inch casing. The well is expected to take about 21 days to drill to aTotal Depth of 2,530 metres. Wei-6-12-S-1 is located in about 30 metres of water about 3 km southwest of the2002 oil discovery, Wei-6-12-1. The Block 22/12 Joint Venture comprises: Roc Oil (China) Company 40% and OperatorHorizon Oil Limited 30%Petsec Energy Ltd 25%Oil Australia Pty Ltd* 5%* subsidiary of First Australian Resources 2. Willows-1, PEDL030, Onshore UK (ROC: 100% & Operator) As at 2400 hrs UK Time on 25 April 2006 the Willows-1 exploration well had beendrilled to a depth of 794 metres and the current operation was running 10 3/4inch casing. The proposed Total Depth is approximately 2,500 metres. Willows-1 is targeting a potentially large gas prospect located about 55 km eastof York and 15 km south of Scarborough. 3. Jacala-1, WA-351-P, Carnarvon Basin, Offshore Western Australia (ROC: 20%) As at 1000 hours Western Standard Time on 23 April 2006, the BHP Billitonoperated Jacala-1 wildcat exploration well was plugged and abandoned after theformation evaluation programme confirmed the previously reported view that thereare no hydrocarbons in the well. Jacala-1 is located in about 1,060 metres of water approximately 200 km west ofBarrow Island and 100 km northwest of the Enfield Oil and Gas Field. The WA-351-P Joint Venture comprises: BHP Billiton 55% & OperatorTap (Shelfal) Pty Ltd 25%Roc Oil (WA) Pty Ltd 20% Michelle Manook For further information please contact:General Manager - Corporate Affairs Dr John Doran on Tel: +61-2-8356-2000 Fax: +61-2-9380-2635 Email: jdoran@rocoil.com.au Or visit ROC's website: www.rocoil.com.au Dr Kevin Hird General Manager Business Development Tel: +44 (0)207 586 7935 Fax: +44 (0)207 722 3919 Email: khird@rocoil.com.au Nick Lambert Bell Pottinger Corporate & Financial Tel: +44 (0)207 861 3232 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange