Rig Contract

1 February 2016

Rockhopper Exploration plc

("Rockhopper" or the "Company")

Rig Contract

Rockhopper Exploration, the oil and gas company with interests in the North Falkland Basin and the greater Mediterranean, announces that Premier Oil has served a notice to Ocean Rig UDW Inc for a breach of material obligations under the drilling contract for the Eirik Raude drilling unit.

Enquiries

Rockhopper Exploration plc

Tel: (via Vigo Communications) - 020 7016 9573

Sam Moody - Chief Executive

Fiona MacAulay - Chief Operating Officer

Stewart MacDonald - Chief Financial Officer

Canaccord Genuity Limited (NOMAD and Joint Broker)

Tel: 020 7523 8000

Henry Fitzgerald-O'Connor

Liberum Capital (Joint Broker)

Tel: 020 3100 2227

Clayton Bush

Vigo Communications

Tel: 020 7016 9573

Patrick d'Ancona

Ben Simons