Signing of Vietnam Petroleum Contract

Soco International PLC
15 November 1999

                                 
         SOCO International plc ('SOCO' or 'the Company')
                                 
               GD Searle
                                 
SOCO  is  an  international oil and gas exploration and production
company, headquartered in London.  In addition to its interests in
Vietnam,  the Company has operations in Mongolia, Yemen,  European
Russia, Tunisia, Thailand and North Korea.

SOCO  announces today that its 70% owned subsidiary, SOCO  Vietnam
Ltd.   ('SOCO   Vietnam'),  has  now  formally  signed   a   Petroleum  
Contract with   Petrovietnam,   the Vietnamese  national oil company, 
for the exploration, development and  production of oil and natural 
gas in Block 16-1. The interests under the Petroleum Contract will be 
held 41% by Petrovietnam, 30% by SOCO Vietnam and the remainder by other
non-Vietnamese companies.

Block  16-1  is  located  in the Cuu Long Basin  approximately  50
kilometers off the coast of Vietnam in water depth ranging between
40  metres and 60 metres and covers an area of approximately 2,100
square kilometres.  A high level of industry interest in the Block
evolved   after   Petrovietnam   developed   basement   completion
practices, which resulted in the discovery of the Bach  Ho  (White
Tiger) and other prolific fields in analogous portions of the  Cuu
Long Basin.  Bach Ho, which is located approximately 10 kilometres
from  the  eastern boundary of Block 16-1, is currently  producing
approximately 185,000 barrels of oil per day.

Ed Story, President and Chief Executive of SOCO, commenting on the
announcement, said:

'Since  we  first began our efforts in Vietnam in 1994,  SOCO  has
developed  a  very  close relationship with Petrovietnam  and  the
Government  of  Vietnam.   The strength of  that  relationship  is
demonstrated by the fact that SOCO was awarded the  largest
non-Vietnamese working interest in Block 16-1  in  the  face of intense
international competition.   The  oil potential  of  this Block is 
substantial and it  could significantly change the asset base of SOCO. 
Accordingly, we  are  anxious  to  begin our exploration  efforts  as  
soon  as possible. '
                                                                  
                                                  15 November 1999

Enquiries:

SOCO International plc                  Tel: [phone]
Ed Story, Chief Executive
Roger Cagle, Chief Financial Officer

College Hill                            Tel: [phone]
James Henderson
Archie Berens


Notes for Editors:

SOCO  is  an  international oil and gas exploration and production
company,  headquartered  in  London, with  interests  in  Vietnam,
Mongolia,  Yemen,  European Russia, Tunisia,  Thailand  and  North
Korea.   Exploration prospects are in Mongolia, Vietnam,  Thailand
and  North Korea.  Development programmes are underway in  Russia,
Yemen  and Tunisia. The Company has current production in  Russia,
Yemen, and Tunisia.

For  the  six  months  ended  30 June  1999,  SOCO's  net  overall
production  averaged 6,985 bopd.  Ongoing development  programmes,
especially  in Yemen, should see that figure rise to approximately
10,000 bopd by 2000.

SOCO  recently announced the disposal of its UK onshore  producing
assets  in the Weald basin for £10.6 million.  This sum,  combined
with  SOCO's  existing cash resources and the  £8.7  million  cash
injection from the Torobex investor group in July 1999, means that
SOCO currently has net cash in excess of £20 million.