Vietnam Drilling Update

Soco International PLC
09 March 2007


                             SOCO International plc
                           ('SOCO' or 'the Company')

                    Exploration Well on Block 9-2 in Vietnam

The Company's majority owned subsidiary, SOCO Vietnam Ltd., announces the
completion of the Ca Ong Doi 2X ('COD-2X') well, the first Clastics targeted
well on Block 9-2. The well encountered lower Miocene sands however they were
not charged with hydrocarbons possibly indicating that the structure was
developed after migration.

Sands were also encountered in both the Oligocene 'C' and 'E' sequences.
Although the Oligocene 'C' had good shows, the sands were thinner than expected
and, following evaluation of the electric logs, it was decided not to flow test
this horizon. In the Oligocene 'E' the shows encountered were of residual oil
indicating that the reservoir had been breached.

The Trident IX rig is currently preparing to plug and abandon the COD-2X well
and is preparing to move back to Block 16-1.

Ed Story, President and Chief Executive of SOCO, commented:
'The sands and oil shows encountered in this high risk well provide important
insight into the clastics play in Block 9-2. We will now incorporate the results
of the well into our understanding of the Block while we focus our near term
exploration programme on the proven play fairway on Block 16-1 where we expect
to drill up to eight exploration wells this year.'

                                                                  9th March 2007

ENQUIRIES:

SOCO International plc

Roger Cagle          Deputy Chief Executive and   
                     Chief Financial Officer         Tel: [phone]

Pelham Public Relations

James Henderson                                      Tel: [phone]
Alisdair Haythornthwaite                             Tel: [phone]


Notes to Editors

SOCO is an international oil and gas exploration and production company,
headquartered in London, traded on the London Stock Exchange and a constituent
of the FTSE 250 Index. The Company has interests in Vietnam, Yemen, Thailand,
the Republic of Congo (Brazzaville) and the Democratic Republic of Congo
(Kinshasa) with production operations in Yemen.

SOCO holds its interests in Vietnam, all in the Cuu Long Basin offshore, through
its 80% owned subsidiary SOCO Vietnam Ltd ('SOCO Vietnam') and through its 100%
ownership of OPECO, Inc. SOCO Vietnam holds a 25% working interest in Block 9-2,
which is operated by the Hoan Vu Joint Operating Company and holds a 28.5%
working interest in Block 16-1, which is operated by the Hoang Long Joint
Operating Company. OPECO, Inc. holds a 2% interest in Block 16-1.


                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange