Vietnam Drilling Update

Soco International PLC
09 March 2006

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

                            Vietnam Drilling Update

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 continuing interests in Vietnam, Yemen,
Thailand and the Republic of Congo with ongoing production operations in Yemen.

The TGT-2X appraisal well on the Te Giac Trang ('TGT') structure on Block 16-1
offshore Vietnam, an up dip follow-up well to last year's TGT-1X discovery well,
has commenced testing operations. A minimum of three separate drill stem tests
are being conducted.

The first drill stem test has been completed over the Oligocene 'C' interval,
which failed to flow in the discovery well.  This well tested water-free at a
stabilised rate of 3,300 barrels of oil per day of 37.5 degree API gravity crude
and approximately 0.88 million cubic feet of gas per day through a 52/64 inch
choke size.

The test was conducted between 2,944 metres and 2,972 metres.  The calculated
net pay was approximately 12 metres over the tested interval.  An additional 14
metres of pay lower in the section was not tested, but is confirmed to be oil
bearing and productive by wireline formation test.

At a minimum, additional tests will be conducted from two Miocene intervals, one
which was not tested in the discovery well and the other that flowed at 9,342
barrels of oil equivalent per day.  The next announcement will be made when
testing operations are complete.

Ed Story, President and Chief Executive of SOCO, commented:

'The added bonus of the success in the Oligocene highlights the exciting
potential of this clastic play across Block 16-1. It underlines the benefit of
the company's strategy of value creation through the drill bit. We look to
accelerate the development of this field'

                                                                   09 March 2006


ENQUIRIES:

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


Pelham Public Relations
James Henderson                                                                   Tel: [phone]
Charles Vivian                                                                    Tel: [phone]



Notes to editors:



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




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