2D and CSEM surveys completed

Rockhopper Exploration plc
01 March 2006

PRESS RELEASE

1 March 2006

Rockhopper Exploration plc

                Completion of Falkland Islands survey programme

Rockhopper Exploration plc ('Rockhopper') is pleased to announce that the
exclusive 2D seismic survey and the electromagnetic surveys carried out on its
Falkland Islands acreage have now been successfully completed

The 2D seismic survey, completed by GSI, acquired approximately 920 kilometres
of data over Rockhopper's 100% licences PL023 and PL024. The data gathered will
be processed in the UK and on completion will be interpreted and integrated with
the existing 1832km of 2D data covering licences PL023 and PL024, on which the
J1 prospect and a number of leads have already been identified. It is hoped that
the new mapping will enhance the J1 prospect and also change the status of a
number of the leads identified into prospects

The controlled source electromagnetic (CSEM) surveys, completed by Offshore
Hydrocarbon Mapping plc, were also carried out over Rockhopper's PL023 and PL024
licence. The CSEM survey technique has been successfully used by major oil
companies elsewhere in the world but this is the first CSEM survey ever carried
out in the Falkland Islands.

The processing and interpretation of both the 2D and CSEM surveys is expected to
take approximately 3 to 4 months.

Pierre Jungels, Rockhopper's Executive Chairman commented: 'We are pleased that
these surveys have been completed. We can now concentrate on processing the
gathered data in order to improve our understanding of our acreage and decide on
how to move forward. '

Ends

Contact:

Rockhopper Exploration plc www.rockhopperexploration.co.uk
Sam Moody - Managing Director 01722 414 419

Aquila Financial Ltd [e-mail]
Peter Reilly 020 7202 2601
Yvonne Fraser 020 7202 2609


Notes to editors:
A graphic showing the location of licences PL023 and PL024, the J1 prospect and
other leads, the 2006 2D seismic and CSEM survey locations and the existing 2D
seismic data to which Rockhopper has access is available from Aquila Financial
Limited or can be downloaded from the Rockhopper website:

www.rockhopperexploration.co.uk

The Rockhopper Group started trading in February 2004 to invest in and carry out
an offshore oil exploration programme to the north of the Falkland Islands. The
Group, floated on AIM in August 2005, is currently the largest licence holder in
the North Falkland Basin and has a 100 per cent. interest in four offshore
production licences which cover approximately 5,800 sq. km. These licences have
been granted by the Falkland Islands government.



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