Ernest Site Survey Completed

Rockhopper Exploration plc
07 December 2007




PRESS RELEASE

7 December 2007

Rockhopper Exploration plc ('Rockhopper')

Ernest Site Survey Completed

Rockhopper is pleased to announce that Wavefield Inseis ASA has successfully
collected the site survey data over the Ernest prospect in Licence PL024.

Pierre Jungels, Rockhopper Exploration's Executive Chairman, commented:

'Now that the site survey over Ernest has been acquired the only remaining item
is to complete the Environmental Impact Assessment , which is already underway.
Once complete we will be in a position to drill, subject to rig availability.

The possibility of a large Falklands drilling campaign has become more concrete
with BHP's entry into the region and Rockhopper would certainly be interested in
participating in any such campaign. The farm out market is improving as is the
market for mid water semis, giving us a number of options for drilling once we
are ready.

We are making good progress in our interpretation of the 3D seismic data over
licences PL032 and PL033 and initial indications are encouraging . We should be
in a position to update the market on the final interpretation results before
the end of January.

We will then reprocess that 3D seismic to remove the need for additional site
surveys in that acreage and we should therefore have several drillable targets
once our interpretation and reprocessing is completed.'

NB: This statement has been approved by the Company's geological staff who
include David Bodecott (Exploration Director), who is a Member of Petroleum
Exploration Society of Great Britain (PESGB) and the American Association of
Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) with over 30 years of experience in petroleum
exploration and management, for the purpose of the Guidance Note for Mining, Oil
and Gas Companies issued by the London Stock Exchange in respect of AIM
companies, which outline standards of disclosure for mineral projects.

For further information, please contact:

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

Aquila Financial Ltd               www.aquila-financial.com
Peter Reilly                       020 7202 2601
Yvonne Fraser                      020 7202 2609

Notes to editors

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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