Exercise of options

Rockhopper Exploration plc
24 August 2006


Rockhopper Exploration plc


24 August 2006


Exercise of options over ordinary shares


Rockhopper Exploration plc (the 'Company') was notified on 18 August 2006 that
David Bodecott, an independent consultant to the Company in petroleum geology
and seismic interpretation, exercised options to purchase new ordinary shares
in the Company at an option price of 10 pence per ordinary share.

The option to purchase ordinary shares was granted to David Bodecott at the time
of the Company's listing on AIM on 15th August 2005.

Application has been made for the new ordinary shares to be admitted to trading 
on AIM on or around 30 August 2006. The new ordinary shares will rank pari passu
with the existing ordinary share capital of the Company and have been allotted 
and issued credited as fully paid.

Following the exercise of the options the revised number of issued ordinary 
shares of 1p each is 72,074,605.

www.rockhopperexploration.co.uk 

For further information, please contact:

Rockhopper Exploration
Sam Moody, Managing Director                                   01722 414 419

Aquila Financial Limited
Peter Reilly                                                   020 7202 2601
www.aquila-financial.com





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