Seismic Contract and Update

Rockhopper Exploration plc
24 October 2005



PRESS RELEASE

For immediate release: 24 October 2005

Rockhopper Exploration plc

                         Seismic Contract and Update

2D seismic - new data collection programme and update on interpretation of
existing data

Rockhopper Exploration plc (Rockhopper) is pleased to announce it has entered
into a contract with Geophysical Service Incorporated (GSI) to perform a 2D
seismic survey over licences PL023 & PL024 in the North Falkland Basin which
should be completed by the end of Q1 2006. The survey will consist of
approximately 900 km of acquisition.

Licences PL023 and PL024 extend over an area of 4200 km2 in water depths of
between 120m and 200m. Rockhopper has now completed an interpretation of the
existing 1832 km of 2D seismic data covering the licenced areas and the results
confirm the presence of a number of prospects and some 17 leads.

The J1 prospect is a robust 4 way closure, with potential oil-in-place of over
300 million barrels as assessed by Scott Pickford Limited. The J Central and J
North prospects have the potential to contain 90 and 30 million bbls
respectively in place based on the company's own estimates. The leads range in
size individually from 70 million bbls potentially in place to over 850 million
bbls potentially in place based on the company's own estimates.

The new survey is intended to better define the J1 prospect in licence PL024 as
well as a number of other leads and prospects in PL023 and PL024 which are have
been identified on the existing 2D data.

Rockhopper's other 100% licences, PL032 & PL033, are covered by approximately
1540 km of 2D and 368 km2 of 3D seismic data.

Licences PL032 and PL033, which lie in 350m to 500m of water contain a number of
prospects and leads which have been mapped at various levels. Most of these
prospects are downfaulted closures against the main fault at various levels on
the eastern basin margin. These range in size from 290 million barrels to 620
million barrels potentially in place according to the company's own estimates.
In addition to the downfaulted closures, two large 'pinch-out' prospects have
been mapped, one with over 150 million bbls potentially in place, the other with
over 1.5 billion bbls potentially in place based on the company's own estimates.
Further 3D seismic is required to develop the acreage for potential drilling.
Funding is in place for this new 3D and a programme has already been designed.

Contact:

Rockhopper Exploration plc
Sam Moody - Managing Director                                    01722 414 419

Aquila Financial Ltd [e-mail]
Peter Reilly                                                     020 7849 3319
Yvonne Fraser                                                    020 7849 3326

www.rockhopperexploration.co.uk

Notes to editors:
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, who floated on AIM in August 2005, is currently the largest licence
holder in the North Falkland Basin and owns 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.

In total, the Board and its Consultant, the Falklands expert David Bodecott,
have over 120 years experience in the oil industry, with specific expertise in
the field of exploration and in the region itself.



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