Drilling Update-Perth Basin

Roc Oil Company Limited
25 July 2006


25 July 2006

                         ROC OIL COMPANY LIMITED ('ROC')
                             STOCK EXCHANGE RELEASE

                          EXPLORATION DRILLING UPDATE
                    PERTH BASIN, OFFSHORE WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Roc Oil (WA) Pty Limited advises that since its last Stock Exchange Release on
24 July 2006 regarding the Moondah-1 exploration well in TP/15, the ENSCO 67
jack-up drilling rig commenced drilling operations on 24 July at 1400 hours
Western Standard Time ('WST').

As at 0600 WST on 25 July 2006, the well had been drilled to a depth of 92
metres and the current operation was preparing to drill ahead out of the 20'
conductor.

Moondah-1 is located offshore, 17 km north of Cliff Head and 4 km west of
Dongara, in a water depth of 12 metres and has a planned Total Depth of 1,330
metres.

Moondah-1 will target Late Permian reservoir sands in a large rotated fault
block in the northern part of the Beagle Ridge.

The TP/15 Joint Venture comprises:

    Roc Oil (WA) Pty Limited (Operator)      20.0%
    ARC Energy Limited                       45.0%
    AWE Oil (Western Australia) Pty Lt       25.0%
    Westranch Holdings Pty Limited           10.0%



Michelle Manook                          For further information please contact:
General Manager - Corporate Affairs                             Dr John Doran on
                                                            Tel: [phone]
                                                            Fax: [phone]
                                                     Email: [e-mail]
                                       Or visit ROC's website: www.rocoil.com.au
                                                                                
                                                                   Dr Kevin Hird
                                            General Manager Business Development
                                                       Tel:  [phone]
                                                       Fax:  [phone]
                                                     Email:  [e-mail]
                                                                                
                                                                    Nick Lambert
                                            Bell Pottinger Corporate & Financial
                                                       Tel:  [phone]
                                                                                


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