Jacala-1 Commences Drilling

Roc Oil Company Limited
24 March 2006





24 March 2006



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

            JACALA-1 COMMENCES DRILLING, OFFSHORE WESTERN AUSTRALIA

ROC advises that the BHP Billiton-operated Jacala-1 wildcat exploration well in
WA-351-P commenced drilling on 23 March 2006. The current operation at 0600 hrs
Western Standard Time on 24 March 2006 is that the well has been drilled to a
depth of 1,128 metres below rotary table and the 30 inch conductor is being
installed.

The well is located in the deep water Carnarvon Basin, offshore Western
Australia, approximately 200 km west of Barrow Island and 100 km northwest of
the Enfield Oil and Gas Field.

The Atwood Eagle semi submersible rig is drilling the well in approximately
1,060 metres of water to a proposed total depth of 2,322 metres. The well is
expected to have reached total depth and been logged in about 18 days.

As defined by 2D seismic, the Jacala-1 prospect is a very large, simple, 4-way
dip closed structure covering more than 300 sq km/70,000 acres with a vertical
relief in excess of 100 metres/300 feet. The reservoir target is a sandstone
sequence equivalent in age to the Barrow Group which is well established as a
productive reservoir elsewhere in the Basin.

Commenting on Jacala-1, ROC's Chief Executive Officer, Dr John Doran stated
that:

'ROC shareholders are well aware of the high risk - high reward of Jacala-1. If
the well turns out to be a commercial discovery then ROC will be a very
different company. If the well is dry, the Company is well placed to manage the
financial consequences, particularly since the imminent start-up of production
at the Cliff Head Oil Field will provide ROC with a tax efficiency for
exploration offshore Australia, that it has not previously enjoyed.'

The WA-351-P Joint Venture comprises:
                                                          Equity
BHP Billiton Petroleum (North West Shelf) Pty Ltd         55.0% & Operator
Tap (Shelfal) Pty Ltd                                     25.0%
Roc Oil (WA) Pty Ltd                                      20.0%

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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