Purchase of Apache China

Roc Oil Company Limited
09 August 2006



9 August 2006

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

                     ROC COMPLETES PURCHASE OF APACHE CHINA

Consistent with ROC's previous Stock Exchange Releases on 27 June 2006 and 31
July 2006 the Company completed the purchase of 100% of the shares of Apache
China Corporation LDC ('Apache China') on 8 August 2006.

Apache China's sole asset is a 24.5% operated interest in the Production Sharing
Contract pertaining to the Zhao Dong Block ('the Block'), Bohai Bay, offshore
China. As previously advised the purchase price of US$260 million (A$350 million
at current exchange rates) plus a working capital adjustment of US$15 million
(A$20 million at current exchange rates) is financed 100% by a 12 month loan
provided by the Commonwealth Bank of Australia. The effective date of the
transaction was 1 July 2006.

The Block is part of a prolific producing petroleum province and is currently
producing approximately 30,000 barrels of oil per day ('BOPD') (ROC net working
interest*: 7,300 BOPD) from two fields. Proved and probable remaining
recoverable oil reserves are estimated to be 61 million barrels of oil ('MMBO')
(ROC net working interest*: 15 MMBO).

As a result of this transaction ROC's production and operating profile has
significantly increased. In less than six months ROC's net oil production has
increased from less than 50 BOPD to more than 12,000 BOPD. ROC now operates on
behalf of joint ventures offshore China and offshore Western Australia more than
40,000 BOPD. In a China context this makes ROC the third largest foreign
operator of oil production in that country.

In conjunction with closing the acquisition, and in addition to oil price
hedging previously reported on 31 July 2006, ROC has executed further Brent oil
price swaps for 1.31 MMBO for the period 1 July 2008 to 30 June 2011 at a
weighted average price of US$72.16 per barrel. These swaps together with the oil
price swaps previously reported represent approximately 23% of ROC's forecast
total 2P oil production for the period 1 July 2006 to 30 June 2011.

Commenting on the transaction ROC's Chief Executive Officer, John Doran, stated
that:

'Leaving aside all the usual platitudes about the transformational impact of
this purchase, perhaps the key point for shareholders and potential investors to
note is that this deal is a direct consequence of ROC's strategic emphasis on
its operating capacity both in Australia and overseas, together with a strong
and extensive network of international contacts'.

*Interest is held through ROC's wholly owned subsidiary 'Apache China'

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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