Exploration Update: China

Roc Oil Company Limited
08 May 2006


8 May 2006



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

                          EXPLORATION DRILLING UPDATE:
                        WEI-6-12S-1 WELL, OFFSHORE CHINA

Wei-6-12S-1, Block 22/12, Beibu Gulf, Offshore China (ROC: 40% & Operator)

As at 0600 hours (local time) on 8 May 2006, the Wei-6-12S-1 exploration well
had drilled to Total Depth of 2,535 metres below rotary table ('mBRT') and the
current operation was preparing to run wireline logs.

Since the last Stock Exchange release, on 5 May 2006, when the well's reported
depth was 2,007 mBRT, a gross sand-shale-silt interval, approximately 528 metres
thick, has been drilled and a number of sandstones with oil and wet gas shows
encountered.

Until electric logs have been acquired and analysed, it is not possible to
comment as to the commercial significance of the hydrocarbon shows seen in the
well. Subject to hole conditions, initial log results are expected to be
available within the next few days and a Stock Exchange release will be made as
soon as possible thereafter.

The Wei-6-12S prospect represents an unusual structural target. Within a small
(about one sq km) area of closure, which has about 90 m of vertical closure,
lies a thick (hundreds of metres) gross prospective sedimentary sequence which
creates a potential structural trap capacity in the order of a few to many tens
of millions of barrels of oil.

Information from wells within and adjacent to Block 22/12 suggests that:
reservoir quality will be good to excellent; the hydrocarbon type is likely to
be oil rather than gas; recovery factors should be high; and oil viscosity is
unlikely to be a problem in the targeted reservoir section.

Wei-6-12S-1 is positioned so as to test the structure some 20 to 30 metres below
its crest. The well is in about 30 metres of water, approximately 3 km southwest
of the 2002 Wei-6-12-1 oil discovery.

The Block 22/12 Joint Venture comprises*:

Roc Oil (China) Company     40% and Operator
Horizon Oil Limited         30%
Petsec Energy Ltd           25%
Oil Australia Pty Ltd**      5%

*The China National Offshore Oil Company ('CNOOC') is entitled to participate at
a 51% funding equity level in any commercial development within Block 22/12.

** A subsidiary of First Australian Resources

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]



                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange