Mauritania Offshore Update

Roc Oil Company Limited
13 January 2005


13 January 2005


ROC OIL COMPANY LIMITED ('ROC')


STOCK EXCHANGE RELEASE



                      MAURITANIA OFFSHORE DRILLING UPDATE



                         Tiof-6 Appraisal Well - PSC B

Since the last announcement made on Tuesday 11 January, evaluation of wireline
and drilling data, including downhole pressure measurements and fluid sampling
indicates that Tiof-6 has intersected oil over a gross interval of at least 123
metres. Wireline oil samples have been recovered to surface. It is interpreted
that no gas or water leg has been intersected by the well. The interval
comprises several good quality sands of varying thickness, and meets the
criteria for flow testing. The well will thus be cased and temporarily
suspended, allowing the West Navigator rig to complete Chinguetti tophole
drilling, before returning to resume Tiof-6 test preparations later this month.

Chinguetti development drilling has priority over other drilling activity in
this campaign. The Joint Venture is committed to being flexible in rig
scheduling in order to maximise the operational efficiencies of running two rigs
simultaneously. Thus individual wells are occasionally re-scheduled at short
notice, as with the Tiof-6 drilling and completion activities.

CEO's Comment:

'With a net to gross reservoir section comfortably within the broad 10% to 40%
range established by other wells in the area, it will be interesting to see how
this well performs on test because, in the final analysis, deep water field
development is all about net pay and productivity'.

                                       For further information please contact:
                                                              Dr John Doran on
Bruce Clement                                             Tel: [phone]
Chief Operating Officer                                   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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