Marine XI Award Finalised

Soco International PLC
05 April 2006

                             SOCO International plc
                           ('SOCO' or 'the Company')

                           Marine XI Award Finalised

SOCO is an international oil and gas exploration and production company,
headquartered in London, traded on the London Stock Exchange and a constituent
of the FTSE 250 Index. The Company has continuing interests in Vietnam, Yemen,
Thailand and the Republic of Congo (Brazzaville) with ongoing production
operations in Yemen.

The Company announces the finalisation of the award announced in August 2005 of
a 75% working interest in the Production Sharing Contract (PSC) covering the
Marine XI block, offshore the Republic of Congo (Brazzaville).  During its
extraordinary session, the Congolese Parliament and the Senate approved the
terms of the Marine XI PSC.  The law became effective 30 March when signed by
the President of the Republic.


                                                                   05 April 2006

ENQUIRIES:

SOCO International plc
Roger Cagle                Deputy Chief Executive and Chief   Tel: [phone]
                           Financial Officer

Pelham Public Relations
James Henderson                                               Tel: [phone]
Alisdair Haythornthwaite                                      Tel: [phone]



Notes to editors:

SOCO holds its interests in the Republic of Congo (Brazzaville) through its 85%
owned subsidiary SOCO Exploration and Production Congo ('SOCO EPC').  SOCO EPC
is the designated operator of Marine XI.



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