Beibu Gulf, Offshore China

Roc Oil Company Limited
09 January 2008

9 January 2008

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

   DRILLING UPDATE: WEI-6-12W-1 EXPLORATION WELL, BLOCK 22/12, OFFSHORE CHINA


Roc Oil (China) Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of ROC, advises as at 0600
hours (local time) on 9 January 2008, the Premium 'Murmanskaya' jack up drilling
rig is preparing to run the 13-3/8 inch casing to a depth of 800 mBRT.

The Wei-6-12W-1 well is located approximately 2.5 kilometres northwest of the
Wei 6-12S-1 oil discovery.

Participating Interests in Block 22/12 Joint Venture are:

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

The above interests are subject to Government participation in developments of
up to 51%

* A subsidiary of First Australian Resources


Damian Fisher
General Manager
External Affairs & Investor Relations


                                         For further information please contact:
                                                                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]
                                     Mob: [phone]
                                                     Email:  [e-mail]
                                                                                
                                                                    Michael Shaw
                                    Oriel Securities Limited (Nominated Adviser)
                                                       Tel:  [phone]
                                                                                
                                                                     Bobby Morse
                                                         Buchanan Communications
                                                       Tel: + 44 (0)20 7466 5000
                                                       Fax: + 44 (0)20 7466 5001
                                                  E-Mail: [e-mail]
                                                        Mob: [phone]





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