Drilling Update: Mauritania

Roc Oil Company Limited
23 August 2005




23 August 2005


                         ROC OIL COMPANY LIMITED ('ROC')

                             STOCK EXCHANGE RELEASE

                          DRILLING UPDATE: MAURITANIA


In anticipation of a more fulsome regular weekly report to ASX by Woodside
Petroleum Limited later today, ROC advises that the Sotto-1 ST1 exploration
well, offshore Mauritania, has reached Total Depth and logging is scheduled to
take place imminently.

After completing operations at Sotto-1 ST1 the 'Stena Tay' will move to the next
well location in the Mauritanian drilling programme: Espadon-1 exploration well
in PSC-B.

Commenting on the Sotto-1 ST1 results to date ROC's Chief Executive Officer, Dr
John Doran, stated that

'Although wireline logging at Total Depth is yet to commence, the drill data and
Measurement While Drilling (MWD) log information obtained so far suggest that
the well has not encountered any commercially significant hydrocarbons.'

ROC's interest in PSC Area A is 4.155%.




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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