Mauritania Drilling Update

Roc Oil Company Limited
04 October 2005



4 October 2005

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

                      MAURITANIA OFFSHORE DRILLING UPDATE

ROC advises that the following release was made earlier today by Woodside
Petroleum Ltd:

'Woodside Mauritania Pty. Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Woodside Petroleum
Ltd., reports the following activity offshore Mauritania since the last report
issued on 27 September 2005.

          PSC Area B: Tevet-2 Combined Appraisal and Exploration Well

The 'Stena Tay' rig drilled the Tevet-2 well to a depth of 3,043 metres. Casing
was set and drilling continued towards a planned total depth of approximately
3,965 metres. At midnight on the 3 October 2005, the well was at a depth of
3,692 metres.

                          Chinguetti Development Wells

The 'West Navigator' drillship successfully finished drilling, well completion
and flow-testing the Chinguetti development wells. The drillship was released
from Mauritania at the end of the contract period, on the 29 September 2005.

                         Chinguetti FPSO 'Berge Helene'

The refurbishment of the Chinguetti FPSO, the 'Berge Helene', was completed on
28 September 2005 at the Keppel Shipyard in Singapore. The vessel is currently
anchored in deep water off Singapore where commissioning activities will be
undertaken before commencing the voyage to Mauritania.

                                    General

All reported drilling depths are referenced to the rig rotary table and all
times are Universal Time (UTC) (Mauritanian time).

The locations of planned exploration wells and the Chinguetti Oil Field are
shown on the attached map*.

Participating Interests in the Chinguetti Joint Venture and relevant PSC areas
are:

   +---------------------------+-----------+----------+----------+----------+
   |          Company          |Chinguetti |  PSC-A   |  PSC-B   |  PSC-C,  |
   |                           |   Joint   |          |          | Block 6  |
   |                           |  Venture  |          |          |          |
   +---------------------------+-----------+----------+----------+----------+
   |Woodside group companies   | 47.38448% | 53.846%  | 53.846%  | 37.578%  |
   |(Operator)                 |           |          |          |          |
   +---------------------------+-----------+----------+----------+----------+
   |Hardman group companies    | 19.00800% |  24.3%   |  21.6%   | 22.422%  |
   +---------------------------+-----------+----------+----------+----------+
   |Groupe Project Chinguetti  | 12.00000% |    --    |    --    |    --    |
   +---------------------------+-----------+----------+----------+----------+
   |BG group companies         | 10.23440% | 13.084%  |  11.63%  |    --    |
   +---------------------------+-----------+----------+----------+----------+
   |Premier group companies    | 8.12328%  |    --    |  9.231%  |    --    |
   +---------------------------+-----------+----------+----------+----------+
   |Roc Oil group companies    | 3.24984%  |  4.155%  |  3.693%  |   5.0%   |
   +---------------------------+-----------+----------+----------+----------+
   |Fusion group companies     |    --     | 4. 615%  |    --    |    --    |
   +---------------------------+-----------+----------+----------+----------+
   |Petronas Carigali Overseas |    --     |    --    |    --    |  35.0%   |
   |Sdn Bhd                    |           |          |          |          |
   +---------------------------+-----------+----------+----------+----------+

*Map attached to the copy of this release on ROC's website.
(http://www.rocoil.com.au/Pages/ASX_Releases/2005_Releases/October-2005.html)

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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