Mauritania Drilling Update

Roc Oil Company Limited
01 March 2005



1 March 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 Limited:

'Woodside Mauritania Pty Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Woodside Petroleum
Ltd., reports the following activity offshore Mauritania since the last report
issued on 22 February 2005.

                                 PSC-B, Block 4
                    Tiof-6 and Chinguetti Development wells

Tiof-6 Appraisal well
The Tiof-6 appraisal well was suspended as a potential future oil production
well by the 'West Navigator' drillship. On 26 February 2005, the 'West 
Navigator' departed for the Chinguetti field to join the 'Stena Tay' on the 
development drilling program.

Chinguetti Development wells
The 'Stena Tay' drill rig continued operations on Chinguetti Development wells.
Woodside does not plan to issue announcements regarding operations on Chinguetti
development wells, but will do so if necessary to comply with its continuous
disclosure obligations under the ASX Listing Rules.

Subsequent to participation by the Government of Mauritania, Woodside's interest
in the Chinguetti oil project becomes 47.384%.

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

The locations of the Chinguetti Oil Field, the Tiof and Banda discoveries and
exploration wells are shown on the attached map*.

Wells are expected to be drilled in two production sharing contract areas during
the remainder of the 2005 campaign.'

Participating Interests in the areas are:

          +-----------------------------------+-----------+----------+
          |              Company              |   PSC-A   |  PSC-B   |
          +-----------------------------------+-----------+----------+
          |Woodside group companies (Operator)|  53.846%  | 53.846%  |
          +-----------------------------------+-----------+----------+
          |Hardman group companies            |   24.3%   |  21.6%   |
          +-----------------------------------+-----------+----------+
          |BG group companies                 |  13.084%  |  11.63%  |
          +-----------------------------------+-----------+----------+
          |Premier group companies            |    --     |  9.231%  |
          +-----------------------------------+-----------+----------+
          |Fusion group companies             |  4. 615%  |    --    |
          +-----------------------------------+-----------+----------+
          |Roc Oil group companies            |  4.155%   |  3.693%  |
          +-----------------------------------+-----------+----------+

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

Bruce Clement                            For further information please contact:
Chief Operating Officer                                         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]




                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange