Mauritania Offshore Update

Roc Oil Company Limited
06 September 2005




6 September 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 30 August 2005.

             PSC Area B: Espadon-1 and Espadon-1A Exploration Wells

The Espadon-1 well was drilled by the 'Stena Tay' drill rig to a depth 2,523
metres. Due to operational difficulties it was necessary to respud the well. The
Espadon-1A well was spudded on 4 September and drilled to a depth of 2,500
metres. At midnight on 5 September 2005 preparations were underway to run casing
before drilling ahead to a planned total depth of 3,055 metres.

                          Chinguetti Development Wells

The 'West Navigator' drillship continues to perform completion work on
Chinguetti Development wells. Woodside does not plan to issue regular
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.

                                    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 (Operator)|47.38448% |53.846% |53.846% |37.578% |
  +-----------------------------------+----------+--------+--------+--------+
  |Hardman group companies            |19.00800% |24.300% |21.600% |22.422% |
  +-----------------------------------+----------+--------+--------+--------+
  |Groupe Project Chinguetti          |12.00000% |   --   |   --   |   --   |
  +-----------------------------------+----------+--------+--------+--------+
  |BG group companies                 |10.23440% |13.084% |11.630% |   --   |
  +-----------------------------------+----------+--------+--------+--------+
  |Premier group companies            | 8.12328% |   --   | 9.231% |   --   |
  +-----------------------------------+----------+--------+--------+--------+
  |Roc Oil group companies            | 3.24984% | 4.155% | 3.693% | 5.000% |
  +-----------------------------------+----------+--------+--------+--------+
  |Fusion group companies             |    --    | 4.615% |   --   |   --   |
  +-----------------------------------+----------+--------+--------+--------+
  |Petronas Carigali Overseas Sdn Bhd |    --    |   --   |   --   |35.000% |
  +-----------------------------------+----------+--------+--------+--------+

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






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