UK Onshore Drilling Update

Roc Oil Company Limited
31 January 2005





31 January 2005


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

                           UK ONSHORE DRILLING UPDATE

ERRINGTON-1: EXPLORATION WELL, PEDL 028, ONSHORE UK (ROC: 100% & Operator)

The rig was released from the Errington-1 wildcat exploration well in PEDL 028
on 29 January 2005 after running casing to a depth of 1,976 metres.

Wireline log interpretation indicates gas saturated tight sands over a gross
vertical interval of approximately 135 metres of which approximately 100 metres
represents net sand.

The well was suspended as a new tight gas discovery with the intention that it
will be evaluated further later this year as part of ROC's onshore UK tight gas
strategy.

Commenting on Errington-1, ROC's chief Executive Officer, Dr John Doran stated
that:

'It is far too early to comment on the potential commercial significance of the
Errington gas discovery but with a thick interval of gas bearing sands about
35km west of the industrial city of Newcastle you can be sure that we will be
working the data hard in the context of our tight gas sand strategy. In any
event, it is always nice to find gas bearing sands in an area where they haven't
been found before.'



Bruce Clement                            For further information please contact:
Chief Operating Officer                                         Dr John Doran on
                                                            Tel: [phone]
                                                            Fax: [phone]
                                                    E-mail: [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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