Update: Offshore China

Roc Oil Company Limited
16 January 2008


16 January 2008

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

   DRILLING UPDATE: WEI-6-12W-1 EXPLORATION WELL, BLOCK 22/12, OFFSHORE CHINA

Roc Oil (China) Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of ROC, advises as at 0600
hours (local time) on 16 January 2008, the Premium 'Murmanskaya' jack up
drilling rig is currently drilling a 12-1/4' hole section at a depth of 1,684
mBRT.

The forward plan is to drill ahead to 1,860 mBRT to set 9-5/8' casing.

The Wei-6-12W-1 well is located approximately 2.5 kilometres northwest of the
Wei 6-12S-1 oil discovery.

Participating Interests in the Block 22/12 Joint Venture are:

Roc Oil (China) Company.............................40% (Operator)
Horizon Oil Limited.................................30%
Petsec Petroleum*...................................25%
Oil Australia Pty Ltd**............................. 5%

The above interests are subject to Government participation in developments of
up to 51%

* A subsidiary of Petsec Energy Ltd 
** A subsidiary of First Australian Resources

In accordance with ASX and AIM Rules, the information in this Release has been
reviewed and approved by Dr John Doran, Chief Executive Officer, Roc Oil Company
Limited, BSc (Hons) Geology, MSc and PhD. Dr Doran, who is a member of the
Society of Petroleum Engineers, has more than 30 years relevant experience
within the industry and consents to the information in the form and context in
which it appears.



Damian Fisher
General Manager
External Affairs & Investor Relations

                                         For further information please contact:
                                                                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]
                                     Mob: [phone]
                                                     Email:  [e-mail]
                                                                                
                                                                    Michael Shaw
                                    Oriel Securities Limited (Nominated Adviser)
                                                       Tel:  [phone]
                                                                                
                                                                     Bobby Morse
                                                         Buchanan Communications
                                                       Tel: + 44 (0)20 7466 5000
                                                       Fax: + 44 (0)20 7466 5001
                                                  E-Mail: [e-mail]
                                                        Mob: [phone]



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