Award of Offshore Licence

Serica Energy plc
21 August 2006



                      SERICA ENERGY PLC ANNOUNCES AWARD OF
                            LICENCE OFFSHORE IRELAND


London, August 21, 2006 - Serica Energy plc (AIM and TSX Venture: SQZ) is
pleased to announce that, in the 2006 Irish Offshore Licensing Round, it has
been awarded a Licence covering Blocks 27/4, 27/5 (part block) and 27/9 ('the
Blocks') which covers an area of approximately 611 sq km in the Slyne Basin off
the west coast of Ireland.  Serica is the operator and will hold a 100% interest
in the Licence.


The Blocks are already covered by modern 3D seismic data and Serica will be
reprocessing around 300 square kilometres of this data as part of its work
programme to assess the prospectivity of the Blocks in the first phase of the
Licence.  If Serica elects to proceed to the second phase of the Licence it will
drill at least one exploration well.


Chris Atkinson (Chief Operating Officer) commented:

'We are delighted to have been awarded these Blocks offshore Ireland as part of
our strategy to expand into new areas in which we have technical knowledge.  Our
technical team has a detailed understanding of the Slyne Basin and is looking
forward to re-evaluating its undoubted prospectivity with the benefit of modern
3D seismic data.'


Background Notes


The Blocks lie in water depths of 200 to 300 metres, about 40 km south of the
Corrib Gas Field.  Corrib was discovered by Enterprise Oil plc in 1996 and is
now being developed by Shell.  It is expected to produce up to 350 million cubic
feet of gas per day at peak production.



A number of prospects have been identified in the Blocks in the Triassic
Sherwood Sandstone, the producing reservoir in the Corrib Field.  There are also
secondary targets in the Middle Jurassic sandstones.



Serica Energy plc is an international oil and gas exploration company with
operations in Indonesia, the UK North Sea and Spain. The Company's ordinary
shares are listed in London on AIM and on the Canadian TSX Venture Exchange
under the symbol 'SQZ'. The 2005 Annual Report and Accounts are available at
www.serica-energy.com and www.sedar.com.



Enquiries:


Serica Energy plc
Paul Ellis,                       [e-mail]                 [phone]

Chief Executive Officer
Chris Hearne,                     [e-mail]                [phone]

Finance Director

Pelham Public Relations -UK
James Henderson                   [e-mail]             [phone]
Alisdair Haythornthwaite          [e-mail]    [phone]

CHF Investor Relations - Canada
Jan Moir                          [e-mail]                            [phone] x237
Heather Colpitts                  [e-mail]                        [phone] x223


Forward Looking Statements



This disclosure contains certain forward looking statements that involve
substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties, some of which are beyond
Serica Energy plc's control, including: the impact of general economic
conditions where Serica Energy plc operates, industry conditions, changes in
laws and regulations including the adoption of new environmental laws and
regulations and changes in how they are interpreted and enforced, increased
competition, the lack of availability of qualified personnel or management,
fluctuations in foreign exchange or interest rates, stock market volatility and
market valuations of companies with respect to announced transactions and the
final valuations thereof, and obtaining required approvals of regulatory
authorities.  Serica Energy plc's actual results, performance or achievement
could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward
looking statements and, accordingly, no assurances can be given that any of the
events anticipated by the forward looking statements will transpire or occur, or
if any of them do so, what benefits, including the amount of proceeds, that
Serica Energy plc will derive there from.





The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for
                   the adequacy or accuracy of this release.



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