Pre-Qualification

Serica Energy plc
05 June 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday 5th June, 2006



   SERICA ENERGY PLC ANNOUNCES PRE-QUALIFICATION FOR NORWEGIAN LICENCE ROUND



London, 5th June 2006 - Serica Energy plc (TSX Venture: SQZ; AIM: SQZ) announces
that it has been pre-qualified by the Norwegian authorities to hold oil and gas
exploration and production licences on the Norwegian Continental Shelf.  Serica
intends to make applications for licences in the forthcoming APA licence round
that closes in September, 2006.



Serica is one of only three UK based independent exploration companies that are
currently pre-qualified, amongst the 42 companies that have pre-qualified or
re-qualified since the new system began in 2000.



Chris Atkinson, Chief Operating Officer, commented:



'Pre-qualifying for the next Norwegian APA Round is an important step for Serica
since it gives us access to the significant exploration potential that lies in
the relatively under-explored Norwegian sector of the North Sea, which has
similar geology to the UK sector and which should respond to the exploration
techniques that Serica has developed successfully there.'



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]
Heather Colpitts                     [e-mail]                             [phone]



Background Notes



APA licence rounds are held for allocating exploration blocks in mature parts of
the Norwegian continental shelf.  The process for Awards in Predefined Areas
(APA) was adopted by the Norwegian government in 2003 and APA licence rounds are
held annually.



Serica 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.



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.





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                   the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

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