Roc Oil Company Limited 03 January 2006 3 January 2006 ROC OIL COMPANY LIMITED ("ROC") STOCK EXCHANGE RELEASE DRILLING ACTIVITY UPDATE 1. MAURITANIA - Exploration Drilling. ROC advises that the following release was made earlier today by Woodside Petroleum Ltd: "Woodside Petroleum Ltd. reports the following activity by its wholly-owned subsidiaries Woodside Mauritania Pty. Ltd. and WEL Mauritania B.V., offshore Mauritania since the last report issued on 23 December 2005. PSC Area C, Block 6: Zoule-1 Exploration Well The 'Stena Tay' drill rig resumed exploration drilling for Woodside Operated Joint Ventures in Mauritania. The Zoule-1 exploration well was spudded on 25 December 2005 in a water depth of 2,628 metres where 9 5/8 inch casing was set. At midnight on 2 January 2006, preparations were underway to commence drilling an 8 1/2 inch hole to the Cretaceous objective. Zoule-1 has a planned total depth of approximately 3,730 metres." 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 |47.38448% | 53.846% | 53.846% | 37.578% | |companies (Operator)| | | | | +--------------------+----------+----------+----------+----------+ |Hardman group |19.00800% | 24.3% | 21.6% | 22.422% | |companies | | | | | +--------------------+----------+----------+----------+----------+ |Societe |12.00000% | -- | -- | -- | |Mauritanienne des | | | | | |Hydrocarbures | | | | | |(formerly GPC) | | | | | +--------------------+----------+----------+----------+----------+ |BG group companies |10.23440% | 13.084% | 11.63% | -- | +--------------------+----------+----------+----------+----------+ |Premier group | 8.12328% | -- | 9.231% | -- | |companies | | | | | +--------------------+----------+----------+----------+----------+ |Roc Oil group | 3.24984% | 4.155% | 3.693% | 5.0% | |companies | | | | | +--------------------+----------+----------+----------+----------+ |Fusion group | -- | 4. 615% | -- | -- | |companies | | | | | +--------------------+----------+----------+----------+----------+ |Petronas Carigali | -- | -- | -- | 35.0% | |Overseas Sdn Bhd | | | | | +--------------------+----------+----------+----------+----------+ 2. AUSTRALIA - Cliff Head Development Drilling ROC also advises that, following the successful installation of the Jacket component of the Cliff Head "A " Platform, the Ensco 67 jack-up drilling rig commenced development drilling on the 26 December 2005. ROC does not intend to issue regular Cliff Head development drilling updates except to comply with its continuous disclosure obligations. Michelle Manook For further information please General Manager - Corporate Affairs contact: Dr John Doran on Tel: +61-2-8356-2000 Fax: +61-2-9380-2635 Email: jdoran@rocoil.com.au Or visit ROC's website: www.rocoil.com.au Dr Kevin Hird General Manager Business Development Tel: +44 (0)207 586 7935 Fax: +44 (0)207 722 3919 E-mail khird@rocoil.com.au Nick Lambert Bell Pottinger Corporate & Financial Tel: +44 (0)207 861 3232 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange