Doran told said that the increase would be on the back of three projects currently being considered for development in Australia, Africa and China.

He said Chinguetti, in Mauritania, could yield 1,000 to 2,000 bopd, Cliff Head, with an initial production rate could possibly yield between 4,000 and 8,000 bopd and Roc's fields in China which could add up to 3,000 bopd.

This is in addition to the company's existing production from Saltfleetby in the UK, which produced an average of 5,345 boepd during the March quarter.

Doran said that the final result would depend on how many of the three fields proceed to production, which won't be until late 2005 or early 2006.

Collectively the three fields could add more than 15 mmbo (75%) to Roc's current mmboe 2P reserves base.

The comments are on the back of a strong quarter that included the successful appraisal drilling and production testing of the Cliff Head Oil Field in the northern part of the offshore Perth Basin; sales revenue of almost $19 million, up 5% on the preceding quarter and 11% on the equivalent quarter last year; a net cash position that increased slightly during a period of high exploration expenditure; and the initiation of pre-development studies relating to ROC's discoveries in Mauritania, Australia and China.

However, these events were tempered by the drilling of three dry exploration wells in the vicinity of the Cliff Head Oil Field and one dry exploration well in the UK North Sea.