Hardy Oil & Gas

Contract Award

RNS Number:9740V
Hardy Oil & Gas plc
20 December 2005


For immediate release 20 December 2005

Hardy Oil and Gas plc

("Hardy" or " the Company")

Contract Award for Indian Offshore Development

Hardy Oil and Gas plc (AIM: HDY) is pleased to confirm that its subsidiary,
Hardy Exploration & Production (India) Inc., has entered into an agreement with
a subsidiary of Sinvest ASA (the Deep Drilling Invest Group) for the drilling of
two wells on the CY-OS2 block. The contract term is for a period of two wells,
with an estimated duration of around 130 days. The contract is targeted to
commence in the second quarter of 2006, drilling to depths of 3,500 metres
subsea at a cost of approximately $24 million.

The Drilling Contract will be performed by Premium Drilling with the unit Deep
Drilling I. The Deep Drilling I is a new Baker Marine 375 'Pacific Class' jackup
designed to work in up to 375 ft water depths and is currently being built at
PPL Shipyard in Singapore.

Hardy is the operator, and holds a 75% working interest, in the CY-OS2 block
located in the northern part of the Cauvery Basin.

Commenting on the drilling contract, Sastry Karra, Chief Executive of Hardy
said:

"The drilling plans for the Company are progressing well, and we are pleased to
confirm our drilling contract to complete our requirement on the CY-OS2 block.
Prospectivity on the block includes a number of fan plays."