Right I havent beleived in investing directly in an oil company untill today and in the last few months have been investing in OIL SERVICE companys Hamworthy and Corac, you know the picks and shovels tale.

Anyway after doing a lot of research I really feel that SOCO INTERNATIONAL SIA as been left behind in the mass bull market on oil companies.

Forget, Burren, Regal, Dana and the rest in my opinion this is the one to be on.

So.....why buy Soco now?

Four inter-related reasons:

1) Newsflow is now very much in sight on several fronts. None of it has yet emerged though, so analysts have yet to revisit their old views and recommendations. There was, and indeed remains, a chance to get in before serious interest picks up again.

2) There is, IMO, a decent chance of some very large price rises within the next 6 months, accompanied by increased downside protection. Once newsflow starts, the shares will come back onto institutional radar screens - you can wait for it to emerge, or you can speculate now at what I think will prove to be a lower price -perhaps much lower!

3) The market thinks there is nothing happening and has gone to sleep on the prospects. You can see this in the broadly sideways drift and very low volumes on most days [until this week]. They are wrong. Yemen and perhaps Mongolia should provide some near-term good news.

4) The time to buy is when no-one else seems very interested.

And heres the last results from the company......................

Soco International PLC
02 September 2004

SOCO International plc

Interim Results for the six months ended 30 June 2004

SOCO is an international oil and gas exploration and production company,
headquartered in London. The Company has interests in Vietnam, Mongolia, Yemen,
Libya, Tunisia and Thailand, with production operations in Yemen, Tunisia and
Mongolia. SOCO today announces interim results for the half year ended 30 June
2004.

HIGHLIGHTS

Operating profit of 4.1 million (2003: 4.2 million)

Net profit of 2.0 million (2003: 2.5 million)

Earnings per share of 2.9p (2003: 3.6p)

Cash balance of 26.7 million at half year end

Finalised the sale of an interest in ODEX creating a consortium of SOCO
(34%), Oilinvest (46%) and Gazprombank (20%) in the special purpose
entity to progress initiatives in Libya and other countries

Continued reinterpretation of existing 3D seismic and acquisition of 650
sq km of new 3D seismic in Vietnam prior to commencement of drilling in
Q1 2005

3D seismic programme completed in Mongolia with two wells drilled, both
apparent discoveries, and a third well spudded

First ever deviated Basement well drilling in East Shabwa in Yemen



Ed Story, President and Chief Executive of SOCO, said:

'Following an extended period of quiet preparation, the release of interim
results coincides with the commencement of a very active drilling programme for
SOCO, one that I believe has company transforming potential'

2 September 2004

ENQUIRIES:
SOCO International plc Tel: 020 7457 2020 (today)ENDS.

This could really be a craking stock and is worth getting in at these lowly price figures.

Please DYOR

cheers GF.

Well it seems to have stuck and still below previous intraday highs by a way.

Patience then.

SWW,

Excellent news indeed this morning! Very happy here with the drilling report. I wonder if this will finally lead to any analyst changing their stance on Soco? Probably not, but still, we've done okay considering their views!

Pillow's "mother of all shorts" seems to have run into a few slight problems! ;-)

This is one of the increasingly regular occurences whereby the quality of the research on the BB's has been of an infinitely better quality than the drivel being spurted out by the analysts !!
Well done to all holders - sadly I've only got Burren and Venture Production !!

;o)

Just found this:

Soco International Rises On Vietnam Find

Monday, August 22, 2005 4:38:17 AM ET
Dow Jones Newswires



0817 GMT [Dow Jones] Soco International's (SIA.LN) find in Vietnam shows the company is "doing a brilliant job," focusing on its two core areas of Vietnam and Yemen, says analyst Peter Hitchens at Teather & Greenwood. Notes the announcement is likely to drive asset valuation upgrades more than earnings forecast upgrades, but says the find "opens up other possibilities in the area." Shares +7.1% at 750p. (PBA)

http://www.newratings.com/analyst_news/article_980045.html

Supermono, agreed. Although Burren and Venture haven't exactly been shabby either though!

congrats. a great call when you first mentioned it to me gavdfc at just below 500p. unfortunately i am not in but good fro those who are.

Cheers Prop. Most happy at the way the current drilling program in Vietnam and Yemen is progressing, as you would imagine! Will be interesting to see how the Americans play today's news when they get up.

Article on Citywire by Edmond Jackson on this mornings news Premium article so can't read the full piece.

Citywire Article

Also, thanks to Entrust on TMF for finding this Peel Hunt note. Seems Tony Alves says "reduce".

Peel Hunt Note

Cracking good news. Although Im supposed to be on holiday I couldnt help but gloat at the announcement. I still think theres a lot more in this one aswell.

I remember the nut cases on advfn having a go at me over this one when I said that I felt it was a far superior investment to Burren many months ago.

Patience as rewarded me and others and it such a great feeling. Well done to everyone.

Cheers GF.

PS, next one up Global Energy Development. The infrastructure is being put in place on the management side I see.

The last paragraph from Edmund Jackson on Citywire.............

" I am not chasing the mark-up in Soco, but would advise hanging on for more good news on this offshore Vietnamese prospect - even though brokers Seymour Pierce and.KBC Peel Hunt advised selling the shares in July." Ends.

Well Im holding mine for more gains.

cheers GF.

Hi GF,

Hope your holiday's going well, a bit sweeter after today's news I would imagine. Agree we have more to go for here. We have only had the results of the first 2 wells in the Vietnam program. Still more drilling to come in Yemen and hopefully some sort of deal in West Africa. I'm sure you would have also caught the news regarding the $45m revolving credit facility from the IFC announced last week.

Thanks for the last para of the Citywire piece. IIRC, Edmond Jackson has been a fan for quite a while now, although it seems Tony Alves has not! Thanks for the note Tony but I'll keep a hold of mine! :-)

A bit more on this mornings news:

http://www.moneyam.com/action/news/showArticle?id=927023

And a piece from Thanh Nien Daily in Vietnam:

Thanh Nien Daily

Well done you guys who took GF's advice - am afraid I did not on this one - but I do like success stories

Baza

Cheers Baza. News out on the African deal:

Soco International PLC
25 August 2005

SOCO International plc

('SOCO' or 'the Company')



Participation in New License Area Offshore Republic of Congo



SOCO is an international oil and gas exploration and production company,
headquartered in London traded on the London Stock Exchange and a constituent of
the FTSE 250 Index. The Company has continuing interests in Vietnam, Yemen,
Libya, Thailand and the Republic of Congo with ongoing production operations in
Yemen.





The Company announces that its subsidiary, SOCO Exploration and Production Congo
('SOCO EPC'), has signed a production sharing contract with Societe Nationale
des Petroles du Congo ('SNPC') wherein it has acquired an interest in the Marine
XI block, offshore the Republic of Congo (Brazzaville). SNPC was confirmed as
licensee of Marine XI by an 18 July 2005 Presidential decree.



SOCO EPC will be the operator with a 75% working interest in the block. The
exploration and production branch of SNPC (15%) and AFRICA OIL & GAS CORPORATION
(10%) hold the remaining interests. The block, located in the Lower Congo Basin,
is in shallow water adjacent to the coast with water depths ranging up to 110
metres and covers approximately 1, 400 square kilometres. There has been
previous exploration activity on the block resulting in four small oil
discoveries, the largest of which has initial recoverable reserves estimated to
be in the 20 million barrel range.



The previous discoveries are in the shallower horizons of the sedimentary
section in Marine XI. The deeper section, productive onshore and on trend to
the south in Cabinda, has not been adequately evaluated as it could not be
accurately mapped using older seismic data. By employing the modern seismic
techniques that the Company successfully applied in Vietnam to map the Basement
reservoir, SOCO EPC expects to exploit the potential of the deeper section. As
exploration in West Africa moves into ever deeper waters, the application of new
technology provides access to significant reserve potential in underexplored
shallow water areas


Ed Story, President and Chief Executive of SOCO, commented:

'We are extremely pleased to be participating with SNPC in this very prospective
block. In our view, Marine XI offers the same potential for exponential
exploration reserve growth that we are currently demonstrating in Vietnam and
Yemen. We are pleased to have Marine XI as one of the cornerstones of what we
expect to become an important new core area for SOCO.'





25 August 2005



ENQUIRIES:


SOCO International plc
Roger Cagle Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Financial Tel: 020 7747 2000
Officer


Pelham Public Relations
James Henderson Tel: 020 7743 6673
Charles Vivian Tel: 020 7743 6672






This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

From tonight's UK-Analyst email:

"Oil and gas explorer Soco International announced that it had signed a production sharing contract with Societe Nationale des Petroles du Congo (SNPC). The stock fell 8p to 750p. Soco said it had acquired an interest in the Marine XI block, offshore the Republic of Congo (Brazzaville). SNPC was confirmed as licensee of Marine XI by a Presidential decree in July. The company's Congolese unit will be the operator of the block with a 75% working interest. "

I note all the players we know have moved on or slimmed their portfolio's.

I have thought the same for a while that it may be time to take my 50%, and that is what I will do when the spread closes a bit.

My small holding has done excepionally well, coupled with Hardman and Sterling I am well pleased.

Pressure is off for the rest of the year and I can let the kids continue to get in the way of this for the rest of the holiday.

Good luck you long termers.

SWW,

Fair comment on wanting to move on, as a 50% rise in a short period of time is not to be sneezed at. I understand others have been trimming their holdings a bit, which considering the performance here is no bad thing. Personally, I'm keeping mine right now as I'm happy with the potential upside from here. Of course, my opinion may change as events change.

Glad to hear you've had a good run lately here and with HNR and SEY. Long may it continue with your other investments.

All the best.

Gav

Soco International PLC
08 September 2005

SOCO International plc
('SOCO' or 'the Company')

Spudding of Exploration Well in Yemen


SOCO is an international oil and gas exploration and production company,
headquartered in London traded on the London Stock Exchange and a constituent of
the FTSE 250 Index. The Company has continuing interests in Vietnam, Yemen,
Libya, Thailand and the Republic of Congo with ongoing production operations in
Yemen.

The Company's majority owned subsidiary, Comeco Petroleum, Inc. ('Comeco'),
through which the Company holds a 16.785% net working interest in the East
Shabwa Development Area in Yemen ('ESDA'), announces the commencement of
drilling on the Kharir North prospect. The KHA-3-07 well (previously referred
to as the KHA 407 prior to the revised well numbering system agreed with the
Yemeni authorities) spudded on the 31st of August and is the first well
targeting Basement on this prospect.

The KHA-2-17 (previously KHA-406) injector well that spudded on 11th June 2005
is currently being connected to the appropriate facilities prior to commencing a
water injectivity test.


8 September 2005


ENQUIRIES:


SOCO International plc
Roger Cagle Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Financial Tel: 020 7747 2000
Officer


Pelham Public Relations
James Henderson
James.henderson@pelhampr.com
Tel: 020 7743 6673
Alisdair Haythornthwaite
Alisdair.haythornthwaite@pelhampr.com
Tel: 020 7743 6676



Notes to Editors

Comeco, in which SOCO holds a 58.75% interest, has a 28.57% interest in the ESDA
in Block 10 in Yemen. The East Shabwa joint venture is operated by TOTAL Yemen,
S.A. (28.57% interest) under a production sharing agreement with the government
of Yemen. The other joint venture partners are Occidental Yemen Ltd. (28.57%
interest) and Kuwait Foreign Petroleum Exploration Co. (14.29% interest).



This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

RNS out, Adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS)

Also gives the date for the interims of 27/9.

http://www.companyannouncements.net/cgi-bin/articles/200509231549537047R.html

Highlights from this mornings results.

Exploration / Development

Five exploration/appraisal wells drilled this year have tested at an
average production rate exceeding 8,350 BOEPD
VIETNAM

CNV-3X spudded on 30 January 2005 and tested water-free at a maximum
combined rate of approximately 13,040 BOEPD
TGT-1X spudded on 2 June 2005 and tested water-free at a maximum
combined rate of 9,432 BOEPD
CNV-4X spudded on 31 August 2005 and is currently drilling above the
targeted Basement
Negotiations are underway to extend the drilling rig contract for
additional wells

YEMEN

The KHA 1-09 well spudded on 6 December 2004 and produced over 6,500
BOPD when tested in February 2005
The KHA 2-16 well spudded on 1 February 2005 and produced over 5,500
BOPD when tested in April 2005
The KHA 1-10 well spudded on 28 March 2005 and produced over 7,300 BOPD

New Core Area - West Africa

REPUBLIC OF CONGO (BRAZZAVILLE)

In August the Company's 85% owned subsidiary, SOCO Exploration and
Production Congo (SOCO EPC), signed a PSA acquiring a 75% interest in
the Marine XI Block
Marine XI forms the cornerstone in what SOCO envisions to become a new
core area for the Company in West Africa

Financial Highlights - from continuing operations

Revenue up to US$27.5 million (H1 2004 : US$8.9 million)
Operating profit increased over 130% to US$14.3 million (H1 2004 : US$6.1
million)
Basic earnings per share up over 150% to 12.6 cents (H1 2004 : 4.9 cents)
Net cash from operating activities increased to US$12.2 million (H1 2004 :
US$0.4 million)
Production, net to the Company's working interest, increased to 5,057 BOPD
(H1 2004 : 3,790 BOPD)

Corporate Highlights

SOCO disposed of its interests in Mongolia for consideration of up to
approximately US$93 million
In August 2005 SOCO agreed a US$45 million reserve-based, revolving credit
facility with the International Finance Corporation, the private sector arm
of the World Bank


Ed Story, Chief Executive Officer, commented:

'SOCO has had an excellent year to date with the drill bit, and demonstrated its
exploration expertise with a 100 percent success ratio in both Yemen and Vietnam
across five exploration/appraisal wells. Comprehensive drilling programmes will
continue in both countries over the remainder of 2005 and into 2006.

Our interest in the Marine XI Block in the Republic of Congo (Brazzaville) is
the cornerstone of a new area in West Africa and we continue to seek additional
opportunities in the region to bolster our portfolio.'

http://www.companyannouncements.net/cgi-bin/articles/200509270700147759R.html

Basic earnings up over 150%, thatl do for me gav, mind its obvious that a company cant keep this level of increase in growth up as it matures.

Im holding and not selling one share.

cheers GF.

Hi GF,

Hope you enjoyed your holiday. Like yourself, I'm holding on to mine and not selling. Still feel that we have a lot left to play for here. Agree that we can't keep growing earnings at 150%, but I still feel there is quite a bit of upside here. 3 more wells to be drilled in Vietnam as part of this program and if they can bring CNV and TGT in production sooner rather than later as per the RNS, then that would be an extra boost and cost effective if they don't have to build new production facilities. All in all, am impressed with today's results and outlook for the next 12 months.

I agree entirely Gav, plenty more to come here I beleive.

cheers GF.