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To: Herb Duncan who wrote (9217)2/24/1998 7:06:00 PM
From: Herb Duncan  Respond to of 15196
 
PROPERTY ACQUISITION / AltaQuest Energy Corporation Announces
Closing of Sylvan Lake Acquisition

ASE SYMBOL: AQF

FEBRUARY 24, 1998


CALGARY, ALBERTA--ALTAQUEST ENERGY CORPORATION ("AQF") announces
that it has closed the previously announced acquisition of a
natural gas property in the Sylvan Lake area of Alberta. The
acquisition, effective December 1, 1997, has strategic value in
AltaQuest's existing core area of Sylvan Lake. The upside
potential of the property will be realized in 1998 with well
recompletions, development drilling and plant optimization.
AltaQuest plans to drill five wells in the area this year with net
forecasted 1998 exit production from the property expected to be
750 barrels of oil equivalent per day (BOE/d).

AltaQuest plans to drill up to five wells (24.5 percent working
interest), starting in June of this year, on its Fiskerton
discovery in the United Kingdom. With these wells, and an
anticipated pipeline tie-in in June of 1998, net production should
average 165 barrels of oil per day in 1998 and exit the year at
630 barrels of oil per day. This production, along with our
domestic forecasted production, nets the company an average 900
BOE/d and exit 1998 at 1500 BOE/d.

As well, AltaQuest has secured a rig for its next exploration
location at Newton-on-Trent (20 kilometres to the west of
Fiskerton) and anticipates a spud date within the next two weeks.
AltaQuest has a 50 percent APO working interest in
Newton-on-Trent, which will test a similar geologic feature as its
Fiskerton discovery.

AltaQuest has applied for 100,000 net additional acres surrounding
our East Midlands acreage. It is anticipated that the successful
bidders will be announced imminently by the Department of Trade
and Industry in London.

AltaQuest Energy Corporation ("AQF") is a publicly traded company
on the Alberta Stock Exchange.



To: Herb Duncan who wrote (9217)2/24/1998 7:11:00 PM
From: Herb Duncan  Respond to of 15196
 
FINANCING / Berkley Petroleum Corp. Announces Closing of Offering

TSE, ASE SYMBOL: BKP

FEBRUARY 24, 1998



CALGARY, ALBERTA--

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES FOR DISSEMIATION IN
THE UNITED STATES.

Berkley Petroleum Corp. announces that it has successfully closed
its previously announced offering of 2,000,000 common shares
issued on a "flow-through" basis at $17.00 per share pursuant to
its final prospectus dated February 5, 1998. The offering was
underwritten by a syndicate of Canadian investment dealers led by
Nesbitt Burns Inc. and First Marathon Securities Limited, and
including Bunting Warburg Inc., CIBC Wood Gundy Securities Inc.,
FirstEnergy Capital Corp., Peters & Co. Limited and TD Securities
Inc. Gross proceeds were $34,000,000.

Proceeds from the issue will be used to fund Berkley's ongoing
exploration activities.

Berkley Petroleum Corp. is a Canadian company engaged in
exploration, development and production of natural gas and crude
oil. Berkley's common shares are listed on the Toronto and
Alberta stock exchanges under the trading symbol "BKP."

This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell, or the
solicitation of an offer to buy the securities in any
jurisdiction. The common shares offered will not be and have not
been registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933 and
may not be offered or sold in the United States absent
registration, or an applicable exemption from the registration
requirement.

Berkley Petroleum's News Releases for the past 14 months can be
accessed electronically through Canadian Corporate News website at
cdn-news.com and Berkley's home page at berkleypete.com.



To: Herb Duncan who wrote (9217)2/24/1998 7:15:00 PM
From: Herb Duncan  Read Replies (1) | Respond to of 15196
 
EARNINGS / Granger Energy Reports 1997 Operating & Financial Results


ASE SYMBOL: GAS.A

FEBRUARY 24, 1998


CALGARY, ALBERTA--Granger Energy Corp. today announced its audited
financial and operating results for the fiscal year ended November
30, 1997.

Total company production increased 31 percent over the prior year
to average 530 barrels of oil equivalent per day. Oil production
increased 50 percent to average 477 barrels per day and natural
gas production averaged 533 thousand cubic feet per day (mcfd),
down from 872 mcfd. Net revenue rose 46 percent to $3,762,000
from $2,576,000. The average gas price received increased 21
percent to $2.00 per mcf, while the average net oil price
increased 2 percent to $23.51 per bbl. Cash flow increased 72
percent to $2,096,000 ($0.72 per share basic) from $1,216,000
($0.46 per share basic) in 1996. Net earnings increased 49
percent to $535,000 ($0.18 per share basic) from $360,000 ($0.14
per share basic) in the previous year.

Granger participated in drilling 22 (6.43 net) wells during the
year, including 17 (4.50 net) horizontal wells, resulting in 17
(4.30 net) oil wells, 2 (.40 net) service wells and 3 (1.73 net)
dry holes for a 73 percent net success rate. Granger's $6,655,000
capital investment program added 17,000 net acres of undeveloped
land plus 876,000 BOE's of established reserves, replacing 1997
production 4.5 times.

/T/

Twelve Months Ended November 30
Percent
1997 1996 Change
-------------------------------------------------------------
Production
Oil and NGLs(bpd) 477 317 +50
Natural gas (mcfd) 533 872 -39
BOE/d 530 404 +31
Net revenue after
royalties $3,762,000 $2,576,000 +46
Cash flow $2,096,000 $1,216,000 +72
Per share-basic $0.72 $0.46 +57
Net Earnings $535,000 $360,000 +49
Per share-basic $0.18 $0.14 +29
Wt. Avg. Share-basic 2,913,000 2,655,000 +10
Capital Expenditures $6,655,000 $3,038,000 +119

/T/

Granger is currently producing 650 barrels of oil equivalent per
day and has 5,521,000 Class A shares listed on the Alberta Stock
Exchange under the trading symbol "GAS.A".



To: Herb Duncan who wrote (9217)2/24/1998 7:18:00 PM
From: Herb Duncan  Respond to of 15196
 
CORP / Canadian 88 Energy Corp. Announces Normal Course Issuer
Bid

TSE, ASE SYMBOL: EEE

FEBRUARY 24, 1998



CALGARY, ALBERTA--Canadian 88 Energy Corp. announced today that it
will be proceeding with a normal course issuer bid to purchase,
through the facilities of The Toronto Stock Exchange, up to
8,000,000 of its Common Shares, representing approximately 10
percent of Canadian 88's public float of approximately 82,198,834
Common Shares. A maximum of 2 percent of the outstanding Common
Shares may be purchased in any 30 day period. Common Shares
purchased by Canadian 88 will be returned to treasury for
cancellation. Purchases by Canadian 88 can commence on February
26, 1998 and will end no later than February 25, 1999.

Canadian 88 will pay the market price for its Common Shares on The
Toronto Stock Exchange at the time of acquisition and no purchases
will be made other than by means of open market transactions
(other than by way of exempt offer) during the period the normal
course issuer bid is outstanding. Canadian 88 purchased 69,100 of
its Common Shares between February 26, 1997 and February 25, 1998
at an average price of $4.47 per share.

Canadian 88 believes that the market price of its Common Shares
could be such that their purchase may be attractive and
appropriate use for corporate funds in light of potential benefits
to remaining shareholders.




To: Herb Duncan who wrote (9217)2/24/1998 7:25:00 PM
From: Herb Duncan  Respond to of 15196
 
FIELD ACTIVITIES / TransGlobe Announces Joint Venture Partner in
S-1 Block, Republic of Yemen

TSE, ASE SYMBOL: TGL
ASE SYMBOL: TGL.S
NASDAQ SYMBOL: TGLEF

FEBRUARY 24, 1998


CALGARY, ALBERTA--TransGlobe Energy Corporation (ASE, symbols
"TGL" and "TGL.S", TSE symbol "TGL", NASDAQ symbol "TGLEF")
announced that it has completed a farm out agreement for the S-1
Block in the Republic of Yemen with Vintage Petroleum
International Inc. ("Vintage"), a 100 percent subsidiary of
Vintage Petroleum Inc., a large U.S. independent exploration and
production company based in Tulsa, Oklahoma and listed on the New
York Stock Exchange. The agreement will allow Vintage to earn a 75
percent working interest in the S-1 Block by funding 100 percent
of TransGlobe's exploration commitments for the first exploration
period of 2.5 years under the Production Sharing Agreement
("PSA"). TransGlobe will pay 25 percent of the signature bonus,
agents fees and finders fees required to be paid and Vintage will
pay 75 percent. The PSA has been forwarded to the Yemen
Parliament for ratification which is expected to take ninety days.
After ratification Vintage and TransGlobe will commence the
first period exploration work commitments consisting of 150 square
kilometers of 3-D seismic and the drilling of three exploratory
wells.



To: Herb Duncan who wrote (9217)2/24/1998 7:32:00 PM
From: Herb Duncan  Respond to of 15196
 
FIELD ACTIVITIES /Pioneer Natural Resources Tests Eugene Island Well

NYSE SYMBOL: PXD

FEBRUARY 24, 1998


DALLAS, TEXAS--Pioneer Natural Resources, Inc. ("Pioneer")
announced today test results from the recently drilled Eugene
Island Block 208 K-4 well.

The K-4 well is a dual completion which tested at a total rate of
approximately 3,200 barrels of oil and 7 million cubic feet of
natural gas per day from two intervals between 6,400 feet and
9,000 feet. The well was drilled on the flanks of a salt dome to
test potential hydrocarbon accumulations defined by 3-D seismic
data. A total of 90 feet of hydrocarbon pay was encountered. An
additional interval in the well was completed as an alternate for
future production. The well was drilled from existing facilities
and began producing immediately.

Pioneer operates and owns 75 percent working interest in the K-4
well located 70 miles south of Morgan City, La. in 100 feet of
water. This property was acquired via the acquisition of
Greenhill Petroleum in April, 1997. Three additional wells are
planned to test similar objectives from the adjacent "J" platform.
Pioneer continues to evaluate higher impact exploration
opportunities in the field area from deeper horizons.

Headquartered in Dallas, Pioneer is one of the largest independent
(non-integrated) exploration and production oil and gas companies
in North America, with major operations in the United States,
Canada and Argentina.



To: Herb Duncan who wrote (9217)2/24/1998 7:47:00 PM
From: Herb Duncan  Respond to of 15196
 
EARNINGS / Cotton Valley Announces Strong Results for First Half
Fiscal Year 1998

AMEX SYMBOL: KTN

FEBRUARY 24, 1998


DALLAS, TEXAS-- Cotton Valley Resources Corporation (AMEX - KTN)
announced financial results today for the six months ended
December 31, 1997.

The condensed consolidated net income after tax was $54,403 on
revenue of $1,157,985. This compares very favorably with a net
loss of $602,116 on revenue of $41,365 for the comparable period
in the previous fiscal year. The Company reported revenue of
$532,784 and net loss of $78,919 for the second quarter.

"The slight drop in revenue and slight increases in general and
administrative expenses from the first quarter to second quarter
were due mainly to the concentration of efforts to bring
additional equipment and facilities on-line at the Mustang
Companies," stated Gene Soltero, CEO and chairman of Cotton
Valley. "Of key importance to the Company's strategy, we
completed the organization of our Mustang oilfield services
operating subsidiaries including Mustang Oilfield Equipment
Company, Mustang Horizontal Services, Inc. and, most recently,
Mustang Well Servicing Company."

"As a result, our well workover program has begun and is
progressing rapidly. Currently, we are now operating our own
workover rigs in the Means (Queen) Unit purchased in the first
quarter and the Sears Ranch property which we purchased during the
second quarter. While it is premature to quantify, initial
development is resulting in increased production, revenues and
income from oil and gas."

"Finally," concluded Soltero, "we are quite pleased with the
progress of our Mustang operating companies. In one quarter,
these subsidiaries have put together technical personnel
equipment and are really moving forward with our development
programs. While that is our primary motivation, Cotton Valley is
also poised to benefit from increasing incremental revenue from
third-party equipment sales and oilfield servicing. For the
Company as a whole, we expect our third quarter and fourth
quarter of this fiscal year to show materially increasing gains
over the results of the first half. The condensed consolidated
statement of operations for the first half of FY 1998 and the
condensed consolidated balance sheet for December 31, 1997, are
attached."

Cotton Valley Resources Corporation concentrates on acquiring and
improving Texas and Oklahoma oil and gas properties using new
technologies and its own service companies. There are
approximately 17 million common shares outstanding.

/T/

COTTON VALLEY RESOURCES CORPORATION

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
(Expressed in U.S. Dollars)
(Unaudited)

Period from Period from
July 1, 1997 to July 1, 1996 to
December 31, 1997 December 31, 1996
----------------- -----------------

REVENUE:
Oil and gas sales $ 435,289 $ 41,365
Equipment sales 713,622
Interest Income 8,140
Other Income 934
----------- -----------
Total Revenue 1,157,985 41,365
----------- -----------

EXPENSES:
Oil and gas production 225,925
Equipment purchase and rework 259,573
General and administrative 515,944 903,319
Interest 27,388 35,162
Depreciation and Depletion 56,618
----------- -----------
Total Expenses 1,085,448 938,481
----------- -----------

PROFIT (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES 72,537 (897,116)

INCOME TAX BENEFIT (PROVISION) (18,134) 295,000
----------- -----------

NET PROFIT (LOSS) $ 54,403 $ (602,116)
=========== ===========

NET PROFIT (LOSS) PER SHARE $ 0.00 $ (0.05)
(Basic and Diluted) =========== ===========

WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES 15,457,000 13,390,524
=========== ===========



CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

COTTON VALLEY RESOURCES CORPORATION

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
December 31, 1997
(Unaudited)

ASSETS
------

CURRENT ASSETS: (U.S. Dollars)

Cash $ 405,430
Accounts receivable 542,425
Prepaid expenses 94,138
Cash deposits 329,750
------------
Total Current Assets 1,371,743

RESTRICTED CASH 2,570,280

OIL AND GAS PROPERTIES 20,120,591

OILFIELD EQUIPMENT INVENTORY 2,614,069

OFFICE EQUIPMENT 71,742
------------
Total Assets $ 26,748,425
============

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
------------------------------------

CURRENT LIABILITIES: (U.S. Dollars)

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities $ 1,172,548
Current portion of long-term debt $ 150,250
------------
Total Current Liabilities 1,322,798

LONG TERM DEBT 4,564,710

DEFERRED INCOME TAXES 2,486,812

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
Preferred Stock, no par value,
authorized-unlimited, none issued

Common Stock, no par value,
authorized-unlimited, 17,283,248 issued 21,513,857
Deficit accumulated in development stage (2,769,155)
Treasury Stock (270,000 shares) (425,000)
Accumulated Earnings 54,403
------------
Total Stockholders' Equity 18,374,105
------------
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity $ 26,748,425
============



To: Herb Duncan who wrote (9217)2/24/1998 7:52:00 PM
From: Herb Duncan  Respond to of 15196
 
ENERGY TRUSTS / NCE Diversified Income Trust (NCD.UN) February
Distribution 3 Cents Per Unit

TSE, ME SYMBOL: NCD.UN

FEBRUARY 24, 1998



TORONTO, ONTARIO--John Driscoll, President of NCE Resources Group,
announced today that NCE Diversified Income Trust has declared a
cash distribution of three cents ($0.03) per unit.

Date payable

The distribution is payable on March 6, 1998 to holders of record
on February 27, 1998.

Distributions

Distributions are paid monthly and tend to fluctuate because many
of the Trust's portfolio holdings distribute quarterly. This means
that NCE Diversified Income Trust's distributions are highest at
the end of each quarter.

/T/

Top 10 holdings

The top ten holdings in the portfolio by weighting are:

ARC Energy Trust
Canadian Oil Sands Trust
Superior Propane Income Fund "Installment Receipts"
Northland Power Income Fund
NAL Oil & Gas Trust
Prime West Energy Trust
Enermark Income Fund
Pembina Pipeline Income Fund
Orion Energy Trust
Pengrowth Energy Trust IR

NAVPU

The Net Asset Value Per Unit (NAVPU) as of February 19, 1998 was
$5.14.

NCE DIT

NCE Diversified Income Trust is a closed-end trust with the
objective of maximizing distributions to unitholders by investing
in energy related royalty and income trusts, and to a lesser
extent, other investment trusts. It trades on the Toronto Stock
Exchange and the Montreal Exchange under the symbol NCD.UN.

Distributions

Distributions since initial offering:

Month Amt. of distribution

April 1997 $0.0125
May 1997 $0.0075
June 1997 $0.0400
July 1997 $0.0200
August 1997 $0.0200
September 1997 $0.0600
October 1997 $0.0300
November 1997 $0.0275
December 1997 $0.1120
January 1998 $0.0240
February 1998 $0.0300

Total distribution: $0.3835

NCE Resources Group

NCE Resources Group was formed in 1984 as an oil and gas
investment management organization. It provides a full range of
technical, operational, administrative and investor services. NCE
currently has raised $800 million from over 40,000 investors and
has interests in over 5,000 oil and gas wells. The company
employs approximately 130 people in the areas of engineering,
land management, marketing, geology, accounting, finance and
investor relations. Total oil and gas production ranks NCE among
the top 30 oil and gas companies in Canada.

Reinvestment Plan

NCE's Distribution Reinvestment and Unit Purchase Plan allows
Canadian unitholders of NCE Diversified Income Trust to acquire
additional units by re-investing their cash distributions or by
making optional cash payments.

More Info

For more information, please contact:

Investor Services (investor enquiries)
(416) 364-8788 or 1-888-739-4623

Internet: www.nceresources.com
e-mail: nce@interramp.com

Hours of service (x):

Monday -- Thursday 8 am - 8 pm eastern time
Friday 8 am - 6 pm

(x) except on Canadian statutory holidays.



To: Herb Duncan who wrote (9217)2/24/1998 7:59:00 PM
From: Herb Duncan  Respond to of 15196
 
FIELD ACTIVITIES / Paramount Resources Ltd. and Berkley Petroleum
Corp. Update NWT Activities


TSE SYMBOL: POU

FEBRUARY 24, 1998


CALGARY, ALBERTA--

Not for distribution in U.S. News wire services or dissemination
in the United States

Paramount Resources Ltd. and Berkley Petroleum Corp. are pleased
to update the ongoing exploration activities in the southern NWT
and NEBC.

The Para et al Bovie C-76 60 degrees 20' 122 degrees 45' drilled
in winter 1997 has tested gas from a 58 metre zone (average
porosity 5.3 percent) in the Middle Devonian. Mechanical problems
prevented full evaluation in the vertical well-bore. The
companies are currently drilling a horizontal well from the C-76
well bore to further evaluate the prospect.

The Para et al Maxhamish b-57-L/94-0-15 well is cased with only
modest gas shows from the Middle Devonian to date. The companies
are currently drilling a shallow 1400m test at d-87-I/94-0-14 and
one to three additional shallow tests are planned during March.
The Para-Berkley Arrowhead N-65 60 degrees 40' 122 degrees 45'
well has been drilled and cased to a total depth of 2925m as a gas
well. The well flowed gas at rates up to 28MMcf/d along with
formation water while drilling in the Middle Devonian section
under-balanced, and production tests will proceed this winter to
determine the extent of the gas pay.

The companies are currently drilling a fourth new pool wildcat at
Arrowhead O-5 60 degrees 30' 123 degrees 00' and have licenced an
additional wildcat at Netla M-23 60 degrees 50' 123 degrees 00'.

Paramount and Berkley both have 50 percent before payout working
interests in the NWT wells.

Berkley Petroleum's News Releases for the past 14 months can be
accessed electronically through Canadian Corporate News website at
cdn-news.com and Berkley's home page at berkleypete.com.