CNG Producing Uses Updated Technology to Increase Production At West Cameron 76

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CNG Producing Uses Updated Technology to Increase Production At West Cameron 76
    NEW ORLEANS, March 30 /PRNewswire/ -- CNG Producing Company, a subsidiary
of Pittsburgh-based Consolidated Natural Gas Company (NYSE: CNG), announced
today that two new wells will increase production at West Cameron 76 in the
Gulf of Mexico.
    West Cameron 76 B-3, the most southerly well in the field, logged 90 net
feet of natural gas in two zones.  It is currently producing at a rate of 22.8
million cubic feet (Mmcf) of gas and 141 barrels of condensate a day.  The
West Cameron 76 B-4 well logged 285 net feet of gas in three zones and is
currently being completed.  The B-4 is the most easterly well in the field.  A
third new well, West Cameron 76 B-5, located in the southwestern part of the
field, will be drilled later in 1999.
    These additional drill sites were evaluated in conjunction with the
operator, BHP Petroleum (Americas), Inc., using a new reprocessed version of
older 3-D seismic data.
   "Getting the most from our existing fields is a key strategy for our
Continental Shelf program," said Pat Riley, president of CNG Producing.  "By
using modern technology, we can use existing data to make established fields
more productive."
    The West Cameron 76 field was discovered in 1991, with first production in
1992.  At the present time six wells are producing through two platforms.
Current production totals 46 Mmcf of natural gas and 294 barrels of condensate
a day.  With production increases from three new wells, the West Cameron 76
field should meet or exceed its facility capacity of 90 million cubic feet a
day.  Cumulative production from the field is 78 billion cubic feet of gas and
327,577 barrels of condensate.
    West Cameron 76 is located in 36 feet of water, approximately 20 miles
south of Cameron, Louisiana.  CNG Producing holds a 40 percent interest in the
field.  BHP Petroleum (Americas) Inc., the operator, owns 33.76 percent
interest.  The remaining 26.24 percent interest is owned by Houston
Exploration, (12.375 percent), Ridgewood Energy (11.24 percent), and Cairn
Energy, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Meridian Resource Corporation (2.625
percent).
    New Orleans-based CNG Producing Company is one of the country's largest
independent producers of natural gas and oil, and the third largest producer
in the deep waters of the Gulf of Mexico.  It is responsible for all
exploration and development activities of Pittsburgh-based Consolidated
Natural Gas Company, one of the nation's largest producers, transporters,
distributors and retail marketers of natural gas.
    CNG's recent news releases are available 24 hours a day on the Internet,
by fax machine, or by voice recording.  On the Internet, use CNG's Web site:
http://www.cng.com.   For faxing, call 1-800-758-5804 on a touch-tone phone and enter
CNG's company extension, which is 203456.  From a menu, you will then be able
to select releases that will be faxed to you immediately without charge.  For
voice recordings, call 1-888-CNG-NEWS.  This line is toll-free.
SOURCE CNG Producing Company
http://www.cng.com
CONTACT:
Dan Donovan of CNG, 412-690-1370