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Harken Reports First Quarter 2004 Operating Margin of $3.2 Million, Net Income of $1.5 Million and Net Income Attributed to Common Stock of $3.4 Million

    HOUSTON, May 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Harken Energy Corporation
(Amex: HEC) ("Harken") today reported financial results for the three months
ended March 31, 2004.  As summarized below, Harken's Working Capital has
improved almost 30% since year-end 2003 to approximately $10 million at
March 31, 2004.  Harken reduced its debt during the three months ended
March 31, 2004 and ended the period with almost $10 million in cash and
approximately $5 million in cash net of debt.  Harken's balance sheet ratios,
as compared to the 2003 March quarter and year-end 2003, have continued to
strengthen as shown below:

                             March 31,         December 31,      March 31,
                                2003               2003             2004
                            (unaudited)         (audited)       (unaudited)
    Current ratio (A)         0.39 to 1          1.88 to 1        2.86 to 1
    Total debt to equity      2.18 to 1          0.14 to 1        0.08 to 1
    Working capital /
     (deficit) (B)        $ (19,036,000)    $    7,887,000    $  10,449,000
    Cash                  $   6,327,000     $   12,173,000    $   9,886,000
    Total debt            $  44,919,000     $    7,360,000    $   5,000,000
    Total cash less debt  $ (38,592,000)    $    4,813,000    $   4,886,000
    Stockholders' equity  $  20,626,000     $   52,761,000    $  59,622,000

    (A)  Current ratio is calculated as current assets divided by current
         liabilities
    (B)  Working capital / (deficit) in the difference between current assets
         and current liabilities

    As summarized below, while revenues declined approximately 5%, cost
containment initiatives produced 27% higher operating margin for the quarter.

                                                      Three Months Ended
                                                           March 31,
                                                      2003           2004

    Total Revenues and Other                     $ 7,054,000   $  6,677,000
    Oil and Gas Operating Expenses                 2,027,000      1,877,000
    General and Administrative Expenses            2,476,000      1,567,000
       Operating Margin (Non-GAAP; see
        Reconciliation below)                      2,551,000      3,233,000
    Depreciation and Amortization                  2,040,000      2,635,000
    Interest Expense and Other, net                2,312,000        212,000
    Gains from Extinguishment of Debt             (4,531,000)      (325,000)
    Gain from Sale of Equity Investment                  ---       (990,000)
    Income Tax Expense                               100,000         92,000
    Minority Interest in Subsidiary                  (31,000)        98,000
    Income Before Cumulative Effect of Change
     in Accounting Principle                       2,661,000      1,511,000
    Cumulative Effect of Change in Accounting
     Principle                                      (813,000)           ---
    Net Income                                   $ 1,848,000   $  1,511,000
    Accrual of Dividends Related to Preferred
     Stock                                          (986,000)      (766,000)
    Payment of Preferred Stock Dividend
     Liability In Common Shares                    7,044,000      2,664,000
    Net Income Attributed to Common Stock        $ 7,906,000   $  3,409,000
    Basic Net Income per Common Share            $      0.22   $       0.02
    Basic Weighted Average Shares Outstanding     36,764,473    188,037,334
    Diluted Net Income per Common Share          $      0.05   $       0.02
    Diluted Weighted Average Share Outstanding    75,088,264    203,377,334

    In the first three months of 2004, Harken generated $3.2 million in
Operating Margin (non-GAAP; see reconciliation below), a 27% increase over the
comparable period in 2003, due largely to 37% decrease in general and
administrative expenses as compared to the prior year period.  In the first
quarter of 2004, Harken experienced considerable success in the domestic
drilling program.  Initial production from the drilling program was mitigated
by offsetting factors as follows:

     *  The decrease in North American oil and gas volumes and revenues
        primarily related to the Thomas Cenac well which did not produce in
        the first three months of 2004
     *  The sale of the majority of the oil and gas properties located in the
        Panhandle region of Texas in December 2003
     *  The 18% decline in natural gas prices compared to prior year period.

    Harken's Middle America oil volumes and revenues increased 33% and 37%,
respectively, in the first three months of 2004 compared to the prior year
period due to increased crude oil production primarily from the Cajaro #1 well
drilled in 2003.  During the first quarter of 2004, Global averaged
approximately 1300 gross barrels of oil produced per day.
    In April 2004, Global Energy Development PLC ("Global"), which is 85%
owned by Harken, perforated and tested a new zone, the Massive Ubaque, in its
Estero 4 well in Global's Palo Blanco development area in Colombia.  The
Massive Ubaque zone, which according to third party log analysis contains at
least 14 feet of producible hydrocarbon thickness, tested at a maximum rate of
960 gross barrels of oil per day.  Production and sales of oil from this well
began in May 2004.
    Harken's net results benefited from a dramatic decrease in interest
expense due primarily to significantly lower debt levels in the first quarter
of 2004 compared to the prior period.  Harken also recorded a realized gain of
almost $1 million associated with the February 2004 sale of all of its
1.2 million ordinary share equity investment in New Opportunities Investment
Trust PLC.  In addition, Harken repaid in cash, at an 18% discount, certain of
its debt in January 2004 and recorded a gain on debt extinguishment of
approximately $325,000.
    In the first quarter of 2004, Harken paid the Series G1 and Series G2
preferred stock dividend liability of $3.1 million, accrued at
December 31, 2003, with a total of 372,000 shares of Harken common stock.
This payment resulted in a $2.7 million increase to Net Income Attributed to
Common Stock.  For further discussion of the accounting treatment for payment
of Series G1 and G2 Preferred stock dividends, see Harken's March 31, 2004
Form 10-Q filed on May 14, 2004.
    Alan G. Quasha, Harken's Chairman, stated, "In 2003 Harken was able to
complete both a financial and operational restructuring.  The financial
restructuring, which was already evident by year end 2003, is even more
apparent today.  The operational restructuring has become evident in our first
quarter numbers.  Thus, in the first quarter of 2004, the 37% decrease in
general and administrative expenses allowed the company to increase its
operating margin 27% to $3.2 million despite a 5% decline in revenues, as
compared with the first quarter in 2003.  Structurally our lower overhead
costs should allow us to continue to have positive operating margins in future
quarters.  In 2004, our main objectives are to increase our operating margin
and oil and gas reserves, and we took important steps forward in the first
quarter 2004 as we were successful in all of our drilling efforts.  Thus,
despite the sale of non-core properties last year, and assuming current market
conditions continue for the rest of the year, we are confident that our
drilling efforts should allow us to report higher revenues and operating
margin this year as compared with 2003."
    More information is available in Harken Energy Corporation's Form 10-Q for
the period ended March 31, 2004 which may be accessed through the Company's
website at http://www.harkenenergy.com .

     NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURE

     Reconciliation of Operating Margin to Net Income

                                                      Three Months Ended
                                                           March 31,
                                                      2003           2004

    Net Income (GAAP)                            $ 1,848,000    $ 1,511,000
     Cumulative Effect of Change in Accounting
      Principle                                      813,000            ---
     Minority Interest in Subsidiary                 (31,000)        98,000
     Income Tax Expense                              100,000         92,000
     Gains from Extinguishments of Debt           (4,531,000)      (325,000)
     Gain on Sale of Equity Investment                   ---       (990,000)
     Interest Expense and Other, Net               2,312,000        212,000
     Depreciation and Amortization                 2,040,000      2,635,000
    Operating Margin                             $ 2,551,000    $ 3,233,000

    Management believes the presentation of this non-GAAP financial measure,
in connection with the results for the three months ended March 31, 2004,
provides useful information to investors regarding the Company's results of
operations.  Management also believes that this non-GAAP financial measure
allows investors to better evaluate on-going business performance and the
factors that influenced performance during the period under the report.  This
non-GAAP financial measure should be considered in addition to, and not as a
substitute for, financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP.
    Certain statements in this news release including phrases such as "we
expect," "we anticipate" and "we hope" relating to Harken's revenue, profit,
dividends, cash flow and earnings expectations; statements regarding future
expectations and plans for oil and gas exploration, development and
production; and statements regarding commodity pricing expectations may be
regarded as "forward looking statements" within the meaning of the Securities
Litigation Reform Act.  These forward-looking statements reflect the current
view of management with regard to its plans and expectations and other future
events.  Management's current view and plans, however, are subject to numerous
known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the
actual results, performance, timing or achievements of Harken to be materially
different from any results, performance, timing or achievements expressed or
implied by such forward-looking statements.  The various uncertainties,
variables, and other risks include those discussed in detail in the Company's
SEC filings, including the Annual Report on Form 10-K dated March 25, 2004.
Although Harken believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-
looking statements of this announcement are reasonable, it can give no
assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct or that unforeseen
developments will not occur.  Harken undertakes no duty to update or revise
any forward-looking statements.  Actual results may vary materially.


SOURCE Harken Energy Corporation




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    CONTACT:
    Investor Relations of Harken Energy
    Corporation, +1-281-504-4000, or info@harkenenergy.com