FOR RELEASE: May 19, 1995             CONTACT: Michael L. Baugher
                                                   (303) 231-3162
                                                       Lee Scurry
                                                   (202) 208-3983


                     INTERIOR DEPARTMENT PRESENTS ANNUAL
            STEWARDSHIP AWARDS TO TOP MINERAL RESOURCE COMPANIES


     The U.S. Department of the Interior today honored three
mineral resource companies for their superior record in
production reporting and royalty reporting during the last year. 
Marathon Oil Company, Caulkins Oil Company and CIG Exploration,
Inc. were presented the Secretary of the Interior's Mineral
Revenues Stewardship Awards at the 1995 North American Petroleum
Accounting Conference in Dallas, Texas. 

     "We applaud these companies for their achievements.  Their
professionalism has not only contributed to a successful
partnership between the Federal Government and industry," said
Minerals Management Service (MMS) Director Cynthia Quarterman,
"but has enhanced our nation's energy program, which is a benefit
to all Americans."

     In presenting the awards, MMS Associate Director for Royalty
Management James W. Shaw said, "While many companies maintain
especially good records in meeting their responsibilities for
payment and reporting, these three companies were the best in the
business last year. They are examples of performance excellence.

     "Their continued dedication to perfection saves taxpayers'
money and assists us in meeting our obligation to manage
responsibly the revenues from the mineral resources of our
nation's public lands," he said.

     Since 1987, the Interior Department has been commending
exceptional performances by companies that report production and
pay royalties for federal and Indian minerals leases to MMS. More
than 1,600 companies submit monthly reports of mineral sales and
production and pay royalties for minerals that are sold or
removed from these leases. 

     The awards are given to one large and one small company in
each of two categories: production reporting and royalty
reporting. They are based on the accuracy and timeliness of
submissions to MMS, as well as cooperation in problem resolution
and other actions to improve the process.

     During Fiscal Year 1994, Marathon Oil Company and CIG
Exploration, Inc. recorded the lowest error rates among royalty
reporters in their size categories. Among production reporters,
Marathon Oil Company and Caulkins Oil Company had the lowest
error rates.  With its latest honors, Marathon Oil becomes the
first company to receive four special awards from the Interior
Department.

     Recipients of the awards now include: 
          Marathon Oil (four times)
          El Paso Natural Gas (twice)
          Santa Fe Energy (twice)
          Amerada Hess
          Anadarko Petroleum
          Caulkins Oil Company
          Chevron USA
          CIG Exploration, Inc.
          Columbia Gas Development Corporation
          CONOCO
          Dugan Production
          Jerome P. McHugh and Associates
          Kerns Oil and Gas
          Linmar Petroleum
          Mobil Oil
          Northwest Pipeline
          Odeco
          O & G Professionals
          Pennzoil Exploration and Production
          Union Pacific
          Western Production Company
          Williston Basin Interstate Pipeline
          Zia Data Search

     MMS is the federal agency that manages and regulates the
nation's natural gas, oil and other mineral resources on the
Outer Continental Shelf, and collects and disburses about $4
billion yearly in revenues from offshore federal mineral leases
and from onshore mineral leases on federal and Indian lands.

                                   -MMS-