Gas News Release

March 30, 1999

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

NEW ORLEANS - CNG Producing Company, a subsidiary of Pittsburgh-based Consolidated Natural Gas Company (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: 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.

For further information contact:
Dan Donovan
412-690-1370