Amendments to the CAA were adopted in 1990 and contain provisions that may result in the gradual imposition of certain pollution control requirements with respect to air emissions from the operations of the Company. The EPA and states have been developing regulations to implement these requirements. The Company may be required to incur certain capital expenditures in the next several years for air pollution control equipment in connection with maintaining or obtaining operating permits and approvals addressing other air emission-related issues. However, the Company does not believe its operations will be materially adversely affected by any such requirements.

   Federal regulations require certain owners or operators of facilities that store or otherwise handle oil, such as the Company, to prepare and implement spill prevention, control, countermeasure ("SPCC") and response plans relating to the possible discharge of oil into surface waters. The Company has acknowledged the need for SPCC plans at certain of its properties and believes that it will be able to develop and implement these plans in the near future. The Oil Pollution Act of 1990, ("OPA") contains numerous requirements relating to the prevention of and response to oil spills into waters of the United States. The OPA subjects owners of facilities to strict joint and several liability for all containment and cleanup costs and certain other damages arising from a spill, including, but not limited to, the costs of responding to a release of oil to surface waters. The OPA also requires owners and operators of offshore facilities that could be the source of an oil spill into federal or state waters, including wetlands, to post a bond, letter of credit or other form of financial assurance in amounts ranging from $10 million in specified state waters to $35 million in federal outer continental shelf waters to cover costs that could be incurred by governmental authorities in responding to an oil spill. Such financial assurances may be increased by as much as $150 million if a formal risk assessment indicates that the increase is warranted. Noncompliance with OPA may result in varying civil and criminal penalties and liabilities. Operations of the Company are also subject to the federal Clean Water Act ("CWA") and analogous state laws. In accordance with the CWA, the state of Louisiana has issued regulations prohibiting discharges of produced water in state coastal waters effective July 1, 1997. Pursuant to other requirements of the CWA, the EPA has adopted regulations concerning discharges of storm water runoff. This program requires covered facilities to obtain individual permits, participate in a group permit or seek coverage under an EPA general permit. While certain of its properties may require permits for discharges of storm water runoff, the Company believes that it will be able to obtain, or be included under, such permits, where necessary, and make minor modifications to existing facilities and operations that would not have a material effect on the Company. Like OPA, the CWA and analogous state laws relating to the control of water pollution provide varying civil and criminal penalties and liabilities for releases of petroleum or its derivatives into surface waters or into the ground.

   The Company also is subject to a variety of federal, state and local permitting and registration requirements relating to protection of the environment. Management believes that the Company is in substantial compliance with current applicable environmental laws and regulations and that continued compliance with existing requirements will not have a material adverse effect on the Company.

Operating Hazards and Insurance

   The oil and natural gas business involves a variety of operating hazards and risks such as well blowouts, craterings, pipe failures, casing collapse, explosions, uncontrollable flows of oil, natural gas or well fluids, fires, formations with abnormal pressures, pipeline ruptures or spills, pollution, releases of toxic gas and other environmental hazards and risks. These hazards and risks could result in substantial losses to the Company from, among other things, injury or loss of life, severe damage to or destruction of property, natural resources and equipment, pollution or other environmental damage, cleanup responsibilities, regulatory investigation and penalties and suspension of operations. In addition, the Company may be liable for environmental damages caused by previous owners of property purchased and leased by the Company. As a result, substantial liabilities to third parties or governmental entities may be incurred, the payment of which could reduce or eliminate the funds available for exploration, development or acquisitions or result in the loss of the Company's properties. In accordance with customary industry practices, the Company maintains insurance against some, but not all, of such risks and losses. The Company does not carry business interruption insurance or protect against loss of revenues. There can be no assurance that any insurance obtained by the Company will be adequate to cover any losses or liabilities. The Company cannot predict the continued availability of insurance or the availability of insurance at premium levels that justify its purchase. The occurrence of a significant event not fully insured or indemnified against could materially and adversely affect the Company's financial condition and operations. The Company may elect to self-insure if management believes that the cost of insurance, although available, is excessive relative to the risks presented. In addition, pollution and environmental risks generally are not fully insurable. The occurrence of an event not fully covered by insurance could have a material adverse effect on the financial condition and results of operations of the Company. The Company participates in a substantial percentage of its wells on a nonoperated basis, which may limit the Company's ability to control the risks associated with oil and natural gas operations.

Title to Properties; Acquisition Risks

   The Company believes it has satisfactory title to all of its producing properties in accordance with standards generally accepted in the oil and natural gas industry, except to the extent described in Note 8 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements with respect to certain Starr County properties. The Company's properties are subject to customary royalty interests, liens incident to operating agreements, liens for current taxes and other burdens which the Company believes do not materially interfere with the use of or affect the value of such properties. As is customary in the industry in the case of undeveloped properties, little investigation of