NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                         For Further Information Contact:
May 22, 1998                                  Stan Green
                                              Executive Vice President - Finance
                                               and Corporate Development
                                              (501) 521-1141


              SOUTHWESTERN ENERGY NAMES HAROLD M. KORELL PRESIDENT

     Fayetteville,  Arkansas - May 22, 1998...Southwestern Energy Company (NYSE:
SWN) announced  today the appointment of Harold M. Korell as President and Chief
Operating  Officer of  Southwestern  Energy  Company and its  subsidiaries.  Mr.
Korell joined Southwestern in April, 1997, as Executive Vice President and Chief
Operating Officer.

     Commenting  on the  appointment,  Charles E.  Scharlau,  Chairman and Chief
Executive  Officer of  Southwestern  stated,  "Harold  Korell's  broad  range of
experience  in the  management  of  successful  E&P programs is a great asset to
Southwestern. Mr. Korell's vision, leadership and well-balanced perspective will
be instrumental in leading Southwestern's continuing development and growth."

     Prior to joining  Southwestern,  Mr.  Korell was Senior  Vice  President  -
Operations of American  Exploration  Company.  Earlier,  he was  Executive  Vice
President  of McCormick  Resources  and held various  technical  and  managerial
positions  with  Tenneco  Oil  Company and Mobil  Corporation.  Mr.  Korell is a
graduate of the Colorado School of Mines with a Professional  Degree in Chemical
and Petroleum Engineering.

     Southwestern Energy Company is a diversified natural gas company engaged in
gas and oil exploration and production, natural gas gathering, transmission, and
marketing, and natural gas distribution.

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