H.J. GRUY AND ASSOCIATES, INC. - ------------------------------------------------------------ 1200 Smith Street, Suite 3040, Houston, Texas 77002 o FAX (713) 739-6112 o (713) 739-1000 CONSENT OF H.J. GRUY AND ASSOCIATES, INC. The Board of Directors XCL, Ltd. 110 Rue Jean Lafitte Lafayette, Louisiana 70508 Gentlemen: We hereby consent to the use of the name H.J. Gruy and Associates, Inc. and references to H.J. Gruy and Associates, Inc. and to the references to our letter report dated April 6, 1999 (Proved Reserves, Zhao Dong Block) prepared for XCL, Ltd. in the filing of the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998 of XCL, Ltd. Yours very truly, H.J. GRUY AND ASSOCIATES, INC. /s/ James H. Hartsock By: __________________________ James H. Hartsock, Phd, PE Executive Vice President Houston, Texas April 9, 1999