Contact : James Leahy

                                                                 Al Petrie
                                                                 504-566-6478






                         BURLINGTON RESOURCES ANNOUNCES
                        THE COMPLETION OF ITS MERGER WITH
                   THE LOUISIANA LAND AND EXPLORATION COMPANY


         Houston,  Texas, October 22, 1997 - Burlington Resources Inc. (NYSE-BR)
announced the completion of its merger with The Louisiana  Land and  Exploration
Company  (LL&E).  Each  company's  shareholders   overwhelmingly   approved  the
transaction at separate meetings today. Bobby Shackouls, Chairman, President and
Chief  Executive  Officer  of BR  stated,  "The  new  Burlington  Resources  has
everything necessary to lead its peers worldwide. We have worked hard to produce
a seamless  integration  between  these two great  companies and we will hit the
ground running."












                           FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release  contains  projections and other  forward-looking  statements
within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934. These
projections  and statements  reflect the Company's  views with respect to future
events and financial performance. No assurance can be given, however, that these
events will occur or that these  projections will be achieved and actual results
could differ  materially from those projected as a result of certain factors.  A
discussion of these factors is included in the Company's  periodic reports filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission.


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