Exhibit 99.1

                          Abraxas Petroleum Corporation
           500 N. Loop 1604 East, Suite 100, San Antonio, Texas 78232
                 P.O. Box 701007, San Antonio, Texas 78270-1007 Office:
                     210.490.4788 Fax: 210.490.8816

                                  NEWS RELEASE

                 Abraxas Announces South Texas Drilling Results

SAN  ANTONIO  (May  31,  2005)  -  Abraxas  Petroleum  Corporation   ("Abraxas")
(AMEX:ABP) today announced results from two Edwards  horizontal wells drilled in
South Texas this year.

The  two  wells  were  each  drilled  to a total  depth  of  15,500',  including
horizontal laterals of approximately 1,700'. The wells were completed and placed
on-line within the past 2 weeks at a combined  initial gross  production rate of
over 6 MMcfepd and are currently  producing  approximately  5 MMcfepd.  Abraxas'
total current net production is  approximately  18 MMcfepd,  a 27% increase over
1st quarter average.

The third  horizontal  well drilled in South Texas is awaiting  stimulation  and
results are anticipated prior to the end of the 2nd quarter.

"We are quite  pleased  with the results from the two Edwards  horizontal  wells
recently placed on-line and hope to have definitive  results from the third well
before long. A 27%  production  increase is very  significant  to achieving  our
overall  production  guidance for the year,  and provides a good  foundation for
optimism for the remainder of our 2005 drilling program,"  commented Bob Watson,
Abraxas' President and CEO.

Abraxas Petroleum  Corporation is a San Antonio-based  crude oil and natural gas
exploitation and production company with operations in Texas and Wyoming.

Safe Harbor for forward-looking  statements:  Statements in this release looking
forward in time involve  known and unknown  risks and  uncertainties,  which may
cause Abraxas' actual results in future periods to be materially  different from
any future performance  suggested in this release. Such factors may include, but
may not be necessarily limited to, changes in the prices received by Abraxas for
crude oil and natural  gas. In addition,  Abraxas'  future crude oil and natural
gas  production is highly  dependent upon Abraxas' level of success in acquiring
or finding additional reserves.  Further, Abraxas operates in an industry sector
where the  value of  securities  is highly  volatile  and may be  influenced  by
economic  and  other  factors  beyond  Abraxas'  control.   In  the  context  of
forward-looking  information provided for in this release,  reference is made to
the discussion of risk factors  detailed in Abraxas'  filing with the Securities
and Exchange Commission during the past 12 months.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Barbara M. Stuckey/Director of Corporate Development
Direct Telephone 210.757.9835
Main Telephone 210.490.4788
bstuckey@abraxaspetroleum.com
www.abraxaspetroleum.com