EXHIBIT 99.1

(BW) (MERIDIAN-RESOURCE) (TMR) The Meridian Resource Corporation Announces
Acreage Accumulation

      HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 21, 1998--The Meridian Resource
Corporation (NYSE:TMR) announced successful bids at the most recent Louisiana
State Lease Sale on five (5) key Louisiana lease tracts located within the
Rockefeller Refuge. The tracts were part of an exclusive 3-D Seismic option
covering 250 square miles which the State of Louisiana granted to GECO-Prakla.
Meridian and its partner, Burlington Resources, (NYSE:BR) (who acquired The
Louisiana Land and Exploration Company in 1997), participated in a group of six
underwriting companies. The tracts acquired comprised over 5,000 acres with
Meridian and Burlington each owning a 50 percent interest as part of the Joint
Venture Alliance created by Meridian and The Louisiana Land and Exploration
Company in 1996 whereby the companies agreed to jointly explore over 1,500
square miles in the south Louisiana Transition Zone. Total consideration for the
tracts was $6,656,000 and is the first State Lease Sale permitted after
GECO-Prakla and its six underwriting participants obtained the exclusive right
to acquire 3-D survey covering this area.

In addition, Meridian announced that it has exercised its exclusive right of
option to lease approximately 8,000 acres located under its 117-square-mile
proprietary 3-D survey covering its Main Pass/Breton Sound prospect area. During
1996, TMRC entered into a type III Exclusive Option with the State of Louisiana
covering approximately 22,000 acres. Lease terms were fixed at $110/acre and
22.5 percent Royalty. The Company commented that these lease positions and
seismic prospects represent very exciting opportunities for the Company which it
plans to drill within the next 6-12 months as part of its exploration program.

The Meridian Resource Corporation is an independent oil and natural gas company
engaged in the exploration for and development of oil and natural gas properties
utilizing 3-D seismic technology, primarily in south Louisiana, southeast Texas
and offshore Gulf of Mexico. Meridian's office is located in Houston, Texas and
the stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "TMR." For
additional information, visit our website at www.TMRC.com or our E-mail address
at TMRC@ix.netcom.com.

Certain of the foregoing statements may be deemed "forward-looking statements"
within the meaning of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Although Meridian
believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are
reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to have
been correct. Certain risks and uncertainties inherent in Meridian's business
are set forth in Meridian's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
These risks include (i) the continued production from existing wells at their
current or projected levels, (ii) price changes for oil and gas, (iii) the
ability of the Company to successfully complete those wells that have been
logged and reflect potential production, (iv) the ability of the Company to

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successfully complete and produce those reserves scheduled as "non-producing" or
"undeveloped", (v) the ability of the Company to acquire leases and timely drill
its exploratory prospects, (vi) risks regarding estimates of reserves, (vii)
production risks, (viii) governmental regulations and (ix) general risks
regarding the exploration for, and production of, oil and gas reserves.

      CONTACT:    Meridian Resource Corporation, Houston
                  Joseph A. Reeves, Jr., Michael J. Mayell, or P. Richard
                  "Dick" Gessinger, 281/558-8080

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