AKIN, GUMP, STRAUSS, HAUER & FELD, L.L.P.
   WASHINGTON, D.C.                                     ATTORNEYS AT LAW                                BRUSSELS, BELGIUM          
    AUSTIN, TEXAS                           A REGISTERED LIMITED LIABILITY PARTNERSHIP                    MOSCOW, RUSSIA            
  SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS                           INCLUDING PROFESSIONAL CORPORATIONS          
    HOUSTON, TEXAS                                     1700 PACIFIC AVENUE                  
  NEW YORK, NEW YORK                                        SUITE 4100                      
                                                     DALLAS, TEXAS 75201-4618
                                                          (214) 969-2800
                                                           TELEX 732324  
                                                        FAX (214) 969-4343
                                            WRITER'S DIRECT DIAL NUMBER (214) 969-2800
                                             
 
                    
                                       June 3, 1996



     United Meridian Corporation
     1201 Louisiana, Suite 1400
     Houston, Texas  77002

     Ladies and Gentlemen:

        We have acted as counsel to United Meridian Corporation, a Delaware
     corporation (the "Company"), in connection with the proposed registration
     of 600,000 shares of the Company's Series A Voting Common Stock, $.01 par
     value (the "Common Stock"), as described in a registration statement on
     Form S-8 relating to the Common Stock to be issued under the Company's 1994
     Employee Nonqualified Stock Option Plan, as amended (the "Employee Plan"),
     and the Company's 1994 Outside Directors' Nonqualified Stock Option Plan,
     as amended (the "Director Plan"), which registration statement is to be
     filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

        We have, as counsel, examined such corporate records, certificates and
     other documents and reviewed such questions of law as we have deemed
     necessary, relevant or appropriate to enable us to render the opinions
     listed below.  In rendering such opinions, we have assumed the genuineness
     of all signatures and the authenticity of all documents examined by us.  As
     to various questions of fact material to such opinions, we have relied upon
     representations of the Company.

        Based upon such examination and representations, we advise you that, in
     our opinion:

        A. The shares of Common Stock to be issued under the Employee Plan and
     the Director Plan which are to be registered pursuant to the Registration
     Statement have been duly and validly authorized by the Company.

        B. The shares of Common Stock to be issued under the Employee Plan and
     the Director Plan which are to be registered pursuant to the Registration
     Statement, when issued and delivered in accordance with the Employee Plan
     or the Director Plan, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-
     assessable.

 
AKIN, GUMP, STAUSS, HAUER & FELD, L.L.P.

UNITED MERIDIAN CORPORATION
JUNE 3, 1996
PAGE 2

        We consent to the reference to this firm in the Registration Statement
     and to the filing of this opinion as Exhibit 5 to the Registration
     Statement.


                                  Sincerely,

                                  /s/ Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, L.L.P.
                                  ---------------------------------------------

                                  AKIN, GUMP, STRAUSS, HAUER & FELD, L.L.P.