EXHIBIT 99.2

                     UNION TEXAS PETROLEUM
                           (LETTERHEAD)

NEWS RELEASE

Contact:    Carol L. Cox
            (713) 968-2714

              UNION TEXAS PETROLEUM ANNOUNCES
               CLOSING OF SECONDARY OFFERING


     Houston, May 25, 1995 -- Union Texas Petroleum Holdings,
Inc. (NYSE: UTH) announced today the closing of the secondary
public offering of 11.5 million shares of the 33.3 million
shares of the company's common stock owned by partnerships
affiliated with Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. (KKR).  The
shares included the exercise by the underwriters of their
option to purchase in full the additional 1.5 million shares
to cover over-allotments in the secondary offering at the
offering price of $22.125 per share, less underwriters'
discount.  Union Texas did not receive any proceeds from the
offering.  The KKR partnerships now own approximately 25% of
Union Texas' common stock outstanding.  As of March 31, 1995,
Union Texas had approximately 87.7 million shares of common
stock outstanding.

     The shares were offered concurrently in the United States
and internationally.  The offering was managed by Salomon
Brothers Inc, CS First Boston Corporation, Goldman, Sachs & Co.
and Merrill Lynch & Co.

     One of the largest independent producers located in the
U.S., Houston-based Union Texas Petroleum Holdings, Inc.
(NYSE: UTH) explores for and produces oil and gas overseas
primarily in the U.K. North Sea, Indonesia and other strategic
areas.  The company has petrochemical operations in Louisiana.



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