EXHIBIT 99.2


                      UNION TEXAS PETROLEUM
                           (LETTERHEAD)

NEWS RELEASE

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

          UNION TEXAS PETROLEUM ANNOUNCES RESULTS
           OF OFFSHORE TUNISIA EXPLORATION WELL

     Houston, September 13, 1995 -- Union Texas Maghreb, Inc.,
a subsidiary of Union Texas Petroleum Holdings, Inc., today
announced the results of an exploration well drilled on the
Ramla block offshore Tunisia.  Union Texas, as operator, said
that while the M'Sela No. 1 well found a significant oil
column and an active hydrocarbon system, poor reservoir quality
at this location makes the accumulation non-commercial. 
Additional exploration drilling on the block is planned for
1996.

     The M'Sela well began drilling on June 2, 1995, and is in
the process of being plugged and abandoned, after reaching a
total depth of 2,922 meters (9,587 feet).  Union Texas said
the well encountered a 150-meter gross (492 foot) oil column
in fractured volcanics, but only conducted a test over 30
meters (98 feet) of the oil column due to operational reasons.
The testing produced flow rates of up to 1,100 barrels a day
of 35 degree API gravity oil.  Union Texas said that production
at these rates from volcanics is not commercial and that future
exploration drilling on the Ramla block would focus on other
structures which would be expected to have different types of
reservoir rock.  The M'Sela well also flowed 15 degree API oil
from a carbonate section below the volcanics.

     "Based on information from the M'Sela well, we are
planning an active exploration program in this area during
1996.  We expect to acquire up to 1,000 kilometers of
additional seismic on the Ramla block, which would be
followed with further exploration drilling in 1996," said
Union Texas Senior Vice President Art Peabody.

     The 1-million acre Ramla block is situated about 80
miles offshore in the Gulf of Gabes, approximately 140 miles
southeast of the city of Tunis.  Water depths in the area
average about 200 feet.

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     Union Texas Maghreb, Inc., LL&E Tunisia Ltd., a
wholly-owned subsidiary of the Louisiana Land and
Exploration Company, and "L'Entreprise Tunisienne
d'Activities Petrolieres" (ETAP), the Tunisian National
Oil Company, are co-venturers in the Ramla block.  Union
Texas Maghreb has a 50% working interest and LL&E also has
a 50% working interest.  ETAP has the right to participate
for up to a 50% working interest in the event that a
discovery is developed on the Ramla block.

     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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A map of the Ramla block is available by contacting Union
Texas at 713-968-2712.