EXHIBIT 99.2

                       UNION TEXAS PETROLEUM (LETTERHEAD)

NEWS RELEASE

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


                 UNION TEXAS PETROLEUM ANNOUNCES ORGANIZATIONAL

                   CHANGES TO IMPLEMENT NEW GROWTH STRATEGIES


          Houston,  June 10, 1996 -- Union Texas Petroleum Holdings,  Inc. today
announced a number of  organizational  changes in its exploration and production
and petrochemical operations.

         "These organizational  changes will enable Union Texas to clearly focus
on pursuing new growth strategies,  which in turn will help us to accomplish our
mission of achieving  superior  growth in shareholder  value," said Chairman and
CEO John  Whitmire.  "During  the past ten  years,  the Union  Texas team did an
excellent job of reducing debt and becoming more efficient. Now it's time to put
some  muscle into  growing  this  company,  aggressively  seeking  new  business
opportunities  and  maximizing  the strong  performance  from our existing  core
operations."

         Under the new management  structure,  Senior Vice Presidents Bill Krips
and Art Peabody are  responsible  for  overseeing  the  company's  newly created
regional business units and growth teams, respectively.

REGIONAL BUSINESS UNITS

         Union  Texas has  created  three  regional  business  units,  where the
respective  senior  managers are  responsible  for  developing  growth plans and
building on the company's existing assets in their regions.

         Jim Knight has been  appointed  Regional Vice President of Union Texas'
business unit that covers Europe,  Africa, the Middle East and the former Soviet
Union,  including the company's  existing  operations in the United  Kingdom and
Pakistan.



         Trey Wilson has been named  Regional  Vice  President of the  company's
business unit which covers the Americas,  including  Union Texas'  petrochemical
operations in Louisiana and its interests in Alaska.

         Alan  Cunningham  has been  appointed  Regional Vice President of Union
Texas'  business unit that covers the Pacific Rim and Asia. He also oversees the
company's interests in its Sanga-Sanga joint venture in Indonesia.

         Norm  Mason  has  been  named   Director-Technical   Services   and  is
responsible  for the company's  technical  services  group,  including  drilling
services, which supports Union Texas' regional business units and growth teams.

GROWTH TEAMS

         Union Texas also has  developed  four growth  teams that are focused on
exploration,  enhanced oil recovery projects,  acquisitions,  and evaluations of
the company's portfolio of assets and opportunities.

         Roger  Pierce  has been  named  Vice  President  -  Exploration  and is
responsible for evaluation of all new venture exploration  opportunities as well
as management of exploration activities at Union Texas' existing operations.  He
also directs the company's petrophysical activities.

         Rich MacDougal has been appointed Director-Enhanced Oil Recovery. He is
responsible  for  identifying,  evaluating  and  securing  enhanced oil recovery
projects that will allow Union Texas to expand into new core areas.

         Barry  Schnapper  has  been  appointed   Director-Acquisitions  and  is
responsible  for  implementing  the company's  acquisitions  program which he is
coordinating with Union Texas' regional business units.



         Mike  Dawson  has  been  named  Director-Portfolio  Management  and  is
responsible for evaluating the company's assets and  opportunities and providing
business analysis to the regional business units and senior management.

CORPORATE

         Larry  Kalmbach will  continue in his role as Vice  President and Chief
Financial Officer with additional  responsibilities for the company's purchasing
and administration departments. John Zimmerman will continue in his role as Vice
President-Investor Relations.

         Alan Crain has been  appointed  Vice  President and General  Counsel of
Union Texas and oversees the company's law, commercial negotiations and security
departments. Amy Watkins has been named Secretary of the company.

         Joel Empie will continue in his role as Vice President and will provide
counsel to the company's senior management  regarding  business  development and
technology.  He also oversees Union Texas' technical committee.

         Chris Dimick will continue to serve as Director-Human Resources.



  


         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.
Union Texas celebrated its 100th anniversary in January 1996.

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