EXHIBIT 99.1


                      [Porter & Hedges, L.L.P. Letterhead]



                                October 30, 2002



PetroQuest Energy, Inc.
400 E. Kaliste Saloom Road, Suite 6000
Lafayette, Louisiana 70508

         Re:      Opinion as to legality of 5,750,000 shares
                  of the Company's common stock to be issued
                  pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         We have acted as counsel to PetroQuest Energy, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), in connection with the preparation for filing with
the Securities and Exchange Commission of a registration statement on Form S-3,
No. 333-63920, as amended (the "Registration Statement"), and a related
prospectus supplement (the "Prospectus Supplement") under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended. The Prospectus Supplement relates to the issuance of 5,000,000
shares (the "Shares") of the Company's common stock, $.001 par value (the
"Common Stock"), pursuant to an Underwriting Agreement dated as of October 30,
2002 (the "Agreement"), between the Company and Friedman, Billings, Ramsey &
Co., Inc. (the "Underwriter"), in a firm commitment underwriting, together with
up to 750,000 shares of Common Stock (the "Additional Shares") that may be
issued by the Company pursuant to the Underwriter's option as described in the
Prospectus Supplement.

         We have examined the Agreement and such corporate records, documents,
instruments and certificates of the Company, and have reviewed such questions of
law as we have deemed necessary, relevant or appropriate to enable us to render
the opinion expressed herein. In such examination, we have assumed without
independent investigation the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as
originals, the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of all natural
persons, and the conformity of any documents submitted to us as copies to their
respective originals. As to certain questions of fact material to this opinion,
we have relied without independent investigation upon statements or certificates
of public officials and officers of the Company.

         Based upon such examination and review, we are of the opinion that the
Shares to be issued and any Additional Shares that may be issued pursuant to the
Agreement have been duly authorized, and upon



PetroQuest Energy, Inc.
October 30, 2002
Page 2


issuance and delivery as described in the Prospectus Supplement, will be validly
issued, fully paid, and nonassessable shares of Common Stock.

         The opinion set forth above is limited in all respects to matters of
the laws of the State of Texas, the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware and applicable case law and the federal laws of the United States of
America, to the extent applicable.

         We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption "Legal
Matters" in the Registration Statement and the related prospectus and the
Prospectus Supplement relating to the Shares.

                                                 Very truly yours,

                                                 /s/ Porter & Hedges, L.L.P.

                                                 PORTER & HEDGES, L.L.P.