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                                                                  EXHIBIT 99.10



                        [Apache Corporation Letterhead]



CONTACTS:

(MEDIA):                  TONY LENTINI                      (713/296-6227)
                          BILL MINTZ                        (713/296-7276)

(INVESTOR):               ROBERT DYE                        (713/296-6662)

(WEB SITE):               WWW.APACHECORP.COM

                                                           FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


FUNDING STRUCTURE PROVIDES ROOM FOR ADDITIONAL GROWTH
         APACHE CLOSES ON PURCHASE OF SHELL ASSETS IN GULF OF MEXICO

         Houston, May 18, 1999 - Apache Corporation (NYSE: APA) announced today
that it has completed the previously announced acquisition of Gulf of Mexico
properties from Shell Exploration & Production Company for $715 million,
subject to adjustments, plus 1 million shares of Apache common stock.  Apache
estimates the properties' proved reserves at 127.3 million barrels of oil
equivalent.

         The cash portion of the acquisition price was funded through a
combination of debt and equity.  In an offering underwritten by Goldman, Sachs
& Co., Apache raised net proceeds of approximately $655 million through the
issuance of approximately 15 million shares of common stock and 7 million
shares of mandatorily convertible preferred stock.  The shares were priced on
May 12, 1999, at $31 per share.  The balance of the acquisition price was
funded under Apache's existing lines of credit.

         "The Shell transaction adds immediate shareholder value, and our
successful stock offering enhances Apache's balance sheet," said Vice President
and Chief Financial Officer Roger Plank.

                                     -more-
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 APACHE CLOSES ON PURCHASE OF SHELL ASSETS - ADD 1

         Plank noted that the size of Apache's equity offering was increased
due to strong market demand.  He said after completing the largest transaction
in Apache's history, "the company's increased cash flow and 5 percent reduction
in our debt-to-capitalization ratio improve our position to pursue additive
transactions at a time when massive assets are changing hands."

         The assets purchased from Shell include 22 producing fields, 18 of
which will be operated by Apache, 16 undeveloped blocks and access to 3-D
seismic data covering more than 1,000 blocks throughout the Gulf.  The
properties are in water depths of less than 700 feet and have a proved reserve
life of more than seven years.  The fields' February production averaged 24,900
barrels of oil and 125 million cubic feet of natural gas per day.  Apache
expects to take over operations July 1.

         The transaction is effective retroactively to March 1, 1999.  Apache
said it expects the assets will add to earnings per share and cash flow per
share.

         Apache Corporation is an independent oil and gas company with
operations in North America, Egypt, Western Australia, Poland, People's
Republic of China and West Africa's Cote d'Ivoire.  Its common stock is traded
on the New York and Chicago stock exchanges.

         This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements" as
defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 including,
without limitation, expectations, beliefs, plans and objectives regarding
Apache's earnings, cash flow, production, reserves and capitalization.  Any
matters that are not historical facts are forward- looking and, accordingly,
involve estimates, assumptions and uncertainties.  There is no assurance that
Apache's expectations will be realized, and actual results may differ
materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements.

                                     -end-