Exhibit (a)(2)(iv)


BARRETT RESOURCES CORPORATION

news release


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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CONTACT:
Frank Keller/Robert Howard       Paul Verbinnen/David Reno/Jonathan Gasthalter
                                 Citigate Sard Verbinnen
Barrett Resources                212-687-8080
303-572-3900

            BARRETT RESOURCES POSTPONES ANNUAL SHAREHOLDER MEETING

     DENVER, CO - April 19, 2001 - Barrett Resources Corporation (NYSE: BRR)
today announced that it has postponed its annual shareholder meeting scheduled
for May 3, 2001, in light of its previously announced and continuing process to
maximize shareholder value.  A new date has not yet been set.

     Peter A. Dea, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Barrett, said, "We
are pleased with our process, it is proceeding expeditiously and in a manner
designed to maximize value to our shareholders."

     Barrett Resources is a Denver-based independent natural gas and oil
exploration and production company that is also involved in gas gathering,
marketing and trading activities. Barrett's properties are focused primarily in
the Rocky Mountain region of Colorado, Wyoming and Utah, the Mid-Continent area
of Kansas, and Oklahoma and the Gulf of Mexico region of offshore Texas and
Louisiana. For additional information about Barrett, please visit our Web site
at www.brr.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain projections and other forward-looking statements
within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.  Such projections or statements include the Company's current views
with respect to future events, financial performance, Board decisions with
respect to modifying the process described herein, and expectations of responses
by potential qualified parties.  No assurances can be given, however, that these
events will occur or that such projections will be achieved and actual results
could differ materially from those projected.  A discussion of important factors
that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected is
included in the Company's periodic reports filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.

IN RESPONSE TO THE TENDER OFFER COMMENCED BY SHELL OIL COMPANY THROUGH ITS
INDIRECT WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY SRM ACQUISITION COMPANY ON MARCH 12, 2001,
BARRETT RESOURCES CORPORATION HAS FILED WITH THE SEC ITS RECOMMENDATION TO
STOCKHOLDERS REGARDING THE TENDER OFFER.

IN RESPONSE TO ANY CONSENT SOLICITATION THAT MAY BE COMMENCED BY SHELL AND SRM
ACQUISITION, BARRETT WOULD FILE WITH THE SEC ANY CONSENT REVOCATION STATEMENT
AND ANY OTHER SOLICITATION MATERIALS THAT MAY BE PREPARED BY BARRETT IN RESPONSE



TO SHELL'S CONSENT SOLICITATION.  BARRETT HAS FILED WITH THE SEC A PRELIMINARY
CONSENT REVOCATION STATEMENT AND OTHER SOLICITATION MATERIALS IN RESPONSE TO A
PRELIMINARY CONSENT SOLICITATION STATEMENT FILED BY SHELL WITH THE SEC.
INVESTORS ARE STRONGLY ADVISED TO READ ANY DEFINITIVE CONSENT REVOCATION
STATEMENT, IF AND WHEN IT IS FILED AND BECOMES AVAILABLE, BECAUSE IT WILL
CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION.  ANY DEFINITIVE CONSENT REVOCATION STATEMENT
WOULD BE FILED BY BARRETT WITH THE SEC.

STOCKHOLDERS AND INVESTORS WILL BE ABLE TO OBTAIN A FREE COPY OF ANY DEFINITIVE
CONSENT REVOCATION STATEMENT (IF AND WHEN FILED AND AVAILABLE) AND OTHER
RELEVANT DOCUMENTS ON THE SEC'S WEB SITE AT WWW.SEC.GOV. ANY DEFINITIVE CONSENT
REVOCATION STATEMENT AND RELATED MATERIALS MAY ALSO BE OBTAINED FOR FREE BY
DIRECTING A REQUEST TO BARRETT RESOURCES CORPORATION-- INVESTOR RELATIONS AT
(303) 572-3900.

                     CERTAIN INFORMATION REGARDING PERSONS
                      WHO MAY BE DEEMED TO BE PARTICIPANTS

IN ADDITION, THE IDENTITY OF PEOPLE WHO, UNDER SEC RULES, MAY BE CONSIDERED
PARTICIPANTS IN THE SOLICITATION OF CONSENT REVOCATIONS FROM BARRETT
STOCKHOLDERS AND SUCH PERSONS' HOLDINGS OF BARRETT COMMON STOCK ARE CONTAINED IN
BARRETT'S PRELIMINARY CONSENT REVOCATION STATEMENT FILED WITH THE SEC UNDER
REGULATION 14A.
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