EXHIBIT 99.1


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




                                February 14, 2002




PetroQuest Energy, Inc.
400 E. Kaliste Saloom Road, Suite 3000
Lafayette, Louisiana 70508

         Re:  Opinion as to legality of 5,227,273 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 (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 4,545,455 shares
(the "Shares") of the Company's common stock, $.001 par value (the "Common
Stock"), pursuant to an Underwriting Agreement dated as of February 14, 2002
(the "Agreement"), between the Company and Johnson Rice & Company, L.L.C. (the
"Underwriter"), in a firm commitment underwriting, together with up to 681,818
shares (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 issuance and delivery as described
in the Prospectus Supplement, will be validly issued, fully paid, and
nonassessable shares of Common Stock of the Company.



PetroQuest Energy, Inc.
February 14, 2002
Page 2



         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 Registration Statement No. 333-63920 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.