EXHIBIT 99.1

ENCORE ACQUISITION COMPANY ANNOUNCES AGREEMENT TO ACQUIRE NATURAL GAS PRODUCING
PROPERTIES FOR $52.2 MILLION

FORT WORTH, Texas - July 2, 2003 - Encore Acquisition Company ("Encore") (NYSE:
EAC) announced today that it has agreed to acquire $ 52.2 million of interests
in Northern Louisiana. The purchase comes from a group of private sellers. The
properties are non-operated and are located in the Elm Grove Field in Bossier
Parish, Louisiana.

Jon Brumley, CEO, said "this type of acquisition is a fit. With our
high-pressure air opportunity expected to show significant growth in 2006 or
2007, we identified the North Louisiana Salt Basin as having the production
profile that will fill in the gap prior to the anticipated high-pressure air
uplift. We expect significant production growth from Elm Grove between now and
December 2005. Our intention is to make North Louisiana a core area for Encore."

Encore's internal reservoir engineers estimate proved reserves to be
approximately 37 billion cubic feet of gas equivalent (bcfe) with 14 bcfe of the
reserves in the proved developed category. Also, the new properties are
estimated to have over 20 bcfe of probable reserves. These probable volumes
represent additional Hosston and Cotton Valley opportunities within the field.
The production from these properties is 99% natural gas and the reserve to
production ratio is 14 years. Net production from these properties is
approximately 7,000 mcfe per day. Non-operated working interests range from 2%
to 38% across 1,800 (net) acres in 15 sections. The properties produce primarily
from multiple tight sandstone reservoirs at depths ranging between 7,200 and
10,000 feet. In addition, Encore is purchasing 1,500 (net) acres of rights that
can allow for possible exploration of the Bossier and Smackover Formations,
which produce in the area.

Encore has identified over 150 development and re-completion opportunities in
the Hosston and Cotton Valley Formations, and expects to exploit these
opportunities during the remainder of 2003, 2004, and 2005.

The acquisition is expected to be accretive to the Company's financial
parameters. From June 1, 2003 through the end of 2003, revenues less production
expenses are anticipated to be in excess of $10 million. Because the properties
are located in North Louisiana, the natural gas receives a relatively higher
price compared to many producing areas. Production expenses on a per mcfe basis
are expected to average $0.30 for lease operation expenses and $0.22 for
production taxes. Encore has hedged 5,000 mmbtu per day at an average NYMEX
equivalent of $5.06 for August 2003 through December 2005.

Encore anticipates closing the transaction, which is subject to due diligence
and other customary closing conditions, in July of 2003, effective June 1, 2003,
and expects to fund the transaction with bank financing under its existing
credit line.

Organized in 1998, Encore is a growing independent energy company engaged in the
acquisition, development and exploitation of North American oil and natural gas
reserves. Encore's oil and natural gas reserves are located in the Williston
Basin of Montana and North Dakota, the Permian Basin of Texas and New Mexico,
the Anadarko Basin of Oklahoma, the Powder River Basin of Montana and the
Paradox Basin of Utah.

This press release includes forward-looking statements. Forward-looking
statements give our current expectations or forecasts of future events based on
assumptions and estimations that management believes are reasonable given
currently available information. Forward-looking statements in this press
release relate to, among other things, the following: estimates of proved and
probable reserves and the percentage of total reserves in each category;
additional Hosston and Cotton Valley opportunities, as well as development in
those formations; exploration in horizons deeper than the Hosston and Cotton
Valley Formations; development and re-completion opportunities; expected capital
expenditures and the focus of the Company's capital program; anticipated prices
for natural gas, including the prices of natural gas in North Louisiana as
compared to other areas; anticipated accretion; projected revenues, lease
operation expenses and production taxes; the amount and expected benefits of
hedging arrangements; the closing of



the transaction; and the anticipated source of funds for the transaction.
However, the assumptions of management and the future performance of Encore are
both subject to a wide range of business risks and uncertainties and there is no
assurance that these statements and projections will be met. Factors that could
affect Encore's business include, but are not limited to: diversion of
management's attention from existing operations while pursuing acquisitions;
difficulties integrating acquisitions; complications resulting from increasing
the scope and geographic diversity of our operations through acquisitions;
inaccuracies in the assessment of total proved and probable reserves and daily
and annual production with respect to acquisitions; inaccuracies in our
assumptions regarding the expected accretion, revenues, lease operation
expenses, production taxes and other items of income and expense related to
acquisitions; the amount, nature and timing of capital expenditures; drilling of
wells; timing and amount of future production of oil and natural gas; operating
hazards; operating costs and other expenses and marketing of oil and natural
gas. Actual results could differ materially from those presented in the
forward-looking statements. Encore undertakes no obligation to publicly update
or revise any forward-looking statements. Further information on risks and
uncertainties is available in Encore's filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, which are incorporated by this reference as though fully set forth
herein.

Cautionary Note to U.S. Investors -- The United States Securities and Exchange
Commission ("SEC") permits oil and natural gas companies, in their filings with
the SEC, to disclose only proved reserves that a company has demonstrated by
actual production or conclusive formation tests to be economically and legally
producible under existing economic and operating conditions. We use certain
terms in this press release, such as probable and upside, which the SEC
guidelines strictly prohibit us from including in filings with the SEC. U.S.
Investors are urged to consider closely the disclosure in our Form 10-K, File
No. 1-16295, available from us at 777 Main Street, Suite 1400, Fort Worth, Texas
76102. You can also obtain this form from the SEC by calling 1.800.SEC.0330.


Contacts:

Morris B. Smith
Executive Vice President and CFO
817-339-0908

Rani M. Wainwright
Assistant Treasurer
817-339-0919