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                          [ARTHUR ANDERSEN LETTERHEAD]



June 5, 1997


Office of the Chief Accountant
SECPS Letter File
Securities and Exchange Commission
Mail Stop 9-5
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20547

We have read Item 4 included in the attached Form 8-K dated June 5, 1997, of
Venus Exploration, Inc. filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and
are in agreement with the statements contained therein.

Very truly yours,

/s/ ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP