EXHIBIT 99.1



                TRITON SELLS PIPELINE INTEREST FOR $100 MILLION

DALLAS,  TEXAS  --  February  2, 1998 - Triton Energy has sold its 9.6% equity
interest  in  the Colombian pipeline company, Oleoducto Central S.A. (OCENSA),
for $100 million.  Net proceeds are approximately $98 million after $2 million
of  expenses.    The  sale  results  in  a  $50  million  gain  (aftertax), or
approximately  $1.36  per  diluted  share,  and  will be recorded in the first
quarter  of  1998.

Triton  has  retained  its  transportation rights, or the Company's ability to
ship  its  share  of  Cusiana  and  Cupiagua oil production through the OCENSA
pipeline system, which is based on a separate transportation agreement.  Under
the  Company's transportation agreement, Triton - as an initial shipper of oil
on  the  pipeline - retains the right to transport Cusiana light crude through
the  system  in  proportion  to  its  interest in the fields at a preferential
tariff  rate.

"We  continue  our strategy of harvesting nonstrategic assets with the sale of
our  equity interest in OCENSA," said Peter Rugg, Triton Senior Vice President
and  Chief  Financial  Officer.

The  Company  also  has entered into an equity swap in order to participate in
the  future  value  of  the  equity  in  OCENSA.

"The  sale,  which is a significant part of our finance plan, better positions
Triton  to  meet  our  anticipated  funding  requirements  this  year,"  Rugg
continued.

During  the  first  quarter  of 1998, proceeds from the OCENSA sale, cash flow
from  Colombian  oil production and new bank credit agreements will be used to
prepay  Triton's $125 million syndicated revolving credit facility, as well as
provide  funds  for  investments  or  capital  expenditures  during  the year.

"We  anticipate  a meaningful increase in operating cash flow from greater oil
production from the Cusiana and Cupiagua fields in Colombia, targeted to reach
500,000  barrels  per  day  in  1998,"  said  Rugg.    "In  addition,  we  are
establishing  new credit agreements with several banks.  To date, $150 million
of  these  new agreements, which provide more extended terms than our existing
$125  million  revolving  credit  facility,  has  been  signed."

OCENSA  was  created  in 1994 to own, expand, finance and operate the pipeline
and  port  facilities  that transport oil from Colombia's Cusiana and Cupiagua
fields to market. The pipeline system, 30 and 36 inches in diameter, traverses
495  miles  (800  kilometers)  across Colombia from the Llanos Basin, over the
Eastern  Cordillera  of  the Andes Mountains to the Caribbean port of Covenas.

The  pipeline  company  was  formed by Triton, its partners in the Cusiana and
Cupiagua  fields  -  Ecopetrol, British Petroleum and TOTAL - and two Canadian
pipeline  companies,  IPL  Enterprises  (Colombia) Inc. and TCPL International
Investments  Inc.

Triton  Energy Limited (NYSE: OIL) is a Dallas-based international oil and gas
exploration  and  production company primarily focused on large-scale projects
and  exploration  opportunities  around  the  world.    The  Company has major
projects  under  way  in  Latin  America  and  Southeast Asia.  It is actively
exploring  for  oil  and  gas  in  these areas, as well as in southern Europe,
Africa  and  the  Middle  East.

Certain  statements  in  this  news  release regarding future expectations and
financial  performance, including oil production from the Cusiana and Cupiagua
fields,  may be regarded as "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of
the  U.S. Securities Litigation Reform Act.  They are subject to various risks
and uncertainties, such as the timely completion of exploration, appraisal and
development  activities.    These  are  discussed  in  detail in the Company's
Securities  and  Exchange Commission filings, including the report on Form 10Q
for the quarter ended September 30, 1997.  Actual results may vary materially.

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Contacts:  Investors/Financial  Community  -  Crystal  C.  Bell,  214.691.5200
         Media  -  Sheila  Durante,  214.696.7655

For  more  information  about  Triton: www.tritonenergy.com or 1.888.OIL.NYSE.
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