OMNI ENERGY SERVICES CORP.

                              NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:  John H. Untereker                             318.896.6664
          President/Chief Executive Officer


OMNI Energy Estimates Second Quarter Loss

CARENCRO, La., July 22, 1999 OMNI Energy Services Corp. (Nasdaq: OMNI),
announced today that its financial results will not meet analyst
expectations for the quarter ended June 30, 1999. The Company estimates
that it will report a net loss for the quarter of $4.3 million ($0.27 per
basic share) on revenues of $8.5 million compared to net income of $3.5
million ($0.22 per share) and revenues of $24.3 million in the June 1998
quarter.  The Company indicated that the earnings shortfall is attributable
to substantially lower domestic revenues from all business segments, which
aggregated $6.9 million for the quarter. Additionally, an operating loss of
$1.9 million ($0.12 per share) was incurred from South American operations
in the quarter.  The loss occurred primarily due to an integrated project
in Argentina, which encountered significant cost variances due to statutory
and labor problems.  The job has been completed and no further operating
losses are anticipated.

OMNI indicated final results for the quarter will be publicly released on
August 4, 1999.

Headquartered in Carencro, La., OMNI provides a broad range of integrated
services to both geophysical and exploration and production companies
engaged in the acquisition of on-shore seismic data.  The Company provides
its services through three business units: Seismic Drilling, Seismic Survey
and Helicopter Support.  OMNI specializes in operations in logistically
difficult and environmentally sensitive terrain worldwide.