EXHIBIT 99.1

On July 19, 2004, the Registrant issued the following press release:

          "PYR ENERGY ANNOUNCES COMMENCEMENT OF DRILLING ACTIVITIES AT
                      MALLARD PROSPECT, WYOMING OVERTHRUST

     DENVER - July 19, 2004 - PYR Energy Corporation (AMEX:PYR) today reported
that drilling activities have begun at the Company's Mallard Prospect in the
Wyoming Overthrust. The #1-30 Duck Federal well, located approximately nine
miles northeast of Evanston, Wyoming, will test a potential structural closure
at the south end of the Whitney Canyon - Carter Creek Field. PYR will
participate with a 5% working interest in the drilling, and will be carried to
casing point for an additional 23.75% working interest. After casing point, PYR
will have a 28.75% working interest in the initial test well and all subsequent
wells in the prospect. It is estimated that the drilling will take approximately
90 days to reach total depth. PYR currently controls 4160 net acres of leasehold
within the Greater Duck AMI.

     Whitney Canyon - Carter Creek, discovered in 1978, currently produces
natural gas from multiple horizons outside of PYR's prospect acreage. The main
target horizon at the Mallard Prospect is the Mission Canyon Formation at an
estimated depth of approximately 14,500 feet. The Mission Canyon Formation has
accounted for 93% of the cumulative production from Whitney Canyon - Carter
Creek.

     Denver based PYR Energy is an independent oil and gas company primarily
engaged in the exploration for and the development and production of natural gas
and crude oil. At the current time, PYR's activities are focused in select areas
of the Rocky Mountain region, the San Joaquin Basin of California, East Texas,
and the Gulf Coast. Additional information about PYR Energy Corporation can be
accessed via the Company's web site at www.pyrenergy.com.

                                      # # #

     This release contains forward-looking statements regarding PYR Energy
Corporation's future plans and expected performance based on assumptions the
Company believes to be reasonable. A number of risks and uncertainties could
cause actual results to differ materially from these statements, including,
without limitation, the success rate of exploration efforts and the timeliness
of development activities, fluctuations in oil and gas prices, and other risk
factors described from time to time in the Company's reports filed with the SEC.
In addition, the Company operates in an industry sector where securities values
are highly volatile and may be influenced by economic and other factors beyond
the Company's control. This press release includes the opinions of PYR Energy
and does not necessarily include the views of any other person or entity. This
release may not have been reviewed or approved by the operator and/ or
participants in any of the projects discussed."