Exhibit 99.1

 CIMAREX ENERGY ANNOUNCES COMMENCEMENT OF A QUARTERLY DIVIDEND, AUTHORIZATION
   FOR A COMMON STOCK REPURCHASE PROGRAM AND UPDATED 2006 CAPITAL GUIDANCE

    DENVER, Dec. 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Cimarex Energy Co. (NYSE: XEC)
announced today that its Board of Directors has declared a quarterly dividend
on its common stock of 4 cents-per-share.  The dividend is payable on March 1,
2006 to stockholders of record on February 15, 2006.

    The Board of Directors also authorized a discretionary common stock
repurchase program of up to 4,000,000 shares, or approximately five percent
(5%), of the company's common stock outstanding. Purchases may be made from
time-to-time in the open market or through privately negotiated transactions and
will be subject to competing investment opportunities, current market
conditions, federal security laws and other limitations.

    Cimarex's exploration and development capital expenditures for 2006 are
projected to approximate one billion dollars. The capital program breakdown by
region is as follows:

                                  (in millions)
    Mid-Continent                 $        290             29%
    Permian                                295             29%
    Gulf Coast                             245             24%
    Gulf of Mexico                         130             13%
    Other                                   40              4%
                                  $      1,000            100%

    During the fourth quarter of 2005 Cimarex has entered into a purchase and
sale agreement to divest certain west Texas secondary oil recovery properties
for $61 million. Including oil and gas property sales announced through the end
of the third quarter, Cimarex anticipates properties sales in 2005 to total over
$155 million. Production associated with these properties approximates 13
million cubic feet equivalent per day.

    About Cimarex Energy

    Denver-based Cimarex Energy Co. is an independent oil and gas exploration
and production company with principal operations in the Mid-Continent, Gulf
Coast, Permian Basin of West Texas and New Mexico and Gulf of Mexico areas of
the U.S.

    This communication contains statements that constitute forward-looking
statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995. These statements are based on current expectations and beliefs and are
subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause
actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking
statements. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially
from the projections, anticipated results or other expectations expressed in
this release and other risks that are described in SEC reports filed by Cimarex.
While Cimarex makes these forward-looking statements in good faith, neither
Cimarex nor its management can guarantee that the anticipated future results
will be achieved. Cimarex assumes no obligation and expressly disclaims any duty
to update the information contained herein except as required by law.

SOURCE  Cimarex Energy Co.
    -0-                             12/14/2005
    /CONTACT:  Mark Burford, Director of Capital Markets of Cimarex Energy
Co., +1-303-295-3995/
    /Web site:  http://www.cimarex.com /