Exhibit 99.1

   CIMAREX ENERGY ANNOUNCES FOURTH-QUARTER PRODUCTION VOLUMES AND SCHEDULES
                     EARNINGS RELEASE AND CONFERENCE CALL

    DENVER, Jan. 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Cimarex Energy Co. (NYSE: XEC)
today announced that fourth-quarter 2005 oil and gas production volumes
averaged 431 million cubic feet per day (MMcfe/d), an 87 percent increase over
the 231 MMcfe/d in the same period a year earlier.  Gas production rose 77
percent to 331 million cubic feet per day and oil volumes increased 125
percent to 16,686 barrels per day.

    The acquisition of Magnum Hunter Resources, Inc. in June 2005 and
continued positive drilling results boosted fourth quarter volumes.  Partially
offsetting these gains were hurricane related disruptions (41-45 MMcfe/d) and
property divestitures (5 MMcfe/d).

    Fourth-quarter prices are expected to range from $10.40 to $10.50 per
thousand cubic feet of gas and $56.75 to $57.00 per barrel of oil.

    Other notable recent events include a new discovery in South Louisiana and
closing the sale of certain fields in West Texas.  The Donald Harrington #1 at
the Cherokee Creek prospect (100% working interest) in Vermilion Parish,
Louisiana was completed and initiated sales in mid-January 2006 and is
currently producing at a daily rate of 26 million cubic feet of gas and 150
barrels of condensate at 8,300 pounds per square inch of flowing tubing
pressure.

    On December 29, 2005, Cimarex received $61 million from the sale of
certain West Texas properties.  For the full-year 2005, Cimarex sold oil and
gas properties totaling over $155 million.

    The property sales proceeds were used to eliminate the remainder of the
Company's bank debt and for initiating share repurchases.  Since the
June 7, 2005 closing of the Magnum Hunter acquisition, $270 million of bank
debt has been repaid and the company's year-end cash equivalent investments
approximated $62 million.

    Cimarex will release its fourth-quarter 2005 financial results on
Wednesday, February 15, 2006 before the market opens and will host a follow-up
conference call and web cast at 11 a.m. Mountain Time (1:00 p.m. Eastern
Time).  To access the live, interactive conference call, please dial
800-322-0079 ten minutes before the scheduled start time.  The listen-only web
cast of the call will be accessible via www.cimarex.com.

    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-                             01/24/2006
    /CONTACT:  Mark Burford, Director of Capital Markets of Cimarex Energy
Co., +1-303-295-3995/
    /Web site:  http://www.cimarex.com /
    (XEC)