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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 13G
UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Benton Oil and Gas Company
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(Name of Issuer)
Common Stock
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(Title of Class of Securities)
083288 10 0
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(CUSIP Number)
July 14, 1998
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(Date of Event which Requires Filing of this Statement)
Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule
is filed:
[ ] Rule 13d-1(b)
[ X ] Rule 13d-1(c)
[ ] Rule 13d-1(d)
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SCHEDULE 13G
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CUSIP No. 083288 10 0
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1) Name of Reporting Persons
I.R.S. Identification Nos. of above persons (entities only)
Cross Timbers Oil Company
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75-2347769
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2) Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions)
a) [ X ] b) [ ]
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3) SEC Use Only
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4) Citizenship or Place of Organization
Delaware
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5) Sole Voting Power
Number of Shares 200,000
Beneficially Owned by -------
Each Reporting Person ----------------------------------------------------
With 6) Shared Voting Power
1,432,000 *
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7) Sole Dispositive Power
200,000
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8) Shared Dispositive Power
1,432,000 *
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9) Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person
1,632,000 **
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10) Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares (See
Instructions) [ ]
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11) Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9)
5.5% **
----
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12) Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions)
CO
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* Represents shares held by Cross Timbers Trading Company, a wholly owned
subsidiary of Cross Timbers Oil Company.
** Includes 1,432,000 shares (4.8%) held by Cross Timbers Trading Company.
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SCHEDULE 13G
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CUSIP No. 083288 10 0
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1) Name of Reporting Persons
I.R.S. Identification Nos. of above persons (entities only)
Cross Timbers Trading Company
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75-2613610
----------
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2) Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions)
a) [ X ] b) [ ]
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3) SEC Use Only
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4) Citizenship or Place of Organization
Delaware
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5) Sole Voting Power
Number of Shares
Beneficially Owned by ----------------------------------------------------
Each Reporting Person 6) Shared Voting Power
With 1,432,000
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7) Sole Dispositive Power
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8) Shared Dispositive Power
1,432,000
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9) Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person
1,432,000
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10) Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares (See
Instructions) [ ]
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11) Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9)
4.8%
----
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12) Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions)
CO
--
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SCHEDULE 13G
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CUSIP No. 083288 10 0
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1) Name of Reporting Persons
I.R.S. Identification No. of above persons (entities only)
Bob R. Simpson
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2) Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions)
a) [ X ] b) [ ]
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3) SEC Use Only
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4) Citizenship or Place of Organization
United States
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5) Sole Voting Power
Number of Shares 12,000
Beneficially Owned by ------
Each Reporting Person ----------------------------------------------------
With 6) Shared Voting Power
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7) Sole Dispositive Power
12,000
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8) Shared Dispositive Power
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9) Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person
12,000
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10) Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares (See
Instructions) [ ]
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11) Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9)
Less than 0.1%
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12) Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions)
IN
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ITEM 1.
(a) Name of Issuer:
BENTON OIL AND GAS COMPANY
(b) Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices:
1145 Eugenia Place, Suite 200
Carpenteria, California 93013
ITEM 2.
(a) Name of Persons Filing:
Cross Timbers Oil Company
Cross Timbers Trading Company, a wholly owned
subsidiary of Cross Timbers Oil Company
Bob R. Simpson
(b) Address of Principal Business Office:
810 Houston Street, Suite 2000
Fort Worth, Texas 76102
(c) Citizenship:
Cross Timbers Oil Company is a Delaware corporation.
Cross Timbers Trading Company is a Texas corporation.
Bob R. Simpson is a citizen of the United States.
(d) Title of Class of Securities:
Common Stock
(e) CUSIP Number:
083288 10 0
ITEM 3.
This statement is filed pursuant to Rule 13d-1(c).
ITEM 4. OWNERSHIP
(a) Amount beneficially owned as of July 22, 1998:
Cross Timbers Oil Company (includes shares
held by Cross Timbers Trading Company) 1,632,000
Cross Timbers Trading Company 1,432,000
Bob R. Simpson 12,000
(b) Percent of class:
Cross Timbers Oil Company (includes shares
held by Cross Timbers Trading Company) 5.5%
Cross Timbers Trading Company 4.8%
Bob R. Simpson Less than 0.1%
(c) Number of shares as to which such person has:
(i) Sole power to vote or to direct the vote:
Cross Timbers Oil Company 200,000
Cross Timbers Trading Company 0
Bob R. Simpson 12,000
(ii) Shared power to vote or to direct the vote:
Cross Timbers Oil Company 1,432,000
Cross Timbers Trading Company 1,432,000
Bob R. Simpson 0
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(iii) Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of:
Cross Timbers Oil Company 200,000
Cross Timbers Trading Company 0
Bob R. Simpson 12,000
(iv) Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of:
Cross Timbers Oil Company 1,432,000
Cross Timbers Trading Company 1,432,000
Bob R. Simpson 0
ITEM 5. OWNERSHIP OF FIVE PERCENT OR LESS OF A CLASS
Not applicable.
ITEM 6. OWNERSHIP OF MORE THAN FIVE PERCENT ON BEHALF OF ANOTHER PERSON
Not applicable.
ITEM 7. IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF THE SUBSIDIARY WHICH ACQUIRED THE
SECURITY BEING REPORTED ON BY THE PARENT HOLDING COMPANY
Not applicable.
ITEM 8. IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF MEMBERS OF THE GROUP
The persons identified under Item 2 above are filing this schedule as a
group pursuant to Rule 13d-1(c).
ITEM 9. NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF GROUP
Not applicable.
ITEM 10. CERTIFICATION
By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and
belief, the securities referred to above were not acquired and are not
held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing
the control of the issuer of the securities and were not acquired and
are not held in connection with or as a participant in any transaction
having that purpose or effect.
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SIGNATURES
After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I
certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and
correct.
CROSS TIMBERS OIL COMPANY
Date: July 23, 1998 By: /s/ LOUIS G. BALDWIN
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Louis G. Baldwin
Senior Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer
CROSS TIMBERS TRADING COMPANY
By: /s/ LOUIS G. BALDWIN
---------------------------------------------
Louis G. Baldwin
Senior Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer
/s/ BOB R. SIMPSON
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Bob R. Simpson
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EXHIBIT 99.1
1. Joint Filing. Pursuant to Rule 13d-1(k)(1)(iii) of Regulation 13D-G of the
General Rules and Regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the undersigned agrees that
the statement to which this Exhibit is attached is filed on behalf of each of
them in the capacities set forth below.
2. Power of Attorney. Know all persons by these presents that each person whose
signature appears below constitutes and appoints Steffen E. Palko, J. Richard
Seeds and Louis G. Baldwin, and each of them, as his or its true and lawful
attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution and
resubstitution, for such person and in such person's name, place and stead,
in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments to the Schedule 13G
and any reports filed pursuant to Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, filed on behalf of each of them with respect to their beneficial
ownership of Benton Oil and Gas Company, and to file the same, with all
exhibits thereto and all documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and
agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and
every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the
premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as such person might or could
do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact
and agents or any of them, or such person or their substitute or substitutes,
may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
DATE: July 23, 1998
CROSS TIMBERS OIL COMPANY
By: /s/ LOUIS G. BALDWIN
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Louis G. Baldwin
Senior Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer
CROSS TIMBERS TRADING COMPANY
By: /s/ LOUIS G. BALDWIN
---------------------------------------------
Louis G. Baldwin
Senior Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer
/s/ BOB R. SIMPSON
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Bob R. Simpson
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