PANACO INC
S-1/A, 1997-01-31
CRUDE PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS
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                                                              January 30, 1997

Mr. Roger Schwall
Assistant Director
Division of Corporate Finance
Securities and Exchange Commission
Washington, D.C.  20549
Mail Stop 3-7
                                                           Re:      PANACO, Inc.
                        Form S-1 filed December 19, 1996
                               Filed No. 333-18233

Dear Mr. Schwall:

         Filed herewith Is Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the above captioned
Registration Statement.

         Set forth below are our  responses  to the  comments  contained in your
letter of January 23rd:

     Comment No. 1. The comment has been noted.

     Comment No. 2. The sentence appearing on page 58 has been deleted as it was
inapplicable.  There is no  intention  to  create  an  offering  to be made on a
delayed or continuous basis under Rule 415.

     Comment  No.  3.  The  reference  in  Footnote  No.  4  to  30  days  is  a
typographical error and has been corrected.

     Comment No. 4. We are advised by the Underwriter  that they wish to reserve
the right to include other  underwriters in this Offering  although none have as
yet been  named.  Additional  underwriters,  if any,  will be named in the final
prospectus.

     Comment  No. 5. The line  item  "Funds  provided  by  operations"  has been
deleted.

     Comment No. 6. Nolan  Securities  Corporation  has  informed us that it has
participated  in  numerous  underwritten  public  offerings.   Recently,   Nolan
Securities  Corporation  was the lead agent of the public  offering of shares of
common stock of Energy

<PAGE>



Conversion  Devices,  Inc.  and  co-manager  of a public  offering  of shares of
MidCoast  Energy  Resources.  In  addition,  over  the  past  six  years,  Nolan
Securities  Corporation  has served as a member of the selling group in numerous
public offerings of securities.  Consequently, Nolan Securities Corporation does
not believe  that it is  appropriate  to include a risk factor  referring to the
underwriter's inexperience.

     Comment No. 7. As noted below, the offering structure has been changed from
"all or none" to a "minimum-maximum"  best efforts  underwriting.  The requested
risk factor has been provided.

     Comment No. 8. As we outlined to you in our  discussion  on the phone we do
not feel that such a risk factor is appropriate. All of the Company's production
is on the major pipelines  serving the Gulf of Mexico.  These pipelines  present
the best markets for  products in the country and there are  numerous  potential
purchasers on these  pipelines  that are available to the Company.  It is a mere
coincidence  that such a high  percentage of the  Company's  revenue was derived
from sales to Tenneco Gas  Marketing  Company.  Substitute  purchasers  could be
found  immediately  should the company no longer  sell to Tenneco Gas  Marketing
Company. These matters are discussed under "The Company Markets."

     Comment  No.  9.  The  risk  factors  have  been  rearranged  in  order  of
materiality.

     Comment No. 10. A table has been added to the "Use of Proceeds" section.

     Comment  No.  11.  None of the  proceeds  will be  used  to  discharge  any
short-term  indebtedness as the Registrant does not have any material short-term
indebtedness.

     Comment  No. 12. No  additional  funds  will be  necessary  to develop  the
properties  acquired in the Amoco  Acquisition  other than the  proceeds of this
acquisition and funds provided by the Registrant's operations.

     Comment  No.  13. The  disclosure  has been  revised  to  provide  that the
Offering is being done on a minimum-maximum best efforts basis. As requested, we
have prioritized the use of proceeds in the event that only the minimum offering
is achieved.

     Comment No. 14. The $30,690,000  number was in error. It has been corrected
in this filing.

     Comment  No.  15.  Separate  columns  have  been  added  to the  pro  forma
presentation to show the impact of the retirement of the debt.

     Comment No. 16. The pro forma  balance  sheet has been  adjusted to include
the number of Common Shares outstanding.

     Comment No. 17. The statements have been deleted.

<PAGE>



     Comment No. 18. The notes to the pro forma  presentation have been expanded
to make it clear  that the pro  forma  results  of  operations  for 1995 did not
contain  activity for the Bayou Sorrel Field as it was purchased on December 28,
1995.

     Comment No. 19. All  references to "cash flows from  operations"  and "cash
flows" and per share figures relating thereto have been deleted.

     Comment  No.  20.  Disclosure  has been  added in Note  number 1 to the pro
formas to  clarify  that  income  tax  expense  is not  included  because of the
Company's net operating loss carry forward.

     Comment  No.  21.  Disclosure  has been  added in Note  number 1 to the pro
formas to clarify that no pro forma adjustments to G&A expenses were required by
virtue of the acquisition of the Amoco  Properties.  All of the Amoco Properties
are operated by other parties and will not result in any increase in general and
administrative expense.

     Comment No. 22. The interim 1996 pro forma  statement of  operations is for
the nine months ended  September 30, 1996.  The  Registrant has also changed the
basis  of  presentation  of  the  results  of  operations  to  assume  that  the
transactions had occurred on January 1, 1995.

     Comment No. 23. The presentation has been revised to clarify that per share
data is being presented on a weighted average shares outstanding basis.

     Comment No. 24. None of the information  provided in this prospectus  deals
with capitalized  cost on the Amoco Properties  because such information was not
provided by Amoco. The presentations  throughout are only of revenues and direct
operating expenses.  Therefore, no adjustments are necessary for any differences
in accounting methods.

     Comment No. 25. The pro forma  presentation has been revised to reflect the
$5 million deposit at September 30, 1996.

     Comment No. 26.  Throughout  the prospectus the disclosure has been revised
to  reflect  that the  Registrant  received  477,612  shares of common  stock of
National  Energy Group,  Inc.,  which was valued at $2 million as of the closing
date, November 22, 1996.

     Comment  No.  27. The pro forma  presentations  for 1995 and 1996 have both
been  revised to assume  that the  transaction  occurred  January  1, 1995.  The
presentations  have been  based upon  actual  amounts  of the  transactions  and
current terms.

     Comment  No.  28.  The  notes 2 and 3 have been  expanded  to  provide  the
disclosure called for by your comment.

     Comment No. 29. We have included this disclosure in note 1, "Basis of

<PAGE>



Presentation".

     Comment No. 30. In the notes to the pro forma  presentations  and elsewhere
in the  prospectus  the language has been added to clarify that Bayou Sorrel was
sold  effective  September  1, 1996 and that all that took place on November 22,
1996 was the closing of that transaction.

     Comment No. 31. An amended form 8-K for the Amoco Acquisition will be filed
as soon as practicable.

     Comment No. 32. These  changes have been made in  "Management's  Discussion
and Analysis".

     Comment No. 33. The expanded  disclosure on the reasons for the sale of the
Bayou Sorrel Field and the impact of these  properties on operations  during the
first  nine  months of 1996  have been  included  at the end of the  section  on
"Results of Operations".  We advise you supplementally  that no gain or loss was
recorded on the sale of the asset as  management  believes  that a  conservative
estimate of the fair value of the Company's  overriding  royalty interest in the
field is equal to its remaining net book value.

     Comment No. 34. The reason for the significant  loss in fourth quarter 1995
has been  explained in the  paragraph  dealing with 1995 "Net  operating  income
(loss)".

     Comment No. 35. This disclosure has been added.

     Comment No. 36. The paragraph has been expanded to explain that the loss of
$.19 per share is comprised of an $.08 per share loss for second  quarter and an
$.11 per share loss for third quarter. The $.08 per share loss in second quarter
includes the $500,000  expensed in connection  with the explosion and fire. This
is both the actual and  accrued  loss with  respect  to that  event.  No further
losses are anticipated.

     Comment No. 37. The disclosure relating to the explosion and fire appearing
under the caption  "General"  in the  portion of  "Management's  Discussion  and
Analysis"  dealing with the nine month period ended  September 30, 1996 has been
greatly  expanded to cover all of the items  highlighted  in your  comment.  The
passage of time has made it possible to clarify  that the  payments  made by the
insurance  company are no longer  advances,  that there is no  likelihood of any
advances being returned to the insurance company, that all costs associated with
the event  have been paid and are  known and that no  further  expenses  will be
recognized with this catastrophe, all such costs having been capitalized. It has
also been made clear that all that remains now is to await the results of a suit
against the company whose employees caused the incident.

     Comment No. 38. The paragraph on capital spending has been expanded to make
it clear  that $1.9  million  was spent on  repairing  Tank  Battery #3 and $4.5
million was spent on development  activities.  As explained  immediately  above,
there is no longer any

<PAGE>



need for a discussion of advances by the insurance company.  The monies received
from the insurance company constitute payments that are not subject to repayment
obligation.  Throughout the prospectus disclosure on the subject of the fire has
been rewritten to clarify events as they stand as of the date of this filing.

     Comment No. 39. In addition to the paragraph on capital  expenditures,  two
new  paragraphs  have been  added on cash flows from  operations  and  investing
activities.

     Comment No. 40. Further disclosure has been added to make it clear that the
Company owns its own seismic  processing  equipment,  and for the most part owns
its seismic data.

     Comment  No. 41.  Language  has been added to explain  that Mr.  Wonish has
served as the Company's Vice President of Production.

     Comment No. 42. The  Underwriter has informed us that it does not intend to
establish  an  escrow  account.  It  expects  to close on at least  the  minimum
offering amount of Common Shares in one closing although, if conditions warrant,
it may sell  Common  Shares  in excess  of the  minimum  amount in more than one
closing.

     Comment  No.  43.  The  effects  of the  non-cash  contributions  have been
accurately  reflected in "Cash flows from  operations",  in future  filings this
item will be shown as a separate line.

     Comment No. 44. The  statement in note 9 has been expanded to make it clear
that the new  options  would  have  expired  December  31,  1995  but they  were
exercised prior to that date.

     Comment No. 45. Prior language in footnote no.13 was unfortunate in that it
implied that there would ultimately be a payment of monies by the Company to the
Plaintiff in this  lawsuit.  This simply is not the case.  The Company  believes
that is equally  probable  that the Company will  recover on its counter  claim.
Therefore the footnote has been appropriately revised.

     Comment  No. 46.  Footnote 18 has been  expanded  to include the  requested
disclosure.

     Comment No. 47. This typographical error has been corrected.

     Comment No. 48. The statement has been appropriately revised.

     Comment  No. 49. An  additional  footnote  has been  added to provide  this
disclosure.

     Comment No. 50. This pro forma income statement information has been added.

<PAGE>



     Comment No. 51. This disclosure has been added to Footnote No. 2.

     Comment No. 52. What took place on November  22nd was merely the closing of
the  transaction.  All burdens and benefits of  ownership  and risk of loss were
transferred to the buyer effective  September 1, 1996 and the operations of that
field were included in the financials  only through August 31, 1996.  Disclosure
has been added to Footnote 11 to make this clear. A letter of intent to sell the
Bayou Sorrel Field to National Energy Group,  Inc. was entered into on September
19, 1996.

     Comment No. 53. The requested revision has been made.

     Comment No. 54. The  statement on page F-31 has been revised and a new note
has been added on page F-32.

     Comment No. 55. As  explained  above in our response to Comment No. 37, the
events of recent weeks have clarified some of the matters which gave rise to the
wording in the prospectus as originally  filed.  Therefore this entire  footnote
has been revised and this disclosure throughout the prospectus has likewise been
revised, to reflect  circumstances as they now stand. Since at present there are
no  payments  which  would be  classified  as  advances,  SAB Topic  (5Y) is not
applicable.

     Comment No. 56. See response to Comment No. 55 above.

     Comment  No. 57.  Amoco did not  provide  us  information  with  respect to
capitalized  cost for the years  presented  in this  Statement  of Revenues  and
Direct  Operating  Expenses.  However since the presentation is only of revenues
and  operating  expenses  it would  be the same  under  either  of the  accepted
accounting methods.

     Comment No. 58. The interim financial  information has been updated through
September 30th.

     Comment  No.  59.  Mr.  Barrett's  professional  engagement  ended with the
signing of his report on June 7, 1996.  He was elected to the Board on September
4,  1996.  According  to our  discussions  with the  AICPA,  the Code of Conduct
Section E-T191, Ruling #100, provides that Mr. Barrett's  independence would not
be impaired as long as his  activities  subsequent to his  affiliation  with the
Registrant  consist only of signing  consents in  connection  with the filing of
registration statements which contain financials previously reported on by him.

     Comment No. 60. Current consents have been included.

     Comment No. 61. The  Registrant  expresses the hope that this  registration
statement will be effective  prior to February 15th so that this will not become
an issue.

     Comment  No.  62. The form 8-K for the sale of the Bayou  Sorrel  Field has
been

<PAGE>


filed.

     Comment  No.  63.  All  required  amendments  to the 1995 Form 10-K and the
interim 1996 Form 10-Q's will be made as appropriate.

     Comment No. 64. This comment has been noted.

     Comment No. 65. These two interim Form 10-Qs will be appropriately  amended
to bring those  presentations into conformity with the one contained in the form
S-1.

     Comment No. 66. All references to probable and possible  reserves,  and the
definitions thereof, have been removed from the prospectus.

         We hope that the foregoing and the amended Registration Statement fully
respond to your comments.  Please contact the  undersigned,  the Company's Chief
Financial Officer,  Todd Bart, or the Company's  securities  counsel,  Robert T.
Schendel (Phone 816- 421-3355,  Fax  816-374-0509) if you have further questions
or comments.

                                                     Sincerely,



                                                     H. James Maxwell, President

HJM/sls
enclosure


<PAGE>
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<S>     <C>    <C>    <C>    <C>    <C>    <C>
 
                              As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 30, 1997
 
                                                                                        Registration No. 333-18233
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             UNITED STATES
                                                  SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

   
                                                        Washington, D.C. 20549
                                                         ____________________
                                                              FORM S-1/A
                                                   Pre-Effective Amendment Number 1
                                        REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
    

                                                             PANACO, Inc.
                                        (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

         Delaware                                               1311                                         43-1593374
  (State or other jurisdiction of                      (Primary Standard Industrial                        (I.R.S.Employer
   incorporation or organization)                       Classification Code Number)                       Identification No.)

                                                    1050 West Blue Ridge Boulevard
                                                            PANACO Building
                                                   Kansas City, Missouri 64145-1216
                                                            (816) 942-6300
                                          (Address, including ZIP code, and telephone number,
                                   including area code, of registrant principal executive offices)
                                        ______________________________________________________

                                                              Copies to:
                  Steven H. Goodman, Esq.                                       Louis J. Bevilacqua, Esq.
                  Shughart Thomson & Kilroy, P.C.                               Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft
                  Twelve Wyandotte Plaza                                        100 Maiden Lane
                  120 West 12th Street                                          New York, New York  10038
                  Kansas City, Missouri  64105

                               As soon as practicable after Effectiveness of this Registration Statement
                                   (Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public)

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant
to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933 check the following:   [ ]
If this form is filed to register  additional  securities  for an offering  pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the  Securities  Act, 
please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration  statement number of the earlier effective  registration 
statement for the same offering:  [ ]
If this form is a  post-effective  amendment  filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities  Act, check the following box and
list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier registration statement for the same offering: [ ]
If delivery of this prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434, please check the following: [ ]

                                                    Calculation of Registration Fee
- ---------------------------- ----------------- ------------------------- ------------------------- -------------------------
    Title of Each Class                            Proposed Maximum          Proposed Maximum
    of Securities to be        Amount to be            Offering                 Aggregate                 Amount of
        Registered            Registered (1)     Price per Share (2)          Offering Price          Registration Fees
- ---------------------------- ----------------- ------------------------- ------------------------- -------------------------
- ---------------------------- ----------------- ------------------------- ------------------------- -------------------------
     Common Stock, par          9,663,801
  value, $.01 per share.          Shares                $5.50                 $53,150,905.00              $16,106.33
- ---------------------------- ----------------- ------------------------- ------------------------- -------------------------
(1) Based upon the maximum number of shares that may be sold in the transactions described herein.
(2) Estimated in accordance with Rule 457(g) & (c).

                                                   ________________________________

The Registrant hereby amends this  Registration  Statement on such date or dates
as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant  shall file
a further amendment which specifically  states that this Registration  Statement
shall  thereafter  become  effective  in  accordance  with  Section  8(a) of the
Securities  Act of 1933 or until  the  Registration  Statement  shall be  become
effective on such date as the Commission,  acting pursuant to said Section 8(a),
may determine. 
</TABLE>
 

<PAGE>

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                                               CROSS-REFERENCE SHEET
                                     Pursuant to Item 501(b) of Regulation S-K

                                        Showing Location in Prospectus of
                                     Information Required by Items of Form S-1

<S>     <C>    <C>    <C>    <C>    <C>    <C>
Number and Caption                                                   Location in Prospectus

1.   Forepart of the Registration Statement
         and Outside Front Cover Page of
         Prospectus...........................................       Front Cover Page
2.   Inside Front and Outside Back Cover
         Pages of Prospectus..................................       Inside Front Cover Page; Other Matters
3.   Summary Information, Risk Factors and
         Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges...................       Prospectus Summary; Risk Factors
4.   Use of Proceeds..........................................       Use of Proceeds
5.   Determination of Offering Price..........................       Use of Proceeds
6.   Dilution.................................................       *
7.   Selling Security Holders.................................       Principal Shareholders; Selling Shareholders
8.   Plan of Distribution.....................................       Underwriting
9.   Description of Securities to be Registered...............       Front Cover Page; Description of
                       Capital Shares and Other Securities
10.  Interests of Named Experts and Counsel                          Legal Matters; Experts
11.  Information With Respect to the Registrant...............       Front Cover Page; Prospectus Summary;
                                                                     The Company; Selected Financial Data;
                                                                     Management's Discussion and Analysis of
                                                                     Financial Condition and Results of
                                                                     Operations; Management; Description of
                                                                     Capital Shares and Other Securities;  Index
                                                                     to Financial Statements
12.  Disclosure of Commission Position on
       Indemnification for Securities Act Liabilities.........       Other Matters


</TABLE>

*Omitted because answer is not applicable or negative.



<PAGE>
<TABLE>
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<S>     <C>    <C>    <C>    <C>    <C>    <C>

PROSPECTUS
 

                                                           [GRAPHIC OMITTED]

   
                                                        8,403,305 Common Shares
                                                          ___________________
         Of the up to 8,403,305  Common  Shares, par value $.01 per share (the Common Shares), offered  hereby (this  Offering),
6,000,000 Common Shares are being offered and sold by the Company and 2,403,305 are being sold directly by the Selling Shareholders.
See Selling Shareholders. The Company will not receive any proceeds from the sale of Common Shares by the Selling Shareholders.
         The Common Shares are traded on the NASDAQ  National Market under the symbol PANA. On January 29, 1997, the last reported
sale price of the Common Shares was $4.875 per share. See Price Range of Common Shares.
         The Common  Shares  are being  offered  through  the  Underwriters  on a best  efforts  basis.  The Offering will terminate
on , unless  extended  by the  Company  and the  Underwriters.  The  Offering  is  subject  to a minimum required purchase of 75% of
the Common Shares offered hereby (6,302,479 shares).
    

 An investment in the Common Shares offered hereby involves a high degree of risk See Risk Factors beginning on page 5 for certain
                                    considerations relevant to an investment in the Common Shares.

                             THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
                                   EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE
                                 SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION
                                       PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS.
                                       ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

   
- -------------------------------- ---------------------- ------------------- ------------------ ---------------------
                                                                                                 Proceeds to the
                                       Price to            Underwriting        Proceeds to           Selling
                                        Public             Discount (1)        Company(2)        Shareholders (3)
- -------------------------------- ---------------------- ------------------- ------------------ ---------------------
Per Share .........              $                      $                   $                  $
- -------------------------------- ---------------------- ------------------- ------------------ ---------------------
- -------------------------------- ---------------------- ------------------- ------------------ ---------------------
Total Minimum (4) .....          $                      $                   $                  $
Total Maximum (5) ....           $                      $                   $                  $
- -------------------------------- ---------------------- ------------------- ------------------ ---------------------
(1)      The Company has agreed to indemnify the Underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities
         under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. See Underwriting.
(2)      Before deducting expenses payable by the Company, estimated to be $       .
(3)      Before deducting expenses payable by the Selling Shareholders, estimated to be $         .
(4)      At least the minimum offering amount will be sold at a single closing, thus no escrow arrangements have  been   made  for
         investor funds.
(5)      The Company has granted the Underwriters a 45-day option to purchase up to an aggregate of 1,260,496 additional  Common
         Shares solely to cover over-allotments, if any. If such option is exercised in full, the
         total Price to Public, Underwriting Discount and Proceeds to Company will be $        , $          and $          ,
         respectively. See Underwriting.
                                                         ____________________
    

         The shares of Common  Shares are offered by the Underwriters, subject to prior sale, when, as and if issued to and accepted
by them, subject to certain other conditions. The Underwriters reserve the right to withdraw, cancel or modify such offer and reject
orders in whole or in part. It is expected that delivery of the shares of Common Shares offered hereby will be made in New York, New
York on or about            , 1997.

                                                     Nolan Securities Corporation

                                                 The date of this Prospectus is , 1997
</TABLE>

<PAGE>


IN  CONNECTION  WITH THE OFFERING,  THE  UNDERWRITERS  MAY  OVER-ALLOT OR EFFECT
TRANSACTIONS  WHICH  STABILIZE OR MAINTAIN THE MARKET PRICE OF THE COMMON SHARES
AT A LEVEL ABOVE THAT WHICH MIGHT  OTHERWISE  PREVAIL IN THE OPEN  MARKET.  SUCH
TRANSACTIONS  MAY BE EFFECTED ON THE NASDAQ  NATIONAL  MARKET,  IN THE OVER-THE-
COUNTER MARKET OR OTHERWISE. SUCH STABILIZING, IF COMMENCED, MAY BE DISCONTINUED
AT ANY TIME.
                               PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

     The  following  summary is qualified  in its entirety by the more  detailed
information and consolidated  financial  statements and notes thereto  appearing
elsewhere in this Prospectus.  Unless the context otherwise requires, references
in  this  Prospectus  to  the  "Company"   shall  mean  PANACO,   Inc.  and  its
predecessors.  Unless otherwise noted herein, the information  contained in this
Prospectus  assumes  the  Underwriters'   over-allotment   option  will  not  be
exercised.  An investment in the Common Shares  offered  hereby  involves a high
degree of risk.  Investors should  carefully  consider the information set forth
under the heading "Risk  Factors".  See "Glossary of Selected Oil and Gas Terms"
for the definitions of certain terms used in this Prospectus.

                                   The Company


   
     PANACO,  INC.  (the  "Company")  is a  Delaware  corporation,  incorporated
October 4, 1991.  When used herein the word "Company"  includes its  predecessor
Pan  Petroleum  MLP,  which merged into the Company on  September  1, 1992.  The
Company is in the oil and gas  business,  acquiring,  developing  and  operating
offshore oil and gas  properties  in the Gulf of Mexico.  Including the recently
acquired  Amoco  Properties  (as defined  herein) and excluding the Bayou Sorrel
Field (as defined herein) which was recently sold, the Company owned oil and gas
properties containing, as of November 1, 1996, Proved Reserves of 2,920,000 Bbls
of oil and 64,925,000 Mcf of gas. The SEC 10 Value of such Proved Reserves as of
November 1, 1996 was $128,092,000. See "Risk Factors - Estimates of Reserves and
Future Net Revenue." The Company  operates 52 offshore  wells and owns interests
in 71 offshore  wells  operated by others.  It operates nine of the  twenty-five
offshore  blocks in which it owns an interest.  In addition the Company owns and
operates some onshore  properties  which  generate less than 3% of its revenues.
For a description  of the properties  owned and the activities  conducted by the
Company, see "The Company" and "Property."
    

     Common  Shares are quoted on the  NASDAQ-National  Market  under the symbol
"PANA".

     The Company's Board of Directors  consists of nine persons,  three of which
are employees of the Company. See "Management - Officers and Directors."

     The Company's  headquarters  are located at 1050 West Blue Ridge Boulevard,
PANACO Building,  Kansas City, Missouri 64145-1216,  and its telephone number at
such offices is (816)942-6300, FAX (816) 942-6305. The Houston office is located
at 1100 Louisiana,  Suite 5110,  Houston,  Texas  77002-5220,  and the telephone
number is (713) 652-5110, FAX (713) 651-0928.

                                Business Strategy

     The Company's  objective is to enhance  shareholder value through sustained
growth in its reserve  base,  production  levels and  resulting  cash flows from
operations. In pursuing this objective, the Company maintains a geographic focus
in the Gulf of Mexico and identifies  properties that may be acquired preferably
through negotiated transactions or, if necessary,  sealed bid transactions.  The
properties the Company seeks to acquire generally are geologically complex, with
multiple reservoirs,  have an established  production history and are candidates
for  exploitation.  Geologically  complex  fields with multiple  reservoirs  are
fields in which there are  multiple  reservoirs  at  different  depths and wells
which penetrate more than one reservoir that have the potential for recompletion
in more than one reservoir. Once properties are acquired, the Company focuses on
reducing operating costs and implementing  production  enhancements  through the
application of technologically  advanced production and recompletion techniques.
Over the past five years,  the Company has taken advantage of  opportunities  to
acquire interests in a number of producing properties which fit these criteria.

                                                         2

<PAGE>




                               Recent Developments

Amoco Acquisition

   
     On October 8, 1996, the Company  closed on its  acquisition of interests in
six offshore fields from Amoco Production  Company for $40.4 million (the "Amoco
Acquisition").  In  consideration  for such interests,  the Company issued Amoco
2,000,000  Common Shares and paid the sum of $32 million in cash.  The interests
acquired  include (1) a 33.3%  working  interest in the East Breaks 160 Field (2
Blocks)  and a 33.3%  interest in the High  Island 302 Field,  both  operated by
Unocal Corporation;  (2) an average 50% interest in the High Island 309 Field (2
Blocks),  a 12%  interest  in the High  Island  330 Field (3  Blocks)  and a 12%
interest  in the High  Island 474 Field (4  Blocks),  all  operated  by Phillips
Petroleum  Company;  and (3) a 12.5%  interest in the West  Cameron 180 Field (1
Block)  operated  by  Texaco  (collectively  the  "Amoco  Properties").  Current
production,  for the interests acquired,  is 698 barrels of oil per day and 13.4
MMcf of natural gas per day. See "Amoco Acquisition."
    

Explosion and Fire

   
     The Company  experienced  an  explosion  and fire on April 24, 1996 at Tank
Battery #3 in West Delta  resulting in the fields being shut-in from April 24th,
until  resumption  of  production  on October  7,  1996.  The loss of 67 days of
production in the second  quarter and the entire third quarter  resulted in lost
revenues of approximately $6 million. The fire was the principal  contributor to
the losses of $.08 per share for the  second  quarter of 1996 and $.11 per share
for the third quarter of 1996.  During the second  quarter the Company  expensed
$500,000 for its loss as a result of this explosion. No further losses have been
recognized  or are  anticipated.  This  $500,000  amount  included  $225,000  in
deductibles under the Company's insurance.

     The  Company has spent $8.5  million on Tank  Battery #3  inclusive  of the
$500,000 expensed during second quarter and has received  reimbursement from its
insurance  company  of $3.9  million,  after  satisfaction  of the  $225,000  in
deductibles.  The excess of expenditures  over insurance  reimbursement  will be
capitalized.  No additional expenditures have been made or are anticipated.  The
Company is  considering  filing suits  against the  employers of the persons who
caused the  incidents  for  recovery  of these  costs and its lost  profits.  No
assurance  can be given that the Company will  successfully  recover any amounts
sought in any such suits.
    

Sale of Bayou Sorrel

   
          Effective September 1, 1996 the Company sold its interest in the Bayou
Sorrel oil and gas field ( the "Bayou Sorrel  Field") to National  Energy Group,
Inc. for $11 million. The Company received $9 million in cash and 477,612 shares
of National Energy Group, Inc. common stock,  which were valued at $2 million as
of the closing date . The Company also retained a 3% overriding royalty interest
in the deep rights of the field below 11,000 feet.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
    

                                  The Offering

<S>                                                                   <C>                         
   
Common Shares offered by the Company................................. 4,500,000 shares minimum (a)
                                                                      6,000,000 shares maximum (a)

Common Shares offered by the Selling Shareholders...............      1,802,479 shares minimum
                                                                      2,403,305 shares maximum

Common Shares offered hereby......................................... 6,302,479 shares minimum (a)
                                                                      8,403,305 shares maximum (a)

Common Shares to be outstanding after this Offering...............   18,850,255 shares minimum (a)(b)
                                                                     20,350,255 shares maximum (a)(b)
    

                                                         3

<PAGE>



Use of Proceeds......................................................For repayment of existing long term debt,
                                                                     development of existing oil and gas
                                                                     properties and acquisition of additional oil
                                                                     and gas properties.

NASDAQ National Market Symbol........................................PANA..
</TABLE>

   
(a)  Exclusive of the Underwriters'  Over-Allotment  Option of 1,260,496 shares.
     If less than the maximum  number of Common Shares  offered hereby are sold,
     then the  individual  number of shares  offered by Company  and the Selling
     Shareholders shall be reduced pro-rata, but in no event below the aggregate
     minimum offering amount.
(b)  Excludes  289,365  Common Shares  issuable upon the exercise of outstanding
     warrants,   2,060,606  issuable  upon  the  conversion  of  the  Tranche  A
     Convertible Subordinated Notes, and up to 600,000 Common Shares which would
     be issuable upon the exercise of warrants to be issued to the  Underwriters
     should all of the Common Shares offered  hereby be sold (726,050,  assuming
     of the Underwriters' Over- Allotment Option is exercised in full).
    

                             Summary Financial Data

   
     The following  table sets forth  summaries of certain  selected  historical
financial  and reserve  information  for the Company as of the dates and for the
periods  indicated.  Effective December 31, 1995, the Company changed its method
of  accounting  for oil and gas  operations  from the full  cost  method  to the
successful  efforts  method.  Prior periods have been restated to give effect to
this change. Future results may vary significantly from the amounts reflected in
the  information  set forth  hereafter  because of, among other reasons,  normal
production declines,  acquisitions, and changes in the price of oil and gas. See
"Risk Factors - Estimates of Reserves and Future Net Revenues" and "Risk Factors
- - General Market Conditions."
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
    

                                  As of and For the Nine Months                As of and For the Year
                                      Ended September 30,                         Ended December 31,
                                          (unaudited)

                                        1996(a)        1995             1995            1994              1993
Operations Data
<S>                              <C>                <C>             <C>              <C>               <C>       
Oil & Gas Sales...............   $    13,257,000    13,660,000      18,447,000       17,338,000        12,605,000
Exploration Expenses..........          0            2,174,000       8,112,000         0                 0
Provision for losses and
(gains) on disposition of
and write-down of asset.......          0             0                751,000        1,202,000         3,824,000
Depletion, depreciation &
        amortization..........         4,981,000     6,277,000       8,064,000        6,038,000         4,288,000
Net income (loss).............         (618,000)   (2,492,000)     (9,290,000)        1,115,000       (3,986,000)
Net Income (loss) per share               (0.05)         (.21)           (.81)              .11             (.53)

Balance Sheet Data
Oil and gas properties, net...   $    20,489,000     21,515,000     29,485,000       23,945,000        19,183,000
Total assets..................        44,444,000     26,795,000     36,169,000       29,095,000        24,432,000
Long-term debt................        25,137,000      8,865,000     22,390,000       12,500,000        12,465,000
Stockholders' equity..........        10,498,000     15,335,000      9,174,000       14,882,000         8,744,000
Book value per share..........   $           .85           1.38            .80             1.46              1.07

Oil and Gas Data
Production:
Oil and condensates (Bbls).......        203,000        122,000        170,000          137,000           180,000
Gas (Mcf).....................         4,590,000      7,578,000      9,850,000        8,139,000         5,586,000


                                                         4

<PAGE>



Estimated Proved
      Reserves:
Oil and condensates (Bbls)(c)....      2,920,000       ---             900,000          943,000           745,000
Gas (Mcf)(c)..................        64,925,000       ---          46,711,000       41,582,000        43,696,000
SEC 10 Value(c)..................$   128,092,000       ---          72,432,000       47,159,000        58,185,000
</TABLE>

(a) Results for the period ended September 30, 1996, were substantially affected
by the explosion and fire. See "Recent Explosion and Fire". Such results include
the results of operations  through  August 31 for the Bayou Sorrel Field,  which
the Company sold  effective  September 1. (b) Funds  provided by  operations  is
revenues less lease operating  expenses and production and ad valorem taxes. (c)
Reserve  information  was not  prepared  as of  September  30,  1996  and  1995.
Information  shown  is from a  reserve  report  prepared  by the  Company  as of
November 1, 1996, which includes the recent effect of the Amoco  Acquisition and
excludes the Bayou Sorrel Field,  which was recently  sold.  No reserve  reports
were prepared as of November 1, 1996 by  independent  petroleum  engineers.  The
reserve  information  for the years ended  December 31, 1995,  1994 and 1993 was
derived by the  Company  from  reports  prepared  by the  Company's  independent
petroleum  engineers.  See "Risk  Factors - Estimates of Reserves and Future Net
Reserves."

                                  RISK FACTORS

      Prospective  investors  should  carefully  read this entire  document  and
should give particular attention to the following risk factors.

General Market Conditions

   
       Revenues  generated  from the oil and gas  operations  of the Company are
highly  dependent  on the future  prices of and demand for oil and gas.  Various
factors beyond the control of the Company affect prices of oil, gas, and natural
gas liquids,  including the worldwide  supply of oil and gas, the ability of the
members  of  OPEC  to  agree  to and  maintain  production  controls,  political
instability or armed  conflict in  oil-producing  regions,  the price of foreign
imports,   the  levels  of  consumer  demand,  the  price  and  availability  of
alternative fuels and changes in existing  regulation.  Prices for oil, gas, and
natural gas  liquids  have  fluctuated  greatly  during the past few years,  and
markets for oil,  natural gas, and natural gas liquids  continue to be volatile.
The  currently  unsettled  energy  markets  make it  particularly  difficult  to
estimate  future  prices of oil,  natural gas, and natural gas liquids,  and any
assumptions  about future prices may prove  incorrect.  In addition,  demand for
natural gas and fuel oil can  fluctuate  significantly  with seasonal and annual
variations in weather  patterns because those products are used in large part as
heating  fuels.  See "Risk  Factors -  Estimates  of  Reserves  and  Future  Net
Revenues" and "The Company - Competition, Markets, Seasonality and Regulation".
    

Historical Operating Losses

   
      The Company has sustained losses in two of the past three years,  1993 and
1995.  No  assurance  may be given that the Company  will be  profitable  in the
future.  The Company  sustained losses in 1993 and 1995 primarily as a result of
an accounting  change in 1995 that required  property  write-downs in both years
and  expensing of three  unsuccessful  exploratory  wells in 1995.  On April 24,
1996,  the  Company  experienced  an  explosion  and fire at its West Delta Tank
Battery  #3 which has been the  primary  factor in the  Company's  loss  through
September  30,  1996 of $.05 per share.  As such,  the  Company can not assure a
profit will result for the year ended  December 31,  1996.  Due to the change in
accounting method, any future unsuccessful exploratory wells, as well as adverse
events  beyond  management's  control,  such as the fire,  could also  result in
losses.  See  "Management's  Discussion and Analysis of Financial  Condition and
Results of Operations" and the consolidated financial statements and the related
notes thereto included elsewhere herein.
    




                                                         5

<PAGE>



Risks of Development, Exploration, and Other Activities

       The Company  engages in exploration  activities on  Undeveloped  Acreage,
drills development wells, and reworks and recompletes wells on the properties it
owns as well as on  properties  it may  acquire,  and  anticipates  that it will
expend a significant portion of its net cash flow for those activities. See "The
Company -  Acquisition,  Development  and Other  Activities."  Those  activities
involve a significant  degree of risk. For example,  the drilling of exploratory
and development wells involves risks such as encountering  unusual or unexpected
formations,  pressures,  and other  conditions  that could result in the Company
incurring  substantial losses. In addition,  all drilling is subject to the risk
of dry holes or a failure to produce oil or gas in  commercial  quantities.  The
degree of risk will vary depending on the geological features of the area.

Other Operating Risks

   
       The  Company  is also  subject  to all the  operating  hazards  and risks
normally incident to drilling for or producing,  processing and transporting oil
and gas, including blowouts, pollution, and fires, each of which could result in
damage to or destruction of oil and gas wells, producing formations,  production
platforms,  pipeline,  or  processing  plants,  or  persons  or other  property.
Although  the  Company  maintains  insurance  coverage  that is  similar to that
maintained by comparable companies in the oil and gas industry,  there can be no
assurance that the coverage will be adequate to insure fully against all risks.
    

Replacement of Reserves

       In general,  the volume of production from natural gas and oil properties
declines as reserves  are  depleted.  Except to the extent the Company  acquires
properties  containing  proved reserves or conducts  successful  development and
exploration activities, or both, the proved reserves of the Company will decline
as reserves are produced.  The Company's  future  natural gas and oil production
is,  therefore,  highly  dependent  upon its  level of  success  in  finding  or
acquiring  additional  reserves.  The business of exploring  for,  developing or
acquiring reserves is capital intensive. To the extent cash flow from operations
is reduced and external  sources of capital become limited or  unavailable,  the
Company's  ability to make the  necessary  capital  investments  to  maintain or
expand its asset base of natural  gas and oil  reserves  could be  impaired.  In
addition,  there can be no  assurance  that the  Company's  future  development,
acquisition and exploration activities will result in additional proved reserves
or that the Company will be able to drill productive wells at acceptable costs.

Estimates of Reserves and Future Net Revenues

      Numerous  uncertainties exist in estimating  quantities of Proved Reserves
and future net  revenues.  Oil and gas  engineering  is a subjective  process of
estimating  underground  accumulations  of oil and gas that  cannot be  measured
exactly.  The  accuracy  of any  reserve  estimate is a result of the quality of
available  geologic  and  engineering  data,  geological   interpretation,   and
judgment. Actual results of drilling,  testing, and production after the date of
an estimate  may  indicate the need to revise the  estimate.  In  addition,  the
prices used affect the  calculation  of  quantities  of reserves  and future net
revenues.  A higher price can generally  result in a longer  estimated  economic
life for reserves and can increase  estimated  future net revenues  because both
the estimated reserves are larger and the price per reserve unit (Bbl or Mcf) is
higher.  Reserve  reports as of November 1, 1996 were  prepared by the  Company.
Reserve  information  for the years ended  December 31, 1995,  1994 and 1993 was
derived by the  Company  from  reports  prepared  by the  Company's  independent
petroleum engineers.

      SEC 10 Values presented in certain disclosures of reserves and the present
value of estimated future net revenues represent a reporting  convention adopted
by the SEC that uses  prices at the date of the reserve  presentation  and a 10%
discount rate.  While SEC 10 Values provide a common basis for comparing oil and
gas companies subject to the rules and regulations of the SEC, the use of prices
on the  presentation  date may not represent the prices  ordinarily  received or
that will be received for oil and gas because of seasonal price  fluctuations or
other varying market conditions. SEC 10 Values are not necessarily indicative of
future results of operations.  Accordingly,  reserve  estimates set forth herein
may be  materially  different  from  the  quantities  of oil  and gas  that  are
ultimately  recovered,  and  estimates  of  future  net  revenues  may  also  be
materially different from the net revenues that are ultimately received.

                                                         6

<PAGE>




Environmental Risks

       The discharge of oil,  gas, or other  pollutants  into the air,  soil, or
water may give rise to  liability  to the  government  or third  parties and may
require the Company to incur  costs to remedy the  discharge.  Oil or gas may be
discharged in many ways,  including from a well or drilling equipment at a drill
site, leakage from pipelines or other gathering and  transportation  facilities,
leakage from storage tanks,  and sudden  discharges  from damage or explosion at
processing  plants or oil or gas wells.  Hydrocarbons  tend to degrade slowly in
soil and water, which makes remediation costly, and discharged  hydrocarbons may
migrate  through soil to water  supplies or adjoining  property,  giving rise to
additional  liabilities.  A variety  of federal  and state laws and  regulations
govern the environmental aspects of oil and gas production,  transportation, and
processing and may, in addition to other law,  impose  liability in the event of
discharges  (whether  or  not  accidental),  a  failure  to  notify  the  proper
authorities of a discharge, and other noncompliance with those laws. The Company
has both an offshore  Regional  Spill  Response  Plan  (RSRP) and onshore  Spill
Prevention  Control  Countermeasure  Plans (SPCC).  Environmental  laws may also
affect the costs of the Company's acquisitions of oil and gas properties.

      The Company does not believe that its  environmental  risks are materially
different  from  those  of  comparable  companies  in the oil and gas  industry.
Nevertheless, no assurance can be given that environmental laws will not, in the
future,  result in a  curtailment  of  production  or  processing  or a material
increase in the costs of  production,  development,  or exploration or otherwise
adversely affect the Company's operations and financial condition. Pollution and
similar environmental risks generally are not fully insurable.

Acquisitions

        Although  acquisitions  of oil and gas properties  with Proved  Reserves
involve less risk than is inherent in exploratory or developmental drilling, the
criteria on which decisions to acquire properties are usually based (such as the
estimates  of  reserve  quantities  and  the  projections  of  future  rates  of
production,  future  development and production costs, and prices to be received
on sale)  may prove to be  incorrect,  and  consequently  adversely  affect  the
profitability of an acquisition.  The Company intends to continue  acquiring oil
and gas properties.  Although the Company performs a review of the properties to
be acquired that it believes is consistent with industry practices, such reviews
are  inherently  incomplete.  Generally,  it is not feasible to review  in-depth
every individual property involved in each acquisition.  Ordinarily, the Company
will focus its review  efforts on the  higher-valued  properties and will sample
the remainder.  However,  even an in-depth  review of all properties and records
may not necessarily reveal existing or potential problems,  nor will it permit a
buyer to become sufficiently  familiar with the properties to assess fully their
deficiencies and capabilities.  Inspections may not always be performed on every
facility, and environmental problems are not necessarily observable even when an
inspection is  undertaken.  Furthermore,  the Company must rely on  information,
including  financial,  operating  and  geological  information,  provided by the
seller of the properties without being able to verify fully all such information
and  without  the  benefit of knowing  the  history  of  operations  of all such
properties.

Dependence On Key Personnel

        The success of the Company will depend almost  entirely upon the ability
of a small group of key executives to manage the business of the Company. Should
one or more of these  executives  leave the Company or become  unable to perform
his duties,  no assurance  can be given that the Company will be able to attract
competent new management.  The key executives do not have  employment  contracts
and the Company does not have "key man" life insurance.

Future Issuances of Shares

   
      Of the  40,000,000  Common  Shares  authorized,  14,350,255  are presently
issued,  leaving  25,649,745 shares which may be issued without further approval
from the shareholders. If the Company issues additional
    


                                                         7

<PAGE>



   
Common Shares or preferred shares, the interest in the assets, liabilities, cash
flows, and results of operations of the Company represented by the Common Shares
may be  diluted.  Additional  issuances  may occur for many  reasons,  including
pursuant to the Company's  Long-Term  Incentive  Plan described in "Management -
Other  Compensation  Arrangements  - Long-Term  Incentive  Plan." As of the date
hereof  there  are  outstanding  warrants  to  acquire  289,365  Common  Shares,
exercisable at prices per share ranging from $2.00 to $2.375. In connection with
this Offering the  Underwriters  will receive  warrants to acquire up to 600,000
Common  Shares  (726,050  assuming the  Underwriter's  Over-Allotment  Option is
exercised in full) at the price at which Common Shares are sold hereunder, which
warrants  are  exercisable  any  time  within  two  years  of the  date  of this
Prospectus.  The exercise of such warrants would likely occur primarily when the
exercise  prices are below the then current market prices.  After the expiration
of 180 days following the conclusion of this offering, the Tranche A Convertible
Subordinated  Notes are convertible into 2,060,606 Common Shares,  at $4.125 per
share.
    

Hedging of Production

   
      The Company's lenders have generally required it to reduce its exposure to
the  volatility  of crude oil and natural gas prices by hedging a portion of its
production.  In a typical hedge transaction,  the Company will have the right to
receive  from the  counter  party to the hedge,  the  excess of the fixed  price
specified in the hedge over a floating  price. If the floating price exceeds the
fixed price,  the Company is required to pay the counter  party all or a portion
of this difference multiplied by the quantity hedged,  regardless of whether the
Company has  sufficient  production  to cover the  quantities  specified  in the
hedge.  Significant  reductions in  production at times when the floating  price
exceeds  the fixed price could  require the Company to make  payments  under the
hedge  agreements  even  though  such  payments  are  not  offset  by  sales  of
production.  However,  the Company  hedges up to, but not more than,  50% of its
anticipated production. Hedging will also prevent the Company from receiving the
full  advantage  of increases in crude oil or natural gas prices above the fixed
amount specified in the hedge.
    

Governmental Regulation

        The Company's  business is subject to certain  federal,  state and local
laws  and  regulations  relating  to the  exploration  for and  development  and
production of oil and gas, as well as  environmental  and safety  matters.  Such
laws and regulations have generally become more stringent in recent years, often
imposing  greater  liability  on a  larger  number  of  potentially  responsible
parties.  Because  the  requirements  imposed by such laws and  regulations  are
frequently  changed,  the  Company is unable to  predict  the  ultimate  cost of
compliance  with such  requirements  and their effect on the  Company.  See "The
Company - Competition, Markets, Seasonality and Regulation".

Large Shareholders

   
      Richard A. Kayne  controls  four of the six lenders who  invested  through
Kayne,   Anderson  Investment   Management,   Inc.  with  respect  to  the  1993
Subordinated  Notes (the "1993  Subordinated  Notes").  These four  lenders  own
694,047 of the 816,526 shares acquired upon exercise of warrants held by the six
lenders. Mr. Kayne also controls five of the eight lenders on the 1996 Tranche A
Convertible  Subordinated  Notes (the "1996 Tranche A  Convertible  Subordinated
Notes"),  which lenders could acquire 1,466,667 of the 2,060,606 shares issuable
upon conversion of such Notes. See "The Company - Funding of Business Activities
- -  Borrowings  and   Obligations,"   for  information   with  respect  to  these
transactions.  Carl C. Icahn controls High River Limited  Partnership which owns
1,095,000  shares.  Because of the substantial  holdings of these  shareholders,
they may be able to influence the outcome of votes on various matters, including
the election of directors,  extraordinary  corporate  transactions,  and certain
business combinations. See "Principal Shareholders".
    

Anti-takeover Provisions

      Documents  governing the Company's  affairs provide for or contain several
procedures,  provisions, and plans designed to reduce the likelihood of a change
in the management or voting control of the Company

                                                         8

<PAGE>



without  the  consent of the then  incumbent  Board of  Directors,  including  a
classified Board of Directors, "fair price" provisions, the ability of the Board
of Directors to issue classes or series of preferred shares, restrictions on the
ability of shareholders to call meetings and propose business at meetings of the
common  shareholders,  restrictions  on the ability of  shareholders  to approve
actions or proposals by written consent rather than at meetings and acceleration
of vesting  provisions in stock award and option plans upon a change in control.
These  provisions  may have the effect of reducing  interest in the Company as a
potential  acquisition target or encouraging  persons considering an acquisition
or takeover of the Company to negotiate  with the  Company's  Board of Directors
rather than pursue non-negotiated acquisition or takeover attempts,  although no
assurance can be given that they will have that effect.

      In 1995, the Company  adopted a Shareholder  Right Plan which may have the
effect of discouraging non-negotiated takeover attempts.

      In  addition,  the  Company  chose to be  governed  by Section  203 of the
Delaware General  Corporation Law, which prohibits business  combination between
the Company and any interested  shareholder of the Company for a period of three
years  following  the date on which that  shareholder  became an owner of 15% or
more of the  outstanding  voting shares of the Company unless certain  statutory
exceptions are satisfied.  Section 203 may also have the effect of  discouraging
non-negotiated takeover attempts.

      For a discussion of documents and provisions with potential  anti-takeover
effects,  see "The  Company  Funding of Business  Activities  -  Borrowings  and
Obligations,"  "Management - Long-Term  Incentive Plan," "Description of Capital
Shares  and  Other   Securities  -  Certain   Anti-takeover   Provisions,"   and
"Description of Capital Shares and Other Securities - Shareholder Rights Plan."

Best Efforts Offering


   
      The  Underwriters  will be offering  the Common  Shares on a best  efforts
basis. Consequently,  there is no assurance that all or any of the Common Shares
offered hereby will be sold in the Offering. See "Use of Proceeds".
    

                                 USE OF PROCEEDS

   
      The net proceeds to be received by the Company from the sale of all of the
6,000,000  Common Shares  offered  hereby  (assuming an offering price of $4.875
(per share) are estimated to be  approximately  $27,203,000  ($32,917,000 if the
Over-Allotment  Option is exercised  in full) after  deducting  the  anticipated
underwriting  discount and estimated  offering  expenses.  The Offering is being
made on a "best  efforts  basis",  subject to a minimum sale of 6,302,479 of the
Common Shares offered hereby. See "Underwriting". The Company intends to utilize
the net proceeds of the minimum and maximum offering as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              Maximum                         Minimum
                                                  Approximate                       Approximate
                                                    Dollar       Approximate         Dollar      Approximate
                                                    Amount (a)   Percentage          Amount (a)   Percentage
    

<S>                                            <C>                  <C>         <C>                 <C>  
   
Repay Tranche B Bridge Loan (b)                $   8,500,000        31.2%       $    8,500,000      41.7%
Repay 1993 Subordinated Notes (c)                  5,000,000        18.4%                 -0-        -0-
Development of Properties (d)                     10,500,000        38.6%           10,500,000       51.5%
General Corporate Purposes (e)                     3,203,000        11.8%            1,402,000        6.8%
                                               $  27,203,000       100.0%       $   20,402,000      100.0%
</TABLE>
    

(a) The amount set forth with respect to each purpose  represents  the Company's
current estimate of the approximate amount of the net proceeds that will be used
for such purpose.  However,  the Company reserves the right to change the amount
of such net  proceeds  that  will be used for any  purpose  to the  extent  that
management determines that such change is advisable. Consequently, management of
the Company will have broad  discretion in  determining  the manner in which the
net proceeds of the Offering are applied.

                                                         9

<PAGE>



(b) The  Company  intends to prepay  $8.5  million of the  Tranche B Bridge Loan
Subordinated Notes of October 8, 1996, which carry an interest rate of 12% until
August 8, 1997 (14% thereafter),  are due October 8, 2003, and are prepayable at
any time. These funds were borrowed in connection with the Amoco Acquisition.

   
(c) If the maximum  number of Common Shares offered hereby are sold, the Company
may also use $5 million to repay the 1993  Subordinated  Notes,  which  carry an
interest  rate of 12% (due  December 31,  1999),  and are repayable at any time.
These borrowings were made to finance development activities.
    

(d) Proceeds of this offering will be used to develop the properties acquired in
the Amoco Acquisition, particularly High Island 474, 309, and 330 Fields.

(e) The  remaining  net proceeds  will be used for general  corporate  purposes,
including further  development of properties owned by the Company in the Gulf of
Mexico, and for further  acquisitions of properties in the Gulf of Mexico deemed
appropriate by  management.  Although the Company  actively  reviews oil and gas
acquisition candidates,  it has not identified any specific acquisitions at this
time,  and no  assurances  can be made that the Company will be able to identify
and consummate acquisitions that it deems suitable.

      The   additional   net  proceeds   received   from  the  exercise  of  the
Overallotment Option, if any, will be used for general corporate purposes.


                                 CAPITALIZATION

   
      The  following  table sets forth the  consolidated  capitalization  of the
Company at November  30,  1996,  and as adjusted to reflect the  issuance of the
Common  Shares  offered by the Company  hereby at an assumed price of $4.875 per
share and the application of the net proceeds  therefrom as described in "Use of
Proceeds".  This  table  should  be read in  conjunction  with the  consolidated
financial  statements  of the Company,  including the notes  thereto,  contained
elsewhere in this Prospectus.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                                                              Minimum                          Maximum
                                                         November 30, 1996                November 30, 1996
                                                       (amounts in thousands)          (amounts in thousands)
                                                        Actual      As Adjusted          Actual As Adjusted
<S>                                                 <C>           <C>              <C>           <C>          
Long-term debt (less current maturities)            $   49,500    $    41,000      $   49,500    $      36,000
Stockholders' Equity:
      Preferred shares, $.01 par value,
       5,000,000  shares authorized;
      none issued or outstanding                           ---            ---             ---              ---
      Common Shares, $.01 par value,
      40,000,000 shares authorized;
      14,350,255 shares issued and
      outstanding (18,850,255 and
      20,350,255 as adjusted)(1)(2)                        144            189             144              204
      Additional paid-in capital                        31,490         51,847          31,490           58,633
      Retained Earnings (deficit)                      (13,572)       (13,572)        (13,572)        ( 13,572)
              Total Stockholders' Equity                18,062         38,464          18,062           45,265
      Total capitalization                          $   67,562    $    79,464        $ 67,562   $       81,265

</TABLE>


(1)   Excludes  289,365 Common Shares  issuable upon the exercise of outstanding
      warrants,  2,060,606  issuable  upon  the  conversion  of  the  Tranche  A
      Convertible  Subordinated  Notes,  and up to 600,000  Common  Shares which
      would be  issuable  upon the  exercise  of  warrants  to be  issued to the
      Underwriters  should  all of the  Common  Shares  offered  hereby be sold,
      (726,050 assuming the Underwriters'  Over-Allotment Option is exercised in
      full).
    

                                                        10

<PAGE>



(2)   Exclusive of the Underwriters' Over-Allotment Option of 1,260,496 Shares.

                          PRICE RANGE OF COMMON SHARES

   
      The Common  Shares are quoted on the National  Association  of  Securities
Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotation System ("NASDAQ") - National Market, under the
symbol "PANA".  They commenced  trading  September 21, 1989. The following table
sets  forth,  for the  periods  indicated,  the high and low closing bid for the
Common Shares.
    

                                      1994

      1st Quarter        2nd Quarter       3rd Quarter       4th Quarter
High     3 5/8             4 3/8             4 5/8              4 1/4
Low      2 9/16            2 15/16           3 1/2              3 5/8

                                      1995

     1st Quarter         2nd Quarter       3rd Quarter       4th Quarter
High     4 5/16             4 7/8            5  5/16              5
Low      3 5/8              4                4  1/8               4
                                      1996

     1st Quarter         2nd Quarter       3rd Quarter       4th Quarter
High     5                  4 1/2            6                  6 3/8
Low      3 7/16             3 11/16          3 3/8              4 3/8

   
         On  January  29,  1997,  the last sale  price of the  Common  Shares as
reported on the NASDAQ- NM was $4.875 per share.  There are approximately  6,000
shareholders of the Common Shares.
    

                                 DIVIDEND POLICY

         The Company has not paid any cash dividends on the Common  Shares.  The
Delaware General  Corporation Law, to which the Company is subject,  permits the
Company to pay  dividends  only out of its  capital  surplus  (the excess of net
assets over the aggregate par value of all outstanding capital shares) or out of
net  profits  for the  fiscal  year in which the  dividend  is  declared  or the
preceding fiscal year. The Bank Facility and the Subordinated  Notes require the
consent of the lenders to any dividends or  distributions  by the Company and to
any purchases by the Company of Common Shares.  The Company retains its earnings
and cash flow to finance the  expansion  and  development  of its  business  and
currently  does not intend to pay  dividends  on the Common  Shares.  Any future
payments of dividends  will depend on, among other factors,  the earnings,  cash
flow, financial condition, and capital requirements of the Company.

                         PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION

   
         On October  8,1996,  the Company closed its acquisition of interests in
thirteen  offshore blocks comprising six fields in the Gulf of Mexico from Amoco
Production  Company.  Proved  reserves,  net to the  interests  acquired,  as of
September 1, 1996 , the effective date of the Amoco Acquisition,  were 1,953,000
barrels of oil and  condensate  and 28.6 Bcf of natural gas, based upon internal
reserve  reports  prepared by the  Company.  The  purchase  price for the assets
acquired  in  this  transaction  was  $40.4  million,  paid by the  issuance  of
2,000,000  Common  Shares  and by  payment  to  Amoco  of $32  million  in cash.
Concurrently  with this transaction the Company entered into a new Bank Facility
with First Union  National Bank of North Carolina and Banque Paribas under which
its  reducing  revolving  loan was  increased  to $40  million,  with an initial
borrowing base (credit limit) of $35 million. In addition to that facility,  the
Company  borrowed  $17 million  pursuant to the  Tranche A  Convertible  and the
Tranche B Bridge Loan Subordinated Notes,  provided by lenders investing through
Kayne, Anderson Investment Management, Inc.
    

                                                        11

<PAGE>



         On July 26, 1995, the Company  completed the  acquisition of all of the
offshore  oil  and  gas  properties  in the  Gulf  of  Mexico  owned  by  Zapata
Exploration  Company,  the "Zapata  Properties." Proved reserves at December 31,
1994  attributable to the oil and gas interests  acquired,  net to the Company's
interest,  were 308,000 barrels of oil and 27.8 Bcf of natural gas, based upon a
rolling forward of reserve reports of Zapata's  independent  petroleum engineers
as of October 1,  1994.  The  purchase  price for the  Zapata  properties  and a
related  receivable of $174,000 ($84,000 at December 31, 1995) was $2,748,000 in
cash and an  obligation  to pay a  production  payment to Zapata based on future
production. See "Properties - Zapata Properties."

   
         On November 22, 1996,  the Company  closed its sale of the Bayou Sorrel
Field  to  National  Energy  Group,  Inc.  for a  sales  price  of $11  million,
consisting  of $9 million in cash and 477,612  shares of National  Energy Group,
Inc.  common  stock,  which were  valued at $2 million as of the  closing  date.
Because the sale was effective  September 1, September  revenues and expenses of
the Bayou Sorrel Field are not included in the  Statement of Income for the Nine
Months Ended September 30, 1996.

         The Company  intends to prepay $13.5 million of its Long-Term Debt with
a portion of the proceeds from this  Offering,  assuming all shares  offered are
sold.  The  Company  intends  to prepay  the $5  million  1993  Kayne,  Anderson
Subordinated  Notes and $8.5  million of the Tranche B Bridge Loan  Subordinated
Notes, both of which carry an interest rate of 12%.
    

         Effective  December  31,  1995,  the  Company  changed  its  method  of
accounting  for oil  and  gas  operations  from  the  full  cost  method  to the
successful efforts method.  The information  provided in the Pro Forma Financial
Statements reflects this change.

































                                                        12

<PAGE>

                                  PANACO, Inc.

                        Pro Forma Combined Balance Sheet
                            As of September 30, 1996
                (Amounts in thousands except number of shares )
                                  (Unaudited)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                  Amoco                   Bayou
                                                 PANACO, Inc.  Properties                Sorrel               Prepayment 
                                                    As of       Pro Forma  PANACO, Inc. Pro Forma PANACO, Inc. of Long- PANACO, Inc.
 ASSETS                                            9/30/96     Adjustments  Pro Forma  Adjustments  Pro Forma  Term Debt  Pro Forma
                                                   (Note 1)     (Note 2)     Combined   (Note 3)    Combined   (Note 4)   Combined
CURRENT ASSETS
<S>                                                  <C>                       <C>                     <C>                   <C> 
      Cash and cash equivalents                      $766                      $766                    $766                  $766
      Accounts receivable                           4,435                     4,435                   4,435                 4,435
      Accounts receivable - sale of                                               0                       0                     0
           Bayou Sorrel Field                      11,152                    11,152    (11,152)           0        0            0
      Prepaid expenses                                359                       359                     359                   359
      National Energy Group Common Stock                0                         0      2,000        2,000        0        2,000
           Total Current Assets                    16,712                    16,712                   7,560                 7,560

OIL AND GAS PROPERTIES, AS DETERMINED BY THE
SUCCESSFUL EFFORTS METHOD OF ACCOUNTING
      Oil and gas properties                       98,015       40,400      138,415                 138,415               138,415
      Less: accumulated depreciation, depletion
      and amortization                           (77,526)                  (77,526)                (77,526)              (77,526)
           Net Oil and Gas Properties              20,489                    60,889                  60,889                60,889

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT (net)                   126                       126                     126                   126

OTHER ASSETS
      Earnest deposit - Amoco acquisition           5,000      (5,000)            0                       0                     0
      Restricted deposits                           1,733                     1,733                   1,733                 1,733
      Other                                           384                       384                     384                   384
           Total Other Assets                       7,117                     2,117                   2,117                 2,117

TOTAL ASSETS                                      $44,444                   $79,844                 $70,692               $70,692

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

CURRENT LIABILITIES
      Accounts payable                             $8,809                    $8,809                  $8,809                $8,809
      Current portion of long-term debt                 0                         0                       0                     0
           Total Current Liabilities                8,809                     8,809                   8,809                 8,809

LONG-TERM DEBT                                     25,137       27,000       52,137    (9,152)       42,985    (13,500)    29,485

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
      Preferred stock, ($.01 par value, 5,000,000
 shares authorized and no shares issued and 
 outstanding)                                           0                         0                       0                     0
      Common stock, ($.01 par value, 40,000,000
 shares authorized and 17,327,922 issued and 
 outstanding)                                         123           20          143                     143        28         171
      Additional paid-in capital                   23,090        8,380       31,470                  31,470    13,472      44,942
      Retained earnings (deficit)                 (12,715)           0      (12,715)                (12,715)              (12,715)
           Total Stockholders' equity              10,498       18,898       18,898                  32,398

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY        $44,444      $79,844      $70,692                 $70,692

 The accompanying notes to pro forma financial statements are an integral part of this statement
                                       13

</TABLE>

<PAGE>

                                  PANACO, INC.
              Pro Forma Combined Statement of Income (Operations)
                  For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 1996
                  (Amounts in thousands except per share data)
                                  (Unaudited)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                 Amoco                  Bayou
                                                              Properties               Sorrel                Prepayment
                                                               Pro Forma PANACO, Inc.  Pro Forma PANACO, Inc.  of Long- PANACO, Inc.
                                                      Amoco   Adjustments Pro Forma   Adjustments Pro Forma   Term Debt  Pro Forma
                                        PANACO, Inc. roperties  (Note 2)   Combined    (Note 3)    Combined    (Note 4)   Combined
REVENUES
<S>                                        <C>         <C>             <C>   <C>        <C>          <C>             <C>    <C>    
      Oil and gas revenue                  $13,257     $11,135         $0    $24,392    ($2,010)     $22,382         $0     $22,382

COSTS AND EXPENSES
      Lease operating                        6,049       3,158        108      9,315       (733)       8,582          0       8,582
      Depreciation, depletion and
      amortization                           4,981           0      5,655     10,636       (888)       9,748          0       9,748
      Exploration expenses                       0           0          0          0           0           0          0           0
      Provision for losses and (gains)
          on disposition and write-down
          of assets                            (4)           0          0        (4)           0         (4)          0         (4)
      General and administrative               573           0          0        573           0         573          0         573
      Production and ad valorem taxes          429           0          0        429       (239)         190          0         190
      West Delta fire loss                     500           0          0        500           0         500          0         500
           Total                            12,528       3,158      5,763     21,449     (1,860)      19,589          0      19,589

NET OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)                    729       7,977    (5,763)      2,943       (150)       2,793          0       2,793

OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)
      Interest expense (net)               (1,347)           0    (1,611)    (2,958)         588     (2,370)      1,215     (1,155)

NET INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES        (618)       7,977    (7,374)       (15)         438         423      1,215       1,638

INCOME TAXES (BENEFIT)                           0           0          0          0           0           0          0           0

NET INCOME (LOSS)                           ($618)      $7,977   ($7,374)      ($15)        $438        $423     $1,215      $1,638

PRIMARY EARNINGS (LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE   ($0.05)                           ($0.00)                   $0.03                  $0.10

   Weighted average shares outstanding      12,253                  2,000     14,253                  14,253      2,832      17,085



The accompanying notes to pro forma financial statements are an integral part of this statement
</TABLE>

                                                        14

<PAGE>

                                  PANACO, Inc.
              Pro Forma Combined Statement of Income (Operations)
                      For the Year Ended December 31, 1995
                  (Amounts in thousands except per share data)
                                  (Unaudited)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                                         Prepayment
                                                                                 Pro Forma  PANACO, Inc.  of Long-  PANACO, Inc.
                                                              Zapata    Amoco    Adjustments  Pro Forma   Term Debt   Pro Forma
                                               PANACO, Inc. PropertiesProperties   (Note 2)    Combined    (Note 4)    Combined

REVENUES
<S>                                               <C>        <C>      <C>               <C>     <C>             <C>     <C>    
      Oil and gas revenue                         $18,447    $3,623   $12,528           $0      $34,598         $0      $34,598

COSTS AND EXPENSES
      Lease operating                               8,055     1,460     2,991          314       12,820          0       12,820
      Depreciation, depletion and amortization      8,064         0         0       10,064       18,128          0       18,128
      Exploration expenses                          8,112         0         0            0        8,112          0        8,112
      Provision for losses and (gains) on                                                                                     0
           disposition and write-down of assets       751         0         0            0          751          0          751
      General and administrative                      690         0         0            0          690          0          690
      Production and ad valorem taxes               1,078         0         0            0        1,078          0        1,078
           Total                                   26,750     1,460     2,991       10,378       41,579          0       41,579

NET OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)                       (8,303)     2,163     9,537     (10,378)      (6,981)          0      (6,981)

OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)
      Interest expense (net)                        (987)         0         0      (2,941)      (3,928)      1,620      (2,308)

NET INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES             (9,290)     2,163     9,537     (13,319)     (10,909)      1,620      (9,289)

INCOME TAXES (BENEFIT)                                  0         0         0            0            0          0            0

NET INCOME (LOSS)                                ($9,290)    $2,163    $9,537    ($13,319)    ($10,909)     $1,620     ($9,289)

PRIMARY EARNINGS (LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE          ($0.81)                                       ($0.81)                 ($0.57)

      Weighted average shares outstanding          11,505                            2,000       13,505      2,832       16,337


The accompanying notes to pro forma financial statements are an integral part of this statement
                                                        15
</TABLE>

<PAGE>



               NOTES TO UNAUDITED PRO FORMA COMBINED BALANCE SHEET
                              At September 30, 1996

1.       Basis of Presentation

   
         The Unaudited Pro Forma Balance Sheet presents the combined  effects of
the acquisition of the Amoco  Properties  (which closed on October 8, 1996), the
sale of Bayou  Sorrel  Field  (which  closed  on  November  22,  1996),  and the
prepayment of $13.5 million of Long-Term  Debt with a portion of the proceeds of
this offering as if the  transactions  had occurred on September  30, 1996.  The
information  presented in the Unaudited Pro Forma Balance Sheet assumes that the
maximum number of Common Shares offered hereby are sold.
    

2.       Amoco Properties Pro Forma Adjustments

   
         The purchase price for the Amoco Properties was $32 million in cash and
2,000,000  Common  Shares,  valued  at  $4.20  per  share,  for a total of $40.4
million.  At September 30, 1996,  the Company had made an earnest  deposit of $5
million to Amoco Production Company in connection with this acquisition. The pro
forma  information  includes a  reclassification  of this deposit to oil and gas
properties.  The increases in Long-Term Debt and Stockholders'  Equity represent
the  additional  borrowing  for the cash portion of the  purchase  price and the
issuance of 2,000,000 Common Shares to Amoco.
    

3.       Bayou Sorrel Pro Forma Adjustments

   
         The Company sold the Bayou Sorrel Field effective September 1, 1996 for
$11  million,  consisting  of $9 million in cash and 477,612  shares of National
Energy  Group,  Inc.  common stock valued at $2 million at September  30th.  The
number of shares of National  Energy Group,  Inc. common stock was determined by
using the average  closing price of the stock over the 10 days prior to closing.
National Energy Group, Inc. also reimbursed the Company $152,000 for the amounts
it  had  deposited  in an  escrow  account  for  the  plugging  and  abandonment
obligations of the Field.


         The total cash proceeds from the sale of $9,152,000 are presented as if
it was all applied to the  Company's  Long-Term  Debt balance at  September  30,
1996.
    

4.       Prepayment of Long-Term Debt

   
         Assuming the maximum  number of shares from this Offering are sold, the
Company  intends to prepay $13.5  million of its Long-Term  Debt.  The pro forma
balance  sheet  adjustments  represent  additional  equity  and  Long-Term  Debt
reduction of $13.5  million,  which based on this  offering  price of $4.875 per
share, and proceeds being net of the 7% Underwriter's commission, would increase
the number of  outstanding  Common Shares by 2,977,667.  The number of shares is
only the amount  required to allow the Company to pay the $13.5 million of debt,
not the total number of shares being offered.
    


     NOTES TO UNAUDITED PRO FORMA COMBINED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (OPERATIONS)
                  For the nine months ended September 30, 1996
                      and the year ended December 31, 1995

1.       Basis of Presentation

   
         The Unaudited Pro Forma Statement of Income  (Operations)  for the nine
months ended September 30, 1996 presents the combined effects of the acquisition
of the Amoco Properties,  which closed on October 8, 1996, the sale of the Bayou
Sorrel Field, effective September 1, 1996 and the prepayment of $13.5 million of
Long-Term  Debt with a portion of the  proceeds  of this  Offering  as if all of
these  transactions  had been  consummated on January 1, 1995.  The  information
presented  in the  Unaudited  Pro Forma  Statement  of Income  assumes  that the
maximum number of Common Shares offered hereby are sold.
    

                                                        16

<PAGE>




         The Unaudited Pro Forma Statements of Income  (Operations) for the year
ended December 31, 1995 presents the combined  effects of the acquisition of the
Amoco  Properties,  which closed on October 8, 1996, and the Zapata  Properties,
closed on July 26, 1995, as if the  acquisitions had been consummated on January
1, 1995.

   
         Because the Bayou  Sorrel  Field was  purchased  on December  28, 1995,
there was no activity  included in the Company's  results of operations in 1995,
and therefore, no pro forma elimination adjustments are necessary for 1995.

         The results of the Zapata properties are included in the Company's 1995
results of  operations  after the closing  date,  July 26,  1995.  The pro forma
adjustments  for the Zapata  properties  are only for the period of January 1 to
July 25, 1995.

         Each period presented  includes the issuance of 2,000,000 Common Shares
to Amoco  Production  Company  in  connection  with the  Amoco  Acquisition  and
2,977,677  in  additional  Common  Shares  issued to allow the Company to prepay
$13.5 million of its Long-Term Debt.

         There are no pro forma  adjustments for income tax expense for the nine
months  ended  September  30,  1996  because  the  Company has an Income Tax Net
Operating Loss that would not have required it to pay income taxes.  The Company
has not  previously  recognized  any benefits from this Income Tax Net Operating
Loss.  There are also no pro forma  adjustments  for General and  Administrative
expenses because the Company  anticipates no increases in this category based on
the nature of the assets acquired.
    

2.       Amoco and Zapata Properties Pro Forma Adjustments

         Additional lease operating expenses of $108,000 in 1996 and $314,000 in
1995  represent the  estimated  additional  insurance  costs of owning the Amoco
Properties  and the Zapata  Properties.  These amounts are  estimated  using the
Company's current insurance rates for owning the properties  acquired or similar
properties.

   
         Additional depletion and depreciation expense of $5,655,000 in 1996 and
$10,064,000 in 1995  represents  the estimated  depletion and  depreciation  for
assets acquired in the respective  acquisitions assuming the purchase prices and
proved  reserve  amounts were identical to those that existed at the time of the
actual acquisitions.
    

   
         Additional  interest  expense of $1,611,000  in 1996 and  $2,941,000 in
1995 represents the increased  borrowings at January 1, 1995. The purchase price
assumed for each  acquisition is the same as at the actual date of  acquisition.
It is  assumed  that  cash on hand at the  beginning  of 1995  was  used for the
acquisitions,  with the  balance  of any cash  required  being  funded  with the
Company's  Bank  Facility and the 1996  Subordinated  Notes,  using the rates in
effect at the time of the acquisition for the Bank Facility and 12% for the 1996
Subordinated  Notes, also the same rate received at the time of the acquisition.
These  assumptions would have required the Company to borrow $32 million for the
cash portion of the Amoco  Acquisition,  $17 million under the 12%  Subordinated
Notes and $15  million  under  the  Company's  Bank  Facility,  with an  assumed
interest rate of 7.25%, the actual weighted average rate the Company incurred at
the time of the acquisition.
    

3.       Bayou Sorrel Pro Forma Adjustments

   
         The  adjustments  with  respect to the sale of the Bayou  Sorrel  Field
represent  the  revenues  and expenses of the Field from January 1 to August 31,
1996.  Interest  expense is reduced to reflect the  elimination of the financing
for the  acquisition,  closed on December  28, 1995.  The  reduction in interest
expense is based on the Company's pro forma  elimination of the debt  associated
with the purchase of the Bayou Sorrel Field.  The Company borrowed $10.5 million
for the purchase  which closed on December 28, 1995, and had reduced this amount
throughout  1996.  The interest rate averaged  approximately  7.5%. The purchase
price for the Field
    

                                                        17

<PAGE>



   
was  $10,455,000  which included a related  receivable of $600,000 and a brokers
fee of $205,000.

         Although  the sale of the Bayou  Sorrel  field  closed on November  22,
1996,  the buyer assumed all benefits and  liabilities  of the assets sold after
the effective date of the sale, September 1, 1996.
    

4.       Prepayment of Long-Term Debt

   
         Assuming all shares from this Offering are sold, the Company intends to
prepay $13.5 million of its Long-Term  Debt. The pro forma  statements of income
take this prepayment of debt into account by reducing  interest expense for each
period,  and  increasing  the  shares   outstanding.   The  increase  in  shares
outstanding is the number of shares required to be sold, at the current offering
price and net of the Underwriter's commission to raise the $13.5 million.
    

                             SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

   
         Selected  financial  data as of the  dates  and  for  the  the  periods
indicated is presented below.  Effective  December 31, 1995, the Company changed
its method of accounting for oil and gas operations from the full cost method to
the successful  efforts  method.  The  information  provided below reflects this
change for all periods.  This data also reflects a retroactive  restatement  for
all periods presented to reflect the merging of the Company's  predecessor,  Pan
Petroleum  MLP,  into the Company  effective  September 1, 1992 and reflects the
acquisition of the West Delta offshore properties as of May 28, 1991,  accounted
for utilizing the "purchase" method.
    

      Summary of Operations: ( Amounts in thousands except per share data)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                     For the nine months ended                 For the year ended
                                           September 30,                          December 31,
                                            (unaudited)                                                (unaudited)
                                        1996(a)        1995       1995     1994       1993          1992         1991
<S>                                  <C>              <C>        <C>      <C>        <C>         <C>         <C>  
Oil and Gas revenue                  $ 13,257         13,660     18,447   17,338     12,605      13,335      8,149
Depreciation, depletion
 & amortization                         4,981          6,277      8,064    6,038      4,288       4,245      3,305
Lease operating expense                 6,049          5,729      8,055    5,231      5,297       5,762      3,728
Production and ad valorem taxes           429            810      1,078    1,006        754         867        635
Exploration expenses                       -           2,174      8,112       -          -           -          -
Provision for losses and (gains)
 on disposition and write-downs
 of assets                                (4)            -          751     1,202      3,824         -        (91)
West Delta fire loss                      500            -           -         -          -          -          -
Net operating income (loss)               729        (1,772)    (8,303)     3,274    (2,100)      1,922        128
Interest expense (net)                  1,347            720        987     1,623      1,886      2,323      1,597
Net income (loss)                       (618)        (2,492)    (9,290)     1,115    (3,986)      (401)    (1,469)
Net income (loss) per
 Common Share                        $ (0.05)         (0.21)     (0.81)      0.11     (0.53)     (0.05)    (0.23)

Summary Balance Sheet Data:

Oil and Gas Properties (net)         $ 20,489         21,515     29,485    23,945     19,183     26,448     29,018
Total assets                           44,444         26,795     36,169    29,095     24,432     31,085     33,827
Long-term debt                         25,137          8,865     22,390    12,500     12,465     15,380     18,945
Stockholders' equity                   10,498         15,335      9,174    14,882      8,744     11,700     10,889
Dividends per Common Share           $   0.00           0.00       0.00      0.00       0.00       0.00       0.03
</TABLE>

(a) Results for the period ended September 30, 1996, were substantially affected
by the explosion and fire.

                                                        18

<PAGE>



See "Recent  Explosion and Fire". Such results include the results of operations
through  August 31 for the Bayou  Sorrel  Field,  which was sold by the  Company
effective September 1.






                      MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
                OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

For the nine months ended September 30, 1996 and 1995:

   
General
    

      The oil and gas industry has experienced  significant volatility in recent
years because of the fluctuatory relationship of the supply of most fossil fuels
relative to the demand for such  products and other  uncertainties  in the world
energy  markets.  These  industry  conditions  should  be  considered  when this
analysis of the Company's operations is read.

   
      The Company  experienced  an explosion  and fire on April 24, 1996 at Tank
Battery #3 in West Delta  resulting in the fields being shut-in from April 24th,
until being  returned to production  on October 7, 1996.  The loss of 67 days of
production in the second  quarter and the entire third quarter  resulted in lost
revenues  estimated by management to be approximately  $6 million.  The fire was
the principal contributor to the losses of $.08 per share for the second quarter
of 1996 and $.11 per share for the third  quarter  of 1996.  During  the  second
quarter  the  Company  expensed  $500,000  for  its  loss  as a  result  of this
explosion.  No further  losses have been  recognized  or are  anticipated.  This
$500,000 amount included $225,000 in deductibles under the Company's insurance.

      The Company has spent $8.5  million on Tank  Battery #3  inclusive  of the
$500,000 expensed during second quarter and has received  reimbursement from its
insurance  company  of $3.9  million,  after  satisfaction  of the  $225,000  in
deductibles.  The excess of expenditures  over insurance  reimbursement  will be
capitalized.  No additional expenditures have been made or are anticipated.  The
Company is  considering  filing suits  against the  employers of the persons who
caused the  incidents  for  recovery  of these  costs and its lost  profits.  No
assurance  can be given that the Company will  successfully  recover any amounts
sought in any such suits.
    

Results of Operations

      "Oil  and  Gas  revenue"  decreased  only  3% for the  nine  months  ended
September 30, 1996 when compared to the nine months ended September 30, 1995, in
spite  of the  explosion  and  fire  at  West  Delta.  The  fire  and  explosion
substantially  reduced  oil and natural  gas  production  for the nine months in
1996, as  production  from the West Delta Fields was shut-in from the day of the
explosion  and fire (April 24,  1996)  until  October 7, 1996.  The  decrease in
production from West Delta was offset by production  from  properties  acquired.
The Bayou Sorrel  Field was acquired on December 28, 1995 and had no  production
realized by the Company in 1995. The offshore  properties of Zapata  Exploration
Company were acquired on July 26, 1996 with the production from these properties
being  included  in the  Company's  results of  operations  from July 27 through
September 30, 1995.

   
      Production.  Natural gas production decreased 39% to 4,590,000 Mcf for the
first nine months of 1996 from  7,578,000  Mcf in 1995.  Natural gas  production
from West Delta  decreased  from 6,700,000 Mcf for the first nine months of 1995
to  1,500,000  Mcf for the same  period  in  1996,  primarily  a  result  of the
explosion and fire on April 24, 1996. A secondary factor in the decrease in West
Delta  production was a decline in 1996 production  from four  horizontal  wells
drilled in 1994. These four wells produced more natural gas in January to April,
1995  than  they did for the same  period  in 1996 (in the  period  prior to the
explosion and fire). Natural
    

                                                        19

<PAGE>



   
gas production  primarily from the Zapata Properties,  and from the Bayou Sorrel
Field  (primarily  an oil  field),  somewhat  offset the  decrease in West Delta
production.  The increase in Zapata production realized by the Company is due to
the fact that they were  acquired on July 26, 1995.  The  production  from these
properties  included in the nine months  ended  September  30, 1995 is only from
July 27 to  September  30,  while the  production  for the full  nine  months is
included in 1996.

      Oil  production  from the West Delta  Fields also  decreased  for the nine
months ended  September 30, 1996 when compared to the same period in 1995,  from
103,000  barrels  to  52,000  barrels.   However,  as  with  natural  gas,  1995
acquisitions  offset  the  decrease  from West  Delta.  The Bayou  Sorrel  Field
acquisition, which produces primarily oil, produced 93,000 barrels in 1996, with
no oil production realized by the Company in 1995, more than offset the decrease
from West Delta. Also, oil production from the Zapata Properties is included for
the first nine months of 1996,  with only the period of July 27 to  September 30
included in the same period of 1995, due to the July 26 acquisition  date,  also
offsetting  the  decrease  from West  Delta.  These  factors  resulted  in a 66%
increase in oil  production,  from 122,000  barrels for the first nine months of
1995 to 203,000 barrels in 1996.
    

      On an Mcf equivalent basis, total oil and natural gas production decreased
30% for the first nine months in 1996 compared to the same period in 1995.

   
      Prices.  Natural gas prices increased for the first nine months of 1996 to
$2.65 per Mcf compared to $1.54 for the same period in 1995. The Company entered
into a natural  gas swap  agreement  beginning  January  1, 1996 for the sale of
15,000 MMBtu of gas each day in 1996,  with contract  prices  ranging from $1.75
per MMBtu to $2.25 per MMBtu.  A swap loss for the nine months  ended  September
30, 1996 of $2.7  million,  decreased  the net price  received by the Company to
$2.08 per Mcfe for the same period of 1996.
    

      Oil prices also increased, from $16.30 per barrel in the first nine months
of 1995 to $18.33 per barrel in the same period of 1996.

   
      "Depletion,  depreciation  and  amortization"  decreased 21% for the first
nine months of 1996  primarily  due to the  decreased  production  from the West
Delta  Properties  as a  result  of the  April  24th  explosion  and  fire,  see
discussion of production volumes in "Oil and Gas revenue".

      "Lease operating  expenses" increased $320,000 in the first nine months of
1996 primarily due to the acquisition of the Zapata  Properties and Bayou Sorrel
Field.  With the  Zapata  Properties,  the  Company  acquired  interest  in five
offshore  producing  properties.  Since the acquisition of the Zapata Properties
closed on July 26,  1995,  only the lease  operating  expenses  from July 27, to
September  30, 1995 are  included in the 1995 results of  operations,  while the
1996 period includes these expenses for the full nine months. 1996 also includes
a full nine  months of lease  operating  expenses  for the Bayou  Sorrel  Field,
acquired on December 28, 1995, with none of these expenses in the same period of
1995. West Delta lease operating  expenses did decrease in the first nine months
of 1996 ($805,000 from expected levels) with the fields being shut-in from April
25 through  October 7,  however,  a part of these lease  operating  expenses are
fixed in nature and continued.
    

      "Production and ad valorem taxes" decreased to 3.2% of oil and natural gas
sales in the first nine  months of 1996 from 5.9% of oil and  natural  gas sales
for the same period in 1995.  A part of the  decrease  ($178,000  from  expected
levels) is due to the lost production from the West Delta Properties for 67 days
in the second  quarter and the entire  third  quarter due to the  explosion  and
fire. A large  percentage of this  production is in Louisiana State waters which
are subject to  severance  taxes.  The  decrease is also due to the shift in the
Company's  production  volumes from  properties  subject to  severance  taxes to
properties in federal offshore waters (primarily the Zapata Properties) that are
not subject to such taxes.

      "Exploration expenses" in the first nine months of 1995 consist of two dry
exploratory wells drilled on South Timbalier Block 33 and Eugene Island Block 50
in the second quarter. The Company did not drill any exploratory wells in 1996.


                                                        20

<PAGE>



      The "West  Delta fire loss" is the  Company's  expense  of  repairing  and
rebuilding Tank Battery # 3, the central  processing  facility in the West Delta
Fields.

   
      "Interest  expense (net)"  increased  $627,000 , or 87% for the first nine
months of 1996  compared  to the same  period in 1995.  Average  Long-Term  Debt
levels  increased from $9 million for the nine months in 1995 to $21 million for
the same  period in 1996,  resulting  in the  primary  cause of the  increase in
interest  expense.  On December  27, 1995 the  Company  borrowed  $10 million in
connection  with the Bayou Sorrel Field  acquisition.  Through April,  1996, the
Company began to aggressively reduce Long-Term Debt, and it had reduced it by $4
million.  The April 24th  explosion and fire at West Delta reduced the Company's
discretionary  cash flows and  restricted  the Company's  ability to continue to
lower its Long-Term Debt. These two factors caused the average  borrowing levels
to be higher in the first nine  months of 1996  versus the same  period of 1995.
The  weighted  average  interest  rate for the  first  nine  months  of 1996 was
actually  slightly lower than that for the same period of 1995.  Throughout both
nine month periods,  the Company's Long-Term Debt included the 1993 Subordinated
Notes, bearing interest at 12%. The remainder of Long-Term Debt in each year was
borrowed under the Company's Bank Facility, which carried interest rates ranging
from 7% to 7 3/4%. The increased  weighted average  Long-Term Debt levels in the
first nine months of 1996, with a smaller percentage  borrowed at 12%, decreased
the weighted  average interest rate from 10% in the first nine months of 1995 to
8.6% in the same  period of 1996.  The  Company  borrowed $5 million on the Bank
Facility in late August 1996,  for an earnest money  deposit in connection  with
the acquisition of the Amoco Properties, which closed on October 8, 1996.
    

Sale of Bayou Sorrel

   
      Effective  September  1, 1996,  the Company sold its Bayou Sorrel Field to
National  Energy  Group,  Inc.  for $9  million  in cash and  477,612  shares of
National  Energy  Group,  Inc.  common  stock.  The  Company  also  retained  an
overriding  royalty  interest  in the deep  rights of the field at depths  below
11,000'. The field was acquired by the Company from Shell Western E.P., Inc. for
$10.5 million on December  28,1995,  which included a broker's fee and a related
receivable.  During the eight months the Company  owned the field two wells were
drilled which did not result in production in commercial quantities. The Company
received  an  offer  to  purchase  the  Field.   After  having  made  the  Amoco
Acquisition,  Management  believed that the Company's  resources could be better
utilized  elsewhere.  The effective  date of the sale was September 1, 1996, the
date at which National Energy Group,  Inc.  assumed all benefits and liabilities
of owning the  property.  The Company did not record a gain or loss on the sale.
For the nine  months  ended  September  30,  1996,  the Bayou  Sorrel  field had
accounted for $2 million, or 15% of the Company's total oil and gas revenue. The
Field had also  accounted  for  $733,000,  or 12% of lease  operating  expenses,
$888,000,  or 18% of  depreciation,  and  amortization  and  $239,000  or 56% of
production  and ad  valorem  taxes.  The net  results  of the field  contributed
$150,000 to  operating  income,  or 21%.  The  purchase  price was paid in cash,
borrowed on the Company's Bank Facility.  The interest  expense incurred in 1996
by owning the field totaled $588,000 for the nine months ended September 30. The
operating  income of the field  and  interest  expense  incurred  resulted  in a
decrease in net income of $438,000.
    

Liquidity and Capital Resources

      At September 30, 1996, 46% of the Company's total assets were  represented
by oil  and gas  properties,  net of  accumulated  depreciation,  depletion  and
amortization.

   
      On October 8, 1996, the Company amended its bank facility with First Union
National Bank of North  Carolina (60%  participation),  and Banque  Paribas (40%
participation), herein "Bank Facility". The loan is a reducing revolver designed
to provide the Company up to $40 million  depending on the  Company's  borrowing
base, as determined by the lenders. The Company's borrowing base at December 31,
1996 was $31 million,  with an availability  under the revolver of $2.5 million.
The principal  amount of the loan is due July 1, 1999.  However,  at no time may
the Company have outstanding borrowings under the Bank Facility in excess of its
borrowing base. Should the borrowing base ever be determined to be less than the
outstanding  principal owed, the Company must immediately pay that difference to
the lenders. Interest on the loan is computed at the
    

                                                        21

<PAGE>



   
bank's  prime  rate or at 1 to 1 3/4%  (depending  upon  the  percentage  of the
facility being used) over the applicable London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR")
on Eurodollar loans. Eurodollar loans can be for terms of one, two, three or six
months and interest on such loans is due at the  expiration of the terms of such
loans, but no less frequently than every three months.  Beginning April 1, 1997,
the interest rate will  increase by an  additional  .5% at the beginning of each
quarter to a maximum of 3 3/4% over LIBOR as long as the  Company  has in excess
of  $13,500,000  in  Subordinated  Notes  outstanding,   specifically  the  1993
Subordinated  Notes and the 1996 Tranche B Bridge Loan  Subordinated  Notes. See
"Use of Proceeds." Management feels that this bank facility greatly enhances its
ability  to  make  necessary  capital   expenditures  to  maintain  and  improve
production  from its  properties and makes  available to the Company  additional
funds for future  acquisitions.  The bank facility is  collateralized by a first
mortgage on the  Company's  offshore  properties.  The loan  agreement  contains
certain covenants including a requirement to maintain a positive indebtedness to
cash flow ratio, a positive working capital ratio, a certain tangible net worth,
as well as limitations on future debt, guarantees,  liens,  dividends,  mergers,
material change in ownership by management, and sale of assets.

      From  time to time the  Company  has  borrowed  funds  from  institutional
lenders who are represented by Kayne,  Anderson Investment  Management,  Inc. In
each case these loans are due at a stated maturity, require payments of interest
only at 12% per annum 45 days  after the end of each  calendar  quarter  and are
secured by a second  mortgage on the Company's  offshore oil and gas properties.
The respective loan documents contain certain covenants  including a requirement
to  maintain  a net  worth  ratio,  as  well  as  limitations  on  future  debt,
guarantees,   liens,  dividends,   mergers,  material  change  in  ownership  by
management, and sale of assets.
The loans are as follows:

             (a) 1993 Subordinated Notes. In 1993, $5,000,000 was borrowed,  due
      December 31, 1999,  but prepayable at any time. The Company may deliver up
      to $1,000,000 in PIK (payment in kind) notes in  satisfaction  of interest
      payment  obligations.  The lenders were issued, and during 1996 exercised,
      warrants to acquire 816,526 Common Shares at $2.25 per share.

             (b) 1996 Tranche A Convertible  Subordinated  Notes.  On October 8,
      1996,  $8,500,000  was borrowed,  due October 8, 2003,  but prepayable any
      time after May 8, 1998. The Notes are  convertible  into 2,060,606  Common
      Shares on the basis of $4.125 per share.  The  Company  may  deliver up to
      $2,000,000 in PIK notes in satisfaction of interest payment obligations.

            (c) 1996  Tranche B Bridge Loan  Subordinated  Notes.  On October 8,
      1996, $8,500,000 was borrowed,  due October 8, 2003, but prepayable at any
      time.  Should this loan not be prepaid by August 8, 1997 the interest rate
      will increase from 12% to 14% per annum. The Company may deliver PIK notes
      in satisfaction of this additional interest.

      Management  intends to pre-pay  the 1993  Subordinated  Notes and the 1996
Tranche B Bridge Loan Subordinated  Notes with a portion of the proceeds of this
Offering. (See - "Use of Proceeds").
    

      In 1991, in connection with a debt financing which has  subsequently  been
repaid,  certain lenders received a net profits interest (NPI) in the West Delta
Properties,  which is a continuing  obligation with respect to these properties.
During the three months ended March 31, 1996,  payments with respect to this NPI
averaged $53,000 per month. Due to the explosion and fire at Tank Battery #3, no
NPI payments were made in the three months ended June 30 or September 30, 1996.

      Pursuant to existing  agreements  the Company is required to deposit funds
in escrow  accounts to provide a reserve  against  satisfaction  of its eventual
responsibility  to plug and abandon  wells and remove  structures  when  certain
fields no longer produce oil and gas. Each month,  until November 1997,  $25,000
is deposited in a bank escrow account,  to satisfy such obligations with respect
to a portion of its West Delta  Properties.  The  Company  has  entered  into an
escrow  agreement  with Amoco  Production  Company  under which the Company will
deposit,  for the life of the fields, in a bank escrow account ten percent (10%)
of the net cash flow, as defined in the  agreement,  from the Amoco  properties.
These funds and interest  earned  thereon will be available  for the expenses of
plugging  wells and removing  structures  when that time comes.  The Company has
established

                                                        22

<PAGE>



   
the "PANACO East Breaks 110 Platform  Trust" at Bank One,  Texas, NA in favor of
the Minerals  Management  Service of the U.S.  Department of the Interior.  This
Trust  requires an initial  funding of $846,720 in December  1996, and remaining
deposits of $244,320  due at the end of each quarter in 1999 and $144,000 due at
the end of each  quarter in 2000 for a total of  $2,400,000.  In  addition,  the
Company has  $9,250,000  in surety bonds to secure its plugging and  abandonment
obligations;  including a  $4,100,000  bond which was  provided to the  original
sellers of the West Delta Properties; a $2,400,000 supplemental bond provided to
the  Minerals  Management  Service of the U.S.  Department  of the  Interior  in
connection with the plugging and structure removal obligations for the Company's
East Breaks Block 110 Platform and a $300,000 Pipeline Right-of-Way Bond.

      During  1996 the  Company  hedged the price of natural  gas by selling the
equivalent  of 15,000  MMBtu per day for 1996 at fixed  prices which ranged from
$2.25 for January to $1.75 for July. When the closing price  (settlement  price)
on NYMEX for natural  gas  futures  was greater  than the swap price for a given
month the Company paid that  difference to the bank which  effected the swap. If
the settlement  price was less than the swap price the bank paid that difference
to the Company. By entering into the swap in December 1995 the Company locked in
the  fixed  prices on 15,000  MMBtu  per day for each  month in 1996.  Since the
Company  sells its natural gas on the spot  market,  in 1996 it realized  prices
which  approximated  the  settlement  prices  on  NYMEX,  less  differences  for
transportation  due to pipeline  locations that are varying distances from Henry
Hub,  Louisiana  which is the  delivery  point used for  natural  gas futures on
NYMEX.  Starting in 1997 the  Company's  hedge  transactions  on natural gas are
based upon  published gas pipeline  index prices and not the NYMEX.  This change
has eliminated the possibility of price differences due to  transportation.  The
company expects that for 1997, 14,000 MMBtu's per day are to be hedged,  reduced
to 10,000 MMBtu's in 1998 and 7,000 MMBtu's in 1999. Also the Company is hedging
at a swap price of $1.80 for 1997,  which was below the  market  when the hedges
were put in place. The Company then has varying levels of participation  (93% in
January of 1997 to 40% in September)  in  settlement  prices above to $1.80 swap
price level.  Management  has generally used hedge  transactions  to protect its
cash flows when the Company's  borrowings  under long-term debt have been higher
and refrained from hedge  transactions  when long-term debt has been lower.  For
accounting purposes,  gains or losses on swap transactions are recognized in the
production month to which a swap contract relates.

      Despite  a net  loss for the  nine  months  ended  September  30,  1996 of
$618,000,  the  Company had cash  provided  by  operations  of $8.7  million.  A
significant  factor in cash flows from operations was a $4.2 million increase in
accounts  payable,  primarily  a result  of work  being  done on  repairing  and
rebuilding  West Delta through the second and third quarters of 1996,  while the
Company had not begun to receive any advances from its  insurance  company until
the third quarter.

      Through  September  30, 1996,  the Company had borrowed $7.5 million under
its Bank Facility,  $5 million of which was used for the earnest deposit made in
August in connection with the Amoco Acquisition.  The remaining  borrowings were
for  development of oil and gas properties and repair and rebuilding of the West
Delta Tank Battery #3. The Company had repaid $4.8  million of these  borrowings
through September, most of which was repaid through April.

      During 1995,  Shareholders' Equity increased $3,173,000,  by virtue of the
exercise of options and  warrants.  During the first nine months of quarter 1996
Shareholders'  Equity  increased  $1,837,000,  as a result  of the  exercise  of
warrants.
    

Capital Spending

   
      In the nine month period ended  September 30, 1996,  the Company had $11.8
million in  capital  expenditures,  including  (1) a $5  million  earnest  money
deposit  with  respect  to the  purchase  of the Amoco  Properties,  which  were
subsequently  acquired  on  October  8, 1996,  (2) $1.9  million  for repair and
rebuilding  of the West Delta Tank Battery #3, net of insurance  reimbursements,
and (3) $4.5 million for development of its oil and gas properties. The majority
of the  development  costs were incurred to drill two  unsuccessful  development
wells in the Bayou  Sorrel  Field and for the  Company's  share of  successfully
recompleting  two wells on Eugene Island Block 372,  which is operated by Unocal
Corporation.
    

                                                        23

<PAGE>



For the years ended December 31, 1991 - December 31, 1995

Results of Operations

   
          "Oil and Gas revenue" during the years ended December 31, 1991 through
1995  has  varied  due to  several  factors.  The  prices  of oil and  gas  have
fluctuated  widely  during the years shown.  Oil prices are  influenced by world
political  events as well as decisions  made by OPEC  regarding  the  production
quotas  of  its  members.  Prices  are  further  influenced  by  world  economic
conditions which affect industrial output and the need for oil.
    

         The average  natural gas price  received by the Company has  fluctuated
but  generally  followed  the trend of national  gas prices.  During  1995,  gas
revenue  contributed  85% of the  Company's  revenue  compared with 46% in 1990.
While 1995 saw a  production  increase of 21%, the drop in natural gas prices to
$1.58  offset  most  of  the  benefit.  Part  of  the  increase  was  due to the
acquisition of the Zapata  Properties in July 1995. By drilling four  horizontal
wells and recompleting eight existing wells, the Company increased production by
34% in 1994.  With the  acquisition  of the West Delta  Properties in 1991,  gas
production  increased  in  1992,  1993  and  1994 to  5,811,000,  5,586,000  and
8,139,000  Mcf,  which sold for an average  price of $1.81,  $2.24 and $1.88 per
Mcf,  before the effects of various natural gas hedge  agreements.  In 1991, the
Company sold 3,714,000 Mcf for an average price of $1.49.

         From time to time,  upon the  insistence of its lenders the Company has
entered into natural gas hedging  agreements which have the effect of raising or
lowering the price it receives for natural gas. In 1992, a contract loss of $1.1
million  lowered the average price received per Mcf by $.19 to $1.73. In 1993, a
contract loss of $3 million  lowered the average price  received per Mcf by $.54
to $1.72.

         In 1995,  the  Company  sold  170,000  barrels of oil for an average of
$16.78 per barrel  accounting  for 15% of oil and gas revenue.  In 1994, oil was
12% of such revenue with 137,000 barrels at an average price of $15.35. In 1993,
oil was 19% of such revenue with 180,000  barrel at an average  price of $16.69.
In 1992, oil was 25% of such revenue with 174,000 barrels at an average price of
$19.41. In 1991, the Company sold 129,000 barrels of oil for an average price of
$19.68 per barrel; accounting for 29% of its oil and gas revenue.

         A large part of the changes  affecting most operating  accounts in 1992
was due to West Delta being operated for twelve months  compared with only seven
months in 1991.

   
         "Depreciation,  depletion and amortization" increased in 1995 primarily
as a result of the  acquisition of the Zapata  Properties for  $2,748,000,  $1.5
million  in  capitalized  costs  on  existing  properties  and the  increase  in
production bringing about an increase in the rate of depletion.  The increase in
1994 is due to the 1994 drilling and rework program increasing  capitalized cost
and the 34% increase in  production.  The expense for 1993  remained  relatively
constant over 1992 with only a slight decrease due to lower production.
    

         "Lease operating  expense" increased  significantly  during 1995 by (1)
$1,008,000  related to the  acquisition  of the Zapata  Properties in July which
added  interests on six  offshore  platforms  and 44 wells,  (2)  $1,105,000  of
additional  operating expenses on the West Delta Properties required to maintain
production from some of the more rapidly  declining  wells,  and (3) $711,000 of
expensed items which might otherwise have been  capitalized.  Such expenses rose
from $.58 per Mcfe in 1994 (a year of very high  production) to $.74 per Mcfe in
1995,  after having been $.84,  $.84, and $.79 per Mcfe in 1991, 1992, and 1993,
respectively.

         "Production  and  ad  valorem  taxes"  increased  33%  in  1994  due to
increased  production from four horizontal  wells drilled in state waters on the
West Delta Properties in 1994.

   
         "Exploration  expense" in 1995 consisted of dry hole exploratory  costs
of $796,000 on Eugene Island Block 50,  $1,378,000 on South  Timbalier Block 33,
(both drilled during the second  quarter of 1995),  and $5,938,000 on West Delta
Block 54 (drilled  during the fourth  quarter of 1995).  The  Company  currently
plans no further exploratory activity in these blocks.
    

                                                        24

<PAGE>



         "Provision for  write-downs of assets" in 1993,  1994 and 1995 were for
the Company's  group of onshore  properties,  acquired in the early 1980's which
were becoming a less significant part of its operations.

   
         "Net operating income (loss)" for 1995 would have been $560,000 were it
not for the $8,112,000 exploratory expenses and $751,000 property write-down. Of
the $8,112,000 in exploration  expenses in 1995,  $5,938,000 was incurred in the
fourth quarter in the drilling of a dry exploratory well in the West Delta Block
54. This $5,938,000  exploration expense,  together with the $751,000 write-down
(also recognized in the fourth quarter),  were the primary contributors to a net
operating  loss of $6.5 million for the fourth  quarter of 1995.  The  increased
production  in 1994,  along with $2.6 million  lower asset  write-downs  brought
about the large increase in 1994. The operating income for 1993 decreased due to
lower production,  and an asset write-down of $3.8 million. Net operating income
increased from 1991 to 1992 primarily due to the realization of the benefit of a
large  number of expenses  incurred in 1991 and again the  ownership of the West
Delta Properties for a full twelve months.

         "Interest  expense (net)" decreased in 1995 as a result of lower levels
of long-term debt that  prevailed  throughout  most of the year.  Long-term debt
increased during 1995 to fund the acquisitions of the Zapata  Properties in July
and more importantly the acquisition of the Bayou Sorrel Field in late December.
The average debt  outstanding  in 1995 was $11 million  with a weighted  average
interest rate of 8.6%. The interest expense  decreases of 19% in 1993 and 13% in
1994 were due to the significant decrease in long-term debt from 1992 levels and
the  refinancing  of such  debt on July 1,  1994 at lower  interest  rates.  The
average  debt  outstanding  in 1994  was $14  million  with a  weighted  average
interest  rate of 11.5%  versus  average debt  outstanding  of $14 million and a
weighted  average  interest  rate of 14% in  1993.  Interest  expense  increased
significantly  in 1992  because of the debt  incurred  to acquire the West Delta
Properties being in place a full twelve months.  The average debt outstanding in
1992  and 1991 was $17  million  and $16  million,  respectively.  However,  the
weighted  average interest rate was 14% in 1992 versus 10% in 1991. The increase
in the  average  rate is a full year of the higher  rate  financing  of the West
Delta acquisition in 1992.
    

         "Net income (loss) per common share" is based upon the weighted average
number of shares  outstanding  of  11,504,615  for  1995,  10,039,042  for 1994,
7,583,761 for 1993, 7,314,041 for 1992, and 6,399,338 for 1991.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

         Cash flow from  operations  was used to reduce  long term  debt,  drill
wells, recomplete wells and acquire properties.

         On July 1, 1994 the Company  entered into a Credit  Agreement  with the
First Union National Bank of North  Carolina.  The loan was a reducing  revolver
designed to provide the Company up to $30 million  depending  upon the Company's
borrowing base. The principal amount of the loan was due July 1, 1998.

         During the last part of 1993 the Company increased Stockholders' Equity
$1,163,000,  primarily by virtue of options and warrants being exercised. During
1994, the Company increased  Stockholders'  Equity $5,023,000,  primarily as the
result  of  such  exercises  of  options  and  warrants.  Likewise  most  of the
$3,173,000  increase in 1995 was from the exercise of options and  warrants.  As
explained  under "The  Company - Funding of  Business  Activities,"  the Company
issued   Subordinated   Notes  at  year-end  1993.  The  Company  utilized  this
$5,000,000,  along with equity proceeds and cash flow from operations  described
above, to drill the wells and perform the recompletions in 1994 and 1995.

Capital Spending

   
         The Company  spent  $12,603,000  on  property  acquisition  costs,  for
purchases  of the Zapata  Properties  and the Bayou  Sorrel  Field.  In 1995 the
Company also spent $8,112,000 on exploratory  drilling which did not result in a
discovery and $1,497,000 on  developmental  costs.  During 1994 over $11,749,000
was spent on eight offshore  recompletions  and the drilling of four  horizontal
wells. All four horizontal wells and all eight
    

                                                        25

<PAGE>



recompletions  in 1994 were  successful  and  offshore  natural  gas  production
increased significantly.

        
                                   THE COMPANY
General

         PANACO,  Inc.  (the  "Company")  is a  Delaware  corporation  that  was
organized in October 1991.  Effective  September 1, 1992, Pan Petroleum MLP, the
Company's  predecessor,  was merged into the Company.  The Company is in the oil
and  gas  business,  acquiring,  drilling  and  operating  offshore  oil and gas
properties in the Gulf of Mexico.

         Between  1984  and  1988 a  total  of  114  limited  partnerships  were
consolidated  into the Company's  predecessor.  With the acquisition of the West
Delta Properties in 1991, the Company shifted its emphasis offshore.  Additional
offshore  properties  were acquired in 1994,  1995 and 1996. In recent years the
Company  has  been  disposing  of  numerous  onshore  properties.   The  onshore
properties  presently  generate  less than 3% of the Company's  revenues.  These
onshore  property  sales  are  part  of  management's  plan  to  concentrate  on
properties  in the  Gulf of  Mexico,  which  the  Company  considers  to be more
profitable.

Business Strategy

         The  Company's  objective  is  to  enhance  shareholder  value  through
sustained growth in its reserve base, production levels and resulting cash flows
from operations.  In pursuing this objective, the Company maintains a geographic
focus in the Gulf of  Mexico  and  identifies  properties  that may be  acquired
preferably  through  negotiated  transactions  or,  if  necessary,   sealed  bid
transactions.  The  properties  the  Company  seeks  to  acquire  generally  are
geologically complex, with multiple reservoirs,  have an established  production
history and are candidates for  exploitation.  Geologically  complex fields with
multiple  reservoirs  are  fields in which  there  are  multiple  reservoirs  at
different depths and wells which penetrate more than one reservoir that have the
potential for  recompletion  in more than one  reservoir.  Once  properties  are
acquired,  the Company  focuses on  reducing  operating  costs and  implementing
production  enhancements  through the  application of  technologically  advanced
production and  recompletion  techniques.  Over the past five years, the Company
has  taken  advantage  of  opportunities  to  acquire  interests  in a number of
producing properties which fit these criteria.

Business Activities

   
         The Company  owns  interests in 123 offshore  wells,  located  offshore
Louisiana  and Texas.  It also owns  interests  in 314 onshore  wells in Kansas,
Louisiana,  Oklahoma and Texas, but these interests generate less than 3% of its
revenues.  As of November 1, 1996,  these  properties,  including  the  recently
acquired  Amoco  Properties  and  excluding  the Bayou  Sorrel  Field  which was
recently sold,  contained  estimated Proved Reserves of approximately  2,920,000
Bbls of oil and condensate and  approximately  64,925,000 Mcf of gas and the SEC
10 Value of such Proved Reserves was approximately  $128,092,000.  Approximately
21% of such Proved  Reserves  are  attributable  to oil and 79% to natural  gas,
based on six Mcf of gas being equivalent to one Bbl of oil. Information included
herein with  respect to Proved  Reserves  and the SEC 10 Value  thereof has been
prepared by the Company. See "Properties - Significant Proved Properties."
    

      The  Company   expects  to  hold  its  producing   properties   until  the
economically  recoverable reserves  attributable thereto are depleted,  although
the Company may sell any of its properties if management believes that such sale
would be in the Company's best interest.

                                                        26

<PAGE>



Recent Explosion and Fire

   
      The Company  experienced  an explosion  and fire on April 24, 1996 at Tank
Battery #3 in West Delta  resulting in the fields being shut-in from April 24th,
until being  returned to production  on October 7, 1996.  The loss of 67 days of
production in the second  quarter and the entire third quarter  resulted in lost
revenues of approximately $6 million. The fire was the principal  contributor to
the losses of $.08 per share for the  second  quarter of 1996 and $.11 per share
for the third quarter of 1996.  During the second  quarter the Company  expensed
$500,000 for its loss as a result of this explosion. No further losses have been
recognized  or are  anticipated.  This  $500,000  amount  included  $225,000  in
deductibles under the Company's insurance.

      The Company has spent $8.5  million on Tank  Battery #3  inclusive  of the
$500,000 expensed during second quarter and has received  reimbursement from its
insurance  company  of $3.9  million,  after  satisfaction  of the  $225,000  in
deductibles.  The excess of expenditures  over insurance  reimbursement  will be
capitalized.  No additional expenditures have been made or are anticipated.  The
Company is  considering  filing suits  against the  employers of the persons who
caused the  incidents  for  recovery  of these  costs and its lost  profits.  No
assurance  can be given that the Company will  successfully  recover any amounts
sought in any such suits.
    

   
        The expenditures,  net of insurance payments,  coupled with the decrease
in net operating cash flows discussed above resulted in higher  borrowing levels
and interest expense for the second and third quarters.  The resulting  decrease
in  revenues  and  higher   interest   expense   decreased   current  assets  by
approximately $1.9 million at the end of the third quarter of 1996.
    

Well Operations

   
        The  Company  operates  52  offshore  wells and owns all of the  working
interests  in  substantially  all of those  wells.  The  Company's  71 remaining
offshore  wells  are  operated  by  third  party  operators,   including  Unocal
Corporation,  Phillips Petroleum Company, Texaco, Anadarko Petroleum Corporation
and Louisiana Land and Exploration Company. Operations are conducted pursuant to
joint operating  agreements that were in effect at the time the Company acquired
its interest in these  properties.  The Company  considers these joint operating
agreements to be on terms customary within the industry.  The operator of an oil
and gas property supervises  production,  maintains production records,  employs
field  personnel,  and performs other  functions  required in the production and
administration of such property.  The compensation paid to the operator for such
services customarily varies from property to property,  depending on the nature,
depth,  and  location of the  property  being  operated.  Where  properties  are
operated by the  Company,  it generally  owns all of the working  interests or a
majority of the working interest in the properties.  Therefore,  its revenue and
expense  associated  with  portions of  properties it operates for other working
interest holders is not material.
    

Acquisition, Development, and Other Activities

        The Company  utilizes  its  capital  budget for (a) the  acquisition  of
interests  in other  producing  properties,  (b)  recompletions  of its existing
wells, and (c) the drilling of development and exploratory wells.

      In recent years,  major oil companies have been selling  certain  offshore
properties to independent  oil companies  because they feel these  properties do
not have the remaining reserve potential needed by a major oil company.  Several
independent  oil companies have acquired these offshore  properties and achieved
significant success in further  exploitation of these properties.  Even though a
property  does not meet the  criteria  for  further  development  by a major oil
company,  that does not mean it is lacking further exploitation  potential.  The
majors  are  simply  moving  further  offshore  into  deeper  water and to other
countries  where  they can find and  produce  the  super-fields  that fit  their
criteria.  Present day technology permits drilling and completing wells in water
as deep as 10,000 feet.

      On October 8, 1996, the Company closed on its  acquisition of interests in
six  offshore  fields  from  Amoco  Production  Company  for $40.4  million.  In
consideration  for such  interests,  the Company issued Amoco  2,000,000  Common
Shares and paid the sum of $32 million in cash. The interests  acquired  include
(1) a

                                                        27

<PAGE>



   
33.3%  working  interest  in the East  Breaks 160 Field (2  Blocks)  and a 33.3%
interest in the High Island 302 Field, both operated by Unocal Corporation;  (2)
an average 50% interest in the High Island 309 Field (2 Blocks),  a 12% interest
in the High  Island 330 Field (3 Blocks)  and a 12%  interest in the High Island
474 Field (4 Blocks),  all  operated by Phillips  Petroleum  Company;  and (3) a
12.5%  interest  in the West  Cameron  180 Field (1 Block)  operated  by Texaco.
Current  production for the interests acquired is 698 barrels of oil per day and
13.4 MMcf per day of natural gas. See "Properties - Amoco Acquisition."
    

      Depending  on the sales  prices of oil and gas and its  ability to finance
such activities,  the Company may also drill  exploratory wells on properties it
acquires.  The Company does not currently have plans to drill  exploratory wells
during 1997 but will  evaluate  potential  prospects to  determine  the economic
benefit to the  Company  and may drill  exploratory  wells if the benefit to the
Company is reasonable when measured against the risks involved.

      The number and type of wells  drilled by the Company will vary from period
to period  depending on the amount of the capital budget available for drilling,
the cost of each well,  the  Company's  commitment to  participate  in the wells
drilled on  properties  operated by third  parties,  the size of the  fractional
working  interest  acquired  by the  Company  in each  well  and  the  estimated
recoverable reserves attributable to each well.

      Acquisitions of properties may include  acquisitions of working interests,
royalty interests,  net profits interests,  production payments, and other forms
of direct or indirect ownership interest or interests in oil and gas production.
The Company may also acquire general or limited partner  interests in general or
limited  partnerships  and interests in joint ventures,  corporations,  or other
entities that own, manage, or are formed to acquire, explore for, or develop oil
and gas properties or conduct other activities  associated with the ownership of
oil and gas  production.  The Company  may also  acquire or  participate  in the
expansion of natural gas  processing  plants and natural gas  transportation  or
gathering systems.

      The success of the Company's acquisitions will depend on (a) the Company's
ability to  establish  accurately  the volumes of  reserves  and rates of future
production from producing  properties  being  considered for acquisition and the
future net revenues  attributable to reserves from such properties,  taking into
account  future  operating  costs,  market  prices  for oil and  gas,  rates  of
inflation,  risks  attendant to production of oil and gas, and a suitable return
on investment,  and (b) the Company's ability to purchase properties and produce
and  market  oil and gas  therefrom  at  prices  and  rates  that over time will
generate cash flows resulting in an attractive return on the initial investment.
The Company's  cash flow and return on  investment  will vary to the extent that
the Company's  production from an acquired property is greater or less than that
estimated at the time of  acquisition  because of, for  example,  the results of
drilling or improved recovery  programs,  the demand for oil and gas, or changes
in the  prices of oil and gas from the prices  used to  calculate  the  purchase
price for  producing  properties.  The Company will  evaluate  any  economically
feasible project that would enhance the value of its properties.  Such a project
may involve both the acquisition of developed and undeveloped properties and the
drilling of infield wells.

      The  Company  expects  that its  primary  activities  will  continue to be
concentrated  offshore in the Gulf of Mexico. The Company can, if it so chooses,
invest  in any  geographic  area.  Drilling  on  and  production  from  offshore
properties often involves higher costs than does drilling on and production from
onshore properties, but the production achieved on successful wells is generally
much greater.

      The Company may also seek to acquire oil and gas  companies  through stock
purchases,  asset  purchases,  and purchases of interests in  partnerships.  The
Company intends to pay for such possible  acquisitions  with its own securities,
cash or any other property, or any combination of the foregoing.  The consent of
the  Company's  lenders is  required  for any such  purchases.  See  "Funding of
Business Activities - Borrowings and Obligations".

Capital Spending

        Through the nine months  ended  September  30, 1996 the Company had made
$11.8 million in capital

                                                        28

<PAGE>



   
expenditures  for (1) the  earnest  money  deposit of $5  million  for the Amoco
Properties,  which were subsequently acquired on October 8, 1996, (2) the repair
and rebuilding of the West Delta Tank Battery #3 (net of insurance payments) and
(3)  the  development  of its  oil  and  gas  properties.  The  majority  of the
development  costs were incurred to drill two unsuccessful  development wells in
the  Bayou  Sorrel  Field  and  for  the  Company's   share  of  two  successful
recompletions   on  Eugene  Island  Block  372,  which  is  operated  by  Unocal
Corporation.  The sources of funds for capital  expenditures were cash flow from
operations,  borrowings  on the  Company's  Bank  Facility  and  proceeds of the
issuances of Common Shares.
    

Use of 3-D Seismic Technology

        The  use  of  3-D  seismic  and  computer-aided   exploration   ("CAEX")
technology is an integral component of the Company's acquisition,  exploitation,
drilling  and  business  strategy.  In  general,  3-D  seismic is the process of
obtaining  seismic data along multiple lines and grids within a large geographic
area. 3-D seismic differs from 2-D seismic in that it provides  information with
respect to multiple horizontal and vertical points within a geological formation
instead of  information  on a single  vertical line or multiple  vertical  lines
within the formation. By expanding the amount of data obtained with respect to a
geological formation, the user is better able to correlate the data and obtain a
greater  understanding  and image of the  formation.  While it is  impossible to
predict  with  certainty  the  specific  configuration  or  composition  of  any
underground  geological  formation,  3-D seismic  provides a mechanism  by which
clearer and more accurate projected images of complex geological  formations can
be obtained  prior to drilling for  hydrocarbons  therein.  In  particular,  3-D
seismic  delineates  smaller  reservoirs  with  greater  precision  than  can be
obtained with 2-D seismic.

      CAEX technology is the process of  accumulating  and analyzing the various
seismic, production and other data obtained relating to a potential prospect. In
general,  the process of prospect  evaluation  through CAEX technology  requires
inputting  various 2-D and 3-D seismic data obtained with respect to a prospect,
correlating  that data with  historical  well control and  production  data from
similar  properties and analyzing the available data through  computer  programs
and modeling techniques in order to project the likely geological composition of
a prospect and potential  locations of  hydrocarbons.  This process  relies on a
comparison of actual data with respect to the prospect and historical  data with
respect to the  density and sonic  characteristics  of  different  types of rock
formations, hydrocarbons and other subsurface minerals, resulting in a projected
three  dimensional  image of the subsurface.  This modeling is performed through
the use of advanced interactive  computer  workstations and various combinations
of  available  computer  programs  that  have  been  developed  solely  for this
application.

   
      3-D  seismic  and CAEX  technology  have been in  existence  since the mid
1970's;  however,  it was not until the late  1980's,  with the  development  of
improved  data  acquisition   equipment  and  techniques  capable  of  gathering
significant  amounts  of  data  through  a  large  number  of  channels  and the
availability  of improved  computer  technology  at reasonable  costs,  that the
method  became  economically  available to firms such as the  Company.  Prior to
that, it was the exclusive  province of large  multinational oil companies.  The
Company owns 2-D seismic on all of its offshore properties and, owns 3-D seismic
on East Breaks Block 160 Field, High Island 304 Field, High Island 474 Field and
West Delta Block 58 Field.  In addition to this  proprietary  3-D seismic,  much
group seismic data is available on the Companys' remaining properties. A new 3-D
seismic survey will be shot by Flores & Rucks, Inc. on the Companys'  properties
in West Delta.  The Company owns its own seismic  processing  equipment,  but it
also  utilizes the services of outside  firms to process and  interpret  seismic
data.
    

      The  Company  believes  that  its  application  of 3-D  seismic  and  CAEX
technology in the  exploration  of oil and natural gas provides it with a number
of benefits in the exploration, delineation and development process that are not
generally  available  to those who only use 2-D  seismic  data and  conventional
processing  methods.  In  particular,  the Company  believes  that, by obtaining
clearer and more accurate  projected  images of underground  formations  through
computer  modeling,  the  Company  is able to  specifically  identify  potential
locations  of  hydrocarbon  accumulations  based on the  characteristics  of the
formations  and  analogies   made  with  nearby  fields  and  formations   where
hydrocarbons  have been  found.  This  enhanced  data can be used to assist  the
Company in eliminating  prospects and prospect  locations  that might  otherwise
have been drilled had

                                                        29

<PAGE>



the Company  relied solely on 2-D seismic data.  This data can be used to assist
the Company in identifying the perceived most desirable location for the well to
maximize the  likelihood of a successful  exploratory  or  development  well and
production from the reservoir.

      The Company  believes that the  collective  application of 3-D seismic and
CAEX technology enables a much more accurate definition of the risk profile of a
prospect than was previously available using traditional exploration techniques.
To the extent the Company is  successful  in  increasing  its  success  rate and
reducing its dry hole costs through the use of advanced  technology  the Company
believes it has a  competitive  advantage  over  companies  that do not use such
technology.

      The Company  generated a prospect  in the  northern  portion of West Delta
Block 58 using 3-D seismic, which it farmed out to Tana Oil & Gas Corporation in
1996. Tana drilled a successful well to 12,800 feet which encountered 85 feet of
net pay and could produce as much as 15,000 Mcf per day based upon a recent well
test. The Company retained a 5.833% overriding  royalty interest in the farmout.
Three of the fields in the Amoco Acquisition have proprietary 3-D seismic, while
all of the Amoco Properties have group 3-D seismic. A group 3-D seismic shooting
was recently  completed on the western  portion of the  Company's  properties in
West Delta.

Marketing of Production

       Production  from the Company's  properties is marketed in accordance with
industry  practices,  which  include  the sale of oil at the  wellhead  to third
parties and the sale of gas to third parties at prices based on factors normally
considered in the  industry,  such as the spot price for gas or the posted price
for oil, and the quality of the oil and gas.

      The Company  markets all of its offshore oil  production to Amoco,  Citgo,
Conoco,  Texaco,  Unocal and Vastar.  Citgo, Conoco, Texaco and Vastar each have
25% calls  (exclusive  rights to purchase) on the oil  production  from the West
Delta Fields at their average  posted price for each month.  Amoco has a call on
all of the oil production from the Amoco  Properties at their posted prices.  If
the Company has a bona fide offer from a crude oil  purchaser  at a higher price
than Amoco's posted price, then Amoco must match that price or release the call.
Oil from the Zapata  Properties is currently being sold to Unocal and Amoco, but
can be sold to any crude oil purchaser of the Company's  choice.  Natural gas is
sold on the spot market.  There are numerous  potential  purchasers for offshore
gas.  Notwithstanding  this,  natural gas  purchased  by Tennoco  Gas  Marketing
Company  accounted  for 69% of the  revenues  in 1995.  There are  numerous  gas
purchasers  doing  business in the areas involved as well as natural gas brokers
and  clearing  houses.  Furthermore,  the Company  can  contract to sell the gas
directly to end users.  The Company does not believe  that it is dependent  upon
any one customer or group of customers for the purchase of natural gas.

      The Company's lenders have generally required it to reduce its exposure to
the  volatility  of crude oil and natural gas prices by hedging a portion of its
production.  In a typical hedge transaction,  the Company will have the right to
receive  from the  counter  party to the hedge,  the  excess of the fixed  price
specified in the hedge over a floating  price. If the floating price exceeds the
fixed price,  the Company is required to pay the counter  party all or a portion
of this difference multiplied by the quantity hedged,  regardless of whether the
Company has  sufficient  production  to cover the  quantities  specified  in the
hedge.  Significant  reductions in  production at times when the floating  price
exceeds  the fixed price could  require the Company to make  payments  under the
hedge  agreements  even  though  such  payments  are  not  offset  by  sales  of
production.  However,  the Company  hedges up to, but not more than,  50% of its
anticipated production. Hedging will also prevent the Company from receiving the
full  advantage  of increases in crude oil or natural gas prices above the fixed
amount specified in the hedge.

Plugging and Abandonment Escrows

        Pursuant to existing agreements the Company is required to deposit funds
in escrow  accounts to provide a reserve  against  satisfaction  of its eventual
responsibility to plug and abandon wells and remove structures

                                                        30

<PAGE>



   
when certain  fields no longer  produce oil and gas. Each month,  until November
1997, $25,000 is deposited in a bank escrow account, to satisfy such obligations
with respect to a portion of its West Delta Properties.  The Company has entered
into an escrow agreement with Amoco  Production  Company under which the Company
will deposit,  for the life of the fields,  in a bank escrow account ten percent
(10%) of the net  cash  flow,  as  defined  in the  agreement,  from  the  Amoco
properties.  These funds and interest  earned  thereon will be available for the
expenses of plugging wells and removing  structures  when that time comes. As of
December  31,  1996 the  Company has  established  the  "PANACO  East Breaks 110
Platform  Trust"  at Bank One,  Texas,  NA in favor of the  Minerals  Management
Service of the U.S.  Department of the Interior.  This Trust requires an initial
funding of $846,720 in December 1996, and remaining  deposits of $244,320 due at
the end of each  quarter in 1999 and  $144,000 due at the end of each quarter in
2000,  for a total of  $2,400,000.  In addition,  the Company has  $9,250,000 in
surety  bonds to secure its plugging and  abandonment  obligations;  including a
$4,100,000  bond which was  provided to the  original  sellers of the West Delta
Properties;  a $2,400,000  supplemental bond provided to the Minerals Management
Service of the U.S.  Department of the Interior in connection  with the plugging
and  structure  removal  obligations  for the  Company's  East Breaks  Block 110
Platform and a $300,000 Pipeline Right-of-Way Bond.
    

Insurance

   
       The Company maintains insurance coverage as is customary for companies of
a similar size engaged in  operations  similar to the  Company's.  The Company's
insurance  coverage includes  comprehensive  general liability  insurance in the
amount of $50 million per occurrence for personal injury and property damage and
cost of control and operators  extra expense  insurance of $3 million on onshore
wells,  $20  million on wells in  Louisiana  State  waters and $50  million  per
occurrence in Federal offshore waters, which limits are proportionately  reduced
when the Company  owns less than 100% of the  respective  property.  The Company
maintains $65 million in property insurance on its offshore properties. There is
no  assurance  that such  insurance  will be adequate to cover all such costs or
that such  insurance  will  continue to be  available in the future or that such
insurance  will be available at premium  levels that justify its  purchase.  The
occurrence of a significant event not fully insured or indemnified against could
have  a  material  adverse  effect  on the  Company's  financial  condition  and
operations.
    

Funding of Business Activities

      Cash  Flow  from  Operations.  Funding  for the  Company's  activities  is
provided  primarily by cash flow from operations,  however,  the Company may use
its Bank Facility and other sources described below.  Generally,  cash flow from
properties declines over time as production declines. The cash flow generated by
the Company's activities would decline in the absence of (a) the acquisition and
development  of other oil and gas  properties,  (b)  increases in the  Company's
production of oil and gas resulting from the development of its  properties,  or
(c)  increases  in the  prices  that  the  Company  receives  for  oil  and  gas
production.

      Issuance of Additional Common Shares and Other Securities. The Company may
issue additional  Common Shares or other securities for cash, to the extent that
market and other conditions permit, and use the proceeds to fund its activities.
Additional  securities  issued by the Company may be of a class  preferred as to
the Common  Shares with  respect to such matters as  dividends  and  liquidation
rights and may also have other rights and preferences as determined by the Board
of  Directors.  The  Certificate  of  Incorporation  and  By-laws of the Company
generally  do not require the Company to obtain the consent of its  shareholders
for the issuance and sale of Common Shares or other securities.

   
      During 1995 Shareholders' Equity increased by $3,173,000, by virtue of the
exercise of options and warrants.  During 1996 Shareholders' Equity increased by
$1,837,000,  as a result of the exercise of warrants, and $8,400,000 as a result
of  2,000,000  shares being  issued to Amoco  Production  Company as part of the
Amoco Acquisition.
    

     Borrowings and Obligations.  The Company is permitted to incur indebtedness
for any Company purpose. It is currently expected that Company indebtedness will
consist primarily of borrowings from
                                                        31

<PAGE>



commercial  banks and credit  corporations,  the sale of debt  instruments,  and
possibly by advances from oil and gas purchasers.

   
      On October 8, 1996, the Company amended its bank facility with First Union
National Bank of North  Carolina (60%  participation),  and Banque  Paribas (40%
participation), herein "Bank Facility". The loan is a reducing revolver designed
to provide the Company up to $40 million  depending on the  Company's  borrowing
base, as determined by the lenders. The Company's borrowing base at December 31,
1996 was $31 million,  with an availability  under the revolver of $2.5 million.
The principal  amount of the loan is due July 1, 1999.  However,  at no time may
the Company have outstanding borrowings under the Bank Facility in excess of its
borrowing base. Should the borrowing base ever be determined to be less than the
outstanding  principal owed, the Company must immediately pay that difference to
the  lenders.  Interest on the loan is computed at the bank's prime rate or at 1
to 1 3/4%  (depending  upon the  percentage of the facility being used) over the
applicable   London  Interbank  Offered  Rate  ("LIBOR")  on  Eurodollar  loans.
Eurodollar  loans can be for terms of one, two, three or six months and interest
on such loans is due at the  expiration of the terms of such loans,  but no less
frequently  than every three months.  Beginning April 1, 1997, the interest rate
will increase by an additional .5% at the beginning of each quarter to a maximum
of 3 3/4% over  LIBOR as long as the  Company  has in excess of  $13,500,000  in
Subordinated Notes outstanding, specifically the 1993 Subordinated Notes and the
1996 Tranche B Bridge Loan Subordinated Notes. See "Use of Proceeds." Management
feels that this bank  facility  greatly  enhances its ability to make  necessary
capital  expenditures to maintain and improve production from its properties and
makes available to the Company  additional  funds for future  acquisitions.  The
bank facility is  collateralized  by a first mortgage on the Company's  offshore
properties.   The  loan  agreement   contains  certain  covenants   including  a
requirement to maintain a positive  indebtedness  to cash flow ratio, a positive
working  capital ratio, a certain  tangible net worth, as well as limitations on
future debt, guarantees, liens, dividends, mergers, material change in ownership
by management, and sale of assets.
    

      In 1991,  the Company  borrowed  $21,600,000  from New England Mutual Life
Insurance  Company,  NMB Post Bank,  Groep,  N.V.  (now ING Bank),  the  Lincoln
National  Life  Insurance  Company and En Cap 1989-1  Limited  Partnership.  The
balance  owed on this  facility was prepaid in 1994 with part of the proceeds of
the  Company's  Bank  Facility.  As part of the 1991  transaction  these  former
lenders received a net profits interest in part of the West Delta Properties.

      From  time to time the  Company  has  borrowed  funds  from  institutional
lenders who are represented by Kayne,  Anderson Investment  Management,  Inc. In
each case these loans are due at a stated maturity, require payments of interest
only at 12% per annum 45 days  after the end of each  calendar  quarter  and are
secured by a second  mortgage on the Company's  offshore oil and gas properties.
The respective loan documents contain certain covenants  including a requirement
to  maintain  a net  worth  ratio,  as  well  as  limitations  on  future  debt,
guarantees,   liens,  dividends,   mergers,  material  change  in  ownership  by
management, and sale of assets.
The loans are as follows:

            (a) 1993 Subordinated Notes. In 1993,  $5,000,000 was borrowed,  due
      December 31, 1999,  but prepayable at any time. The Company may deliver up
      to $1,000,000 in PIK (payment in kind) notes in  satisfaction  of interest
      payment  obligations.  The lenders were issued, and during 1996 exercised,
      warrants to acquire 816,526 Common Shares at $2.25 per share.

   
             (b) 1996 Tranche A Convertible  Subordinated  Notes.  On October 8,
      1996,  $8,500,000  was borrowed,  due October 8, 2003,  but prepayable any
      time after May 8, 1998.  After the  expiration  of 180 days  following the
      conclusion of this  offering,  the Notes are  convertible  into  2,060,606
      Common Shares on the basis of $4.125 per share. The Company may deliver up
      to  $2,000,000  in  PIK  notes  in   satisfaction   of  interest   payment
      obligations.
    

            (c) 1996  Tranche B Bridge Loan  Subordinated  Notes.  On October 8,
      1996, $8,500,000 was borrowed,  due October 8, 2003, but prepayable at any
      time.  Should this loan not be prepaid by August 8, 1997 the interest rate
      will increase from 12% to 14% per annum. The Company may deliver PIK notes
      in satisfaction of this additional interest.

                                                        32

<PAGE>



      Management  intends to pre-pay  the 1993  Subordinated  Notes and the 1996
Tranche B Bridge Loan Subordinated  Notes with a portion of the proceeds of this
Offering.

Competition, Markets, Seasonality and Regulation

      Competition. There are a large number of companies and individuals engaged
in the exploration for and development of oil and gas properties. Competition is
particularly  intense with respect to the  acquisition  of oil and gas producing
properties.  The Company  encounters  competition  from various  independent oil
companies in raising capital and in acquiring producing properties.  Many of the
Company's  competitors have financial  resources and staffs  considerably larger
than the Company.

      Markets.  The  ability of the  Company  to produce  and market oil and gas
profitably  depends on numerous  factors beyond the control of the Company.  The
effect of these factors  cannot be accurately  predicted or  anticipated.  These
factors include the availability of other domestic and foreign  production,  the
marketing  of  competitive  fuels,  the  proximity  and  capacity of  pipelines,
fluctuations  in supply and demand,  the  availability  of a ready  market,  the
effect of federal and state regulation of production, refining,  transportation,
and  sales  of  oil  and  gas,  political   instability  or  armed  conflict  in
oil-producing  regions,  and general national and worldwide economic conditions.
In recent years,  worldwide oil production  capacity and gas production capacity
in the United States  exceeded  demand and resulted in a substantial  decline in
the price of oil and natural gas in the United States.

      Since  early  1986,  certain  members  of the  Organization  of  Petroleum
Exporting  Countries  ("OPEC")  have, at various times,  dramatically  increased
their  production of oil,  causing a significant  decline in the price of oil in
the world market.  The Company cannot predict future levels of production by the
OPEC  nations,  the prospects for war or peace in the Middle East, or the degree
to which oil and gas prices will be affected, and it is possible that prices for
any oil, natural gas liquids,  or gas produced by the Company will be lower than
those currently available.

      The demand for gas in the United States has fluctuated in recent years due
to economic factors, a deliverability  surplus,  conservation and other factors.
This lack of demand has resulted in increased competitive pressure on producers.
However,  environmental  legislation  is  requiring  certain  markets  to  shift
consumption  from fuel oils to natural gas, thereby  increasing  demand for this
cleaner burning fuel.

      In view of the many uncertainties affecting the supply and demand for oil,
gas, and refined petroleum products, the Company is unable to predict future oil
and gas prices. In order to minimize these uncertainties the Company,  from time
to time, hedges prices on a portion of its production with futures contracts.

      Seasonality.  Historically the nature of the demand for natural gas caused
prices and demand to vary on a seasonal  basis.  Prices and  production  volumes
were  generally  higher  during the first and fourth  quarters of each  calendar
year.  For example,  during 1991 the price the Company  receives for its natural
gas fell from a high of $1.78 per Mcf in  January  to a low of $1.09 in July and
then climbed to a new high of $1.95 in December,  averaging  $1.49 for the year.
However, the substantial amount of gas storage becoming available in the U.S. is
altering this  seasonality.  During 1993, 1994 and 1995 the Company's gas prices
ranged from $2.78 to $1.64, $2.43 to $1.39 and $2.37 to $1.37,  averaging $2.13,
$1.88 and $1.58, respectively,  in each case, per Mcf. Gas prices averaged $2.08
per Mcf during the first nine months of 1996.  The Company sells its natural gas
on the spot  market  based  upon  published  index  prices  for  each  pipeline.
Historically  the net price  received by the  Company  for its gas has  averaged
about  $.10  per  MMbtu  below  the  NYMEX  Henry  Hub  index   price,   due  to
transportation differentials.  Fields that are located further offshore, such as
the Amoco  Properties,  will  generally sell their gas for as much as $.20 below
that index price.  Recent  pipeline index prices have been at historical  highs.
During December 1996 the Company sold its gas for an average of $2.86.

      Regulation.  The Company's  business is affected by governmental  laws and
regulations,  including price control, energy, environmental,  conservation, tax
and other laws and regulations relating to the petroleum industry.  For example,
state and  federal  agencies  have issued  rules and  regulations  that  require
permits for

                                                        33

<PAGE>



the  drilling  of wells,  regulate  the  spacing of wells,  prevent the waste of
natural  gas and crude oil  reserves,  and  regulate  environmental  and  safety
matters  including  restrictions on the types,  quantities and  concentration of
various  substances that can be released into the environment in connection with
drilling  and  production   activities,   limits  or  prohibitions  on  drilling
activities on certain lands lying within wetlands and other protected areas, and
remedial  measures to prevent  pollution  from  current  and former  operations.
Changes  in any of these  laws,  rules and  regulations  could  have a  material
adverse effect on the Company's business. In view of the many uncertainties with
respect to current law and  regulations,  including their  applicability  to the
Company,  the  Company  cannot  predict  the  overall  effect  of such  laws and
regulations on future operations.

      The Company believes that its operations  comply in all material  respects
with all applicable laws and regulations and that the existence of such laws and
regulations  have  no  more  restrictive  effect  on  the  Company's  method  of
operations  than on other  similar  companies  in the  industry.  The  following
discussion  contains  summaries of certain laws and regulations and is qualified
in its entirety by reference thereto.

      Various  aspects of the  Company's  oil and  natural  gas  operations  are
regulated by  administrative  agencies under statutory  provisions of the states
where such  operations  are  conducted  and by certain  agencies  of the federal
government  for  operations of federal  leases.  The Federal  Energy  Regulatory
Commission  (the  FERC)  regulates  the  transportation  and sale for  resale of
natural gas in interstate  commerce pursuant to the Natural Gas Act of 1938 (the
"NGA") and the Natural  Gas Policy Act of 1978 (the  "NGPA").  In the past,  the
federal  government has regulated the prices at which oil and gas could be sold.
Currently,  sales by  producers  of  natural  gas,  and all sales of crude  oil,
condensate  and natural gas liquids can be made at  uncontrolled  market prices,
but Congress could reenact price controls at any time.  Deregulation of wellhead
sales in the natural gas industry  began with the enactment of the NGPA in 1978.
In 1989,  Congress enacted the Natural Gas Wellhead  Decontrol Act which removed
all NGA and NGPA  price  and  non-price  controls  affecting  wellhead  sales of
natural gas effective January 1, 1993.

     Commencing in April 1992, the FERC issued Order NOS. 636, 636-A,  and 636-B
("Order No. 636"),  which require  interstate  pipelines to provide  open-access
transportation on a basis that is equal for all gas shippers. Although Order No.
636 does not directly  regulate the  Company's  activities,  the FERC has stated
that it intends  for Order No. 636 to foster  increased  competition  within all
phases of the natural gas industry. It is unclear what impact, if any, increased
competition within the natural gas industry under Order No. 636 will have on the
Company's  activities.  Although  Order No.  636,  assuming  it is upheld in its
entirety,  could  provide the Company  with  additional  market  access and more
fairly applied  transportation  service rates,  Order No. 636 could also subject
the Company to more restrictive pipeline imbalance  tolerances,  delivering more
or less than  anticipated  deliveries,  and greater  penalties  for violation of
those  tolerances.  The FERC has issued final orders in virtually  all Order No.
636  pipeline  restructuring  proceedings.  Appeals  of Order No. 636 as well as
orders in the  individual  pipeline  restructuring  proceedings,  are  currently
pending and Company  cannot predict the ultimate  outcome of court review.  This
review may result in the repeal, in whole or in part, of Order No. 636.

      The  FERC  has  announced  its  intention  to  reexamine  certain  of  its
transportation-related  policies,  including  the  manner  in  which  interstate
pipeline shippers may release  interstate  pipeline capacity under Order No. 636
for resale in the secondary market. While any resulting FERC action would affect
the Company only indirectly,  the FERC's current rules and policies may have the
effect of enhancing  competition  in natural gas markets by, among other things,
encouraging non-producer natural gas marketers to engage in certain purchase and
sale transactions.  The Company cannot predict what action the FERC will take on
these  matters,  nor can it accurately  predict  whether the FERC's actions will
achieve the goal of  increasing  competition  in markets in which the  Company's
natural  gas is sold.  However,  the Company  does not  believe  that it will be
affected by any action taken in a manner that is materially  different  than the
effect upon other natural gas producers with which it competes.

      The FERC has  issued a policy  statement  on how  interstate  natural  gas
pipelines  can recover the costs of new pipeline  facilities.  While this policy
statement  affects the Company only  indirectly,  in its present  form,  the new
policy  should  enhance  competition  in  natural  gas  markets  and  facilitate
construction  of gas supply  laterals.  However,  requests for rehearing of this
policy statement are currently pending. The Company cannot

                                                        34

<PAGE>



predict what action the FERC will take on these requests.

      Sales of crude oil,  condensate  and gas  liquids by the  Company  are not
regulated and are made at market prices. The price the Company receives from the
sale of these products is affected by the cost of  transporting  the products to
market.  Effective  as of  January  1, 1995,  the FERC  implemented  regulations
establishing  an indexing  system for  transportation  rates for oil  pipelines,
which  would  generally  index  such  rates to  inflation,  subject  to  certain
conditions  and  limitations.  These  regulations  could  increase  the  cost of
transporting  crude oil, liquids and condensates by pipeline.  These regulations
are subject to pending petitions for judicial review. The Company is not able to
predict with certainty what effect,  if any, these  regulations will have on it,
but  other  factors  being  equal,   the   regulations   may  tend  to  increase
transportation costs or reduce wellhead prices for such conditions.

      Additional  proposals  and  proceedings  that might affect the oil and gas
industry  are pending  before  Congress,  the FERC and the  courts.  The Company
cannot predict when or whether any such proposals may become  effective.  In the
past,  the natural gas industry  historically  has been very heavily  regulated.
There is no assurance that the current  regulatory  approach pursued by the FERC
will continue indefinitely into the future. Notwithstanding the foregoing, it is
not anticipated  that compliance  with existing  federal,  state and local laws,
rules and regulations will have a material or significantly  adverse effect upon
the capital expenditures, earnings or competitive position of the Company.

      Extensive  federal,  state and local laws and  regulations  govern oil and
natural  gas   operations   regulating  the  discharge  of  materials  into  the
environment or otherwise relating to the protection of the environment. Numerous
governmental  departments  issue rules and  regulations to implement and enforce
such laws which are often  difficult  and costly to comply  with and which carry
substantial  penalties for failure to comply.  Some laws,  rules and regulations
relating to protection of the environment may, in certain circumstances,  impose
"strict  liability" for environmental  contamination,  rendering a person liable
for  environmental  damages and response  costs without  regard to negligence or
fault  on the  part of such  person.  For  example,  the  federal  Comprehensive
Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended, also
known as the "Superfund"  law, imposes strict liability on an owner and operator
of a  facility  or  site  where a  release  of  hazardous  substances  into  the
environment  has  occurred and on  companies  that  disposed or arranged for the
disposal  of the  hazardous  substances  released at the  facility or site.  The
regulatory  burden on the oil and natural  gas  industry  increases  its cost of
doing business and consequently affects its profitability. These laws, rules and
regulations  affect the  operations and costs of the Company.  While  compliance
with environmental  requirements  generally could have a material adverse effect
upon the capital expenditures,  earnings or competitive position of the Company,
the Company believes that other independent  energy companies in the oil and gas
industry likely would be similarly affected.  The Company believes that it is in
substantial   compliance  with  current   applicable   environmental   laws  and
regulations and that continued  compliance with existing  requirements  will not
have a material adverse impact on the Company.

       Offshore  operations  of the Company are  conducted  on both  federal and
state  lease  blocks  of the Gulf of  Mexico.  In all  offshore  areas  the more
stringent  regulation  of the  federal  system,  as  implemented  by the Mineral
Management  Service of the  Department of the Interior,  are to be applicable to
state leases as well as federal  leases.  The Oil Pollution Act of 1990 requires
operators  of oil and gas leases on or near  navigable  waterways to provide $35
million in  "financial  responsibility",  as defined in the Act.  At present the
Company is satisfying the financial  responsibility  requirement  with insurance
coverage.

Employees

      The Company has thirteen full time  employees,  some of whom are officers.
The  Company  utilizes  an  additional  thirty-two  contract  personnel  in  the
operation of the offshore  properties,  and uses  numerous  outside  geologists,
production engineers, reservoir engineers, geophysicists and other professionals
on a consulting basis.



                                                        35

<PAGE>



Office Facilities

      The Company's  headquarters are located at 1050 West Blue Ridge Boulevard,
PANACO Building,  Kansas City, Missouri 64145-1216,  and its telephone number is
(816) 942-6300, FAX (816) 942-6305. The Houston, Texas office is located at 1100
Louisiana, Suite 5110, Houston, Texas 77002-5220,  telephone (713) 652-5110, FAX
(713) 651-0928.



Legal Proceedings

      The Company is presently a party to several  legal  proceedings,  which it
considers to be routine and in the ordinary  course of its business.  Management
has no knowledge of any pending or threatened claims that could give rise to any
litigation which management believes would be material to the Company.


                                   PROPERTIES

      The  Company's  offshore  properties  are located  offshore  Louisiana and
Texas.  The following table sets forth certain  information  with respect to the
Company's significant  properties as of November 1,1996. Such properties account
for 97% of the aggregate SEC 10 Value of its properties.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                           Significant Proved Properties

                                                                     Proved Reserves
                                                         Oil                 Gas               SEC 10
Property                      Area                      (Bbls)              (Bcf)               Value

<S>                                                      <C>                    <C>              <C>           
AMOCO PROPERTIES            Offshore TX              1,820,000              28.1         $   56,929,000
WEST DELTA PROPERTIES       Offshore LA                566,000              25.2         $   46,403,000
ZAPATA PROPERTIES           Offshore TX & LA           208,000               9.6         $   20,076,000

</TABLE>

Amoco Acquisition

   
        On  August  26,  1996  the  Company  entered  into a  Purchase  and Sale
Agreement  with  Amoco  Production  Company to acquire  Amoco's  interest  in 13
offshore   blocks   comprising   six  fields  in  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  ("Amoco
Properties"). The acquisition closed October 8, 1996. The purchase price for the
assets acquired in this  transaction was $40.4 million,  paid by the issuance of
2,000,000  Common  Shares,  at $4.20 per  share,  and by payment to Amoco of $32
million in cash.
    

      In  addition to the  interests  acquired,  the  Company  purchased a 33.3%
interest in a 12.67 mile 12" pipeline  connecting East Breaks Block 160 platform
to the High Island  Offshore System  ("HIOS"),  a natural gas pipeline system in
the Gulf of Mexico and a 33.3% interest in a 17.47 mile 10" pipeline  connecting
the East Breaks Block 160 platform to the High Island Pipeline System  ("HIPS"),
a crude oil pipeline system in the Gulf of Mexico. HIOS and HIPS are the primary
natural gas and crude oil pipeline systems in that part of the Gulf of Mexico.

      The East  Breaks  Block 160  platform  also  serves a subsea well owned by
Mobil Oil Corporation in East Breaks Block 117. Under  agreements with Mobil the
owners of the East  Breaks  Block 160  platform  share in  certain  fees paid by
Mobil.

      The  following  table  lists  the  field  names,  block  numbers,  working
interests, net revenue interests and number of wells of the properties.


                                                        36

<PAGE>



                                Working        Net Revenue      Number of
        Field/Block             Interest        Interest       Active Wells

     East Breaks 160 Field
     EB 160 (OCS 2647)          0.3333            0.2778            13
     EB 161 (OCS 2648)          0.3333            0.2778            10

     High Island A-302 Field
     HI A-302 (OCS 2732)        0.3333            0.2778             5

     High Island A-309 Field
     HI A-309 (OCS 2735)        0.4500            0.3750             9
     HI A-310 (OCS 3378)        0.5500            0.4583             8

     High Island A-330 Field
     HI A-330 (OCS 2421)        0.1200            0.1000            25
     HI A-349 (OCS 2743)        0.1200            0.1000             6
     WC 613 (OCS 3286)          0.1200            0.1000             3

     High Island A-474 Field
     HI A-474 (OCS 2366)        0.1200            0.1000            18
     HI A-489 (OCS 2372)        0.1200            0.1000            22
     HI A-499 (OCS 3118)        0.1310            0.1092             6
     HI A-475 (OCS 2367)        0.1200            0.1000             0

     West Cameron 180 Field
     WC 144 (OCS 1953)              0.1250        0.1042             7

   
      Average net production  from these fields during 1995 was 15.6 MMcf of gas
per day and 592  barrels of oil per day and cash flow net to the  interests  was
$9.5  million.   Management  believes  that  these  fields  have  potential  for
substantial  reserve  and  production  increases.   Three  of  the  fields  have
proprietary 3-D seismic.
    

East Breaks 160 Field

   
      This field  consists  of two blocks,  East  Breaks 160 and 161.  The water
depth ranges from 900' to 1,100'. The Company owns a 33.3% working interest with
a 27.8% net revenue interest.  Unocal Corporation is the operator.  The 1995 net
cash flow was $2.8  million.  East Breaks 160 field  produces from an anticlinal
ridge  with 12  productive  horizons.  A  proprietary  3-D  survey  was shot and
processed in 1990.  Net proved  reserves are  estimated to be 15.2 Bcf and 1,641
MBO. The GA-2 and HB-2 reservoirs account for most of the reserves.
 Additional   income  is  derived  from  processing  fees  from  the  Mobil  Oil
Corporation  recent  discovery in adjacent  Block 117.  This subsea well is tied
back to the East Breaks 160  platform.  Management  believes  there are numerous
reservoirs  in the field which have not been  adequately  evaluated  with wells.
Additional  wells  on  Blocks  160 and  161 and in  adjacent  blocks  are  under
consideration  by Unocal  Corporation.  The first well in Unocal's  recompletion
program was recently recompleted and is producing 550 barrels of oil per day and
1,200 Mcfd.
    

High Island A-302 Field

   
      High Island  Block A-302 is in  approximately  200' of water.  The Company
owns a  33.3%  working  interest  with a  27.8%  net  revenue  interest.  Unocal
Corporation  is the operator.  Production is from four  producing  horizons on a
faulted  anticlinal  structure.  A  speculative  3-D survey was shot in 1991 and
processed in 1992.  Net Proved  Reserves are estimated to be .3 Bcf. One well is
producing,  with one  well  scheduled  to be  recompleted  in  1997.  Management
believes  additional  reserves  should be recoverable  from two sands in an area
which seismic data shows to be undrained by the existing wells.
    


                                                        37

<PAGE>



High Island A-309 Field

   
      High Island  A-309 field  consists  of two blocks,  High Island  A-309 and
A-310, in  approximately  200' of water. The Company owns a 45% working interest
in Block A-309 and a 55% working  interest in Block  A-310.  Phillips  Petroleum
Company is the operator. The 1995 net cash flow was $5.9 million.  Production is
from three faulted  anticlines  with 18  productive  horizons.  Proprietary  3-D
seismic data has been  reprocessed.  Net Proved Reserves are estimated to be 7.3
Bcf.  Management expects that one additional well will be drilled to recover the
estimated 4.8 Bcf in four zones. Numerous additional wells and recompletions are
planned for 1997 through 1999.
    


High Island A-330 Field

   
      The field consists of three blocks,  High Island A-330,  High Island A-349
and West Cameron 613. The field is located in 280' of water.  The Company owns a
12%  working  interest  with a 10%  net  revenue  interest.  Costal  Oil and Gas
Corporation is the operator.  Three wells have been  recompleted  in 1996.  This
field produces from a faulted anticline with 24 productive horizons. The Company
has 2-D  seismic on this  field,  but a 3-D seismic  survey was  recently  shot.
Management  believes that significant upside potential was delineated by the 3-D
seismic.  A well in West Cameron Block 613 has been proposed by the operator for
1997 to offset a field operated by Shell offshore in Block A-350 and other wells
and recompletions are under consideration.
    

High Island A-474 Field

   
      This field  consists of three full blocks in the High Island Area,  A-474,
A-489,  A-499,  and  part of Block A- 475.  The  water  depth is 250' to 285 and
Phillips Petroleum Company ("Phillips") is the operator.  The Company owns a 12%
working  interest with a 10% net revenue  interest in Blocks A-474 and A-489,  a
13.1% working  interest with a 10.9% net revenue  interest in Block A-499, and a
12% working interest with a 9% net revenue interest in Block A-475. There are 23
productive  horizons in this faulted  anticline.  A proprietary  3-D seismic was
shot in 1991 and processed in 1993. Net Proved Reserves are 3.6 Bcf and 174 MBO.
Phillips is currently drilling a well and is planning several  recompletions and
additional wells in 1997.  Phillips is in what it considers to be phase two of a
four phase development program which is expected to be implemented over the next
three years.
    

West Cameron 180 Field

   
      This field consists of a single block,  West Cameron 144, in 40' of water.
Texaco is the operator.  The Company owns a 12.5% working  interest with a 10.4%
net  revenue  interest.  The  producing  feature  is a north-  plunging  faulted
anticline  that  underlies  West  Cameron  Blocks  173 and 180.  There are three
productive  horizons.  Net Proved  Reserves are estimated to be 353 MMcf, all of
which are  producing  in one well.  Texaco has  proposed a well in Block 173, in
which the Company may participate.
    

West Delta Properties

   
        These  properties  consist  of 13,565  acres in Blocks 52 through 56 and
Block 58 in the West Delta Area,  offshore  Louisiana.  The  properties  have 36
wells,  five of which were  recently  drilled.  The West Delta  Properties  were
acquired from Conoco,  Inc.,  Atlantic  Richfield Company (now Vastar Resources,
Inc.),  OXY USA, Inc. and Texaco  Exploration and Production,  Inc. in May 1991.
During 1995 the properties had net production averaging approximately 20,643 Mcf
of natural gas per day and 264 barrels of oil and condensate per day.

      The Company has a 87.5% net revenue interest in the field, subject to a 5%
net  profits  interest on the  shallower  reservoirs  in favor of the  Companys'
former lenders and a 4.166% overriding royalty interest on the deeper reservoirs
in favor of Conoco and OXY. In 1994 the Company  spent $6.9  million on drilling
four wells and the recompletion of eight wells on these properties.  The Company
is the operator and generally owns 100% of the working  interest in these wells.
Presently, the wells produce from depths ranging from 1,200 feet
    

                                                        38

<PAGE>



   
to 12,500  feet.  Because of the  existing  surface  structures  and  production
equipment,  management  believes  that  additional  wells  can be  added  on the
properties with lower completion costs.
    

      The Company has agreed to farmout the deep rights in West Delta  Blocks 53
through 56 to Flores & Rucks,  Inc.,  which has agreed to fund a new 3-D seismic
survey.  The Company  retains all  presently  producing  reservoirs.  Management
believes  this  farmout  will bring about an  evaluation  of any deep  reservoir
potential  and allow the Company to further  evaluate  the  presently  producing
reservoirs  using the new 3-D  seismic.  The  Company  will  have the  option of
retaining a 12 1/2% overriding  royalty interest or participating up to 50% as a
working interest owner in any wells drilled by Flores & Rucks, Inc.

         During 1994 the Company  farmed out the deep rights (below 11,300 feet)
to an 1,875  acre  parcel in Block 58 to Energy  Development  Corporation  which
drilled a successful well to 16,500 feet.  Production  commenced in April, 1995.
The Company retained a 12 1/2% overriding  royalty interest in that acreage that
converts to 15% overriding  royalty interest at Payout. The well has produced as
much as 21,000  Mcf per day and 1,500  barrels  of  condensate  per day.  Energy
Development Corporation was subsequently acquired by Samedan Oil Corporation.

   
         The Company  generated a prospect in the northern portion of West Delta
Block 58 using 3-D seismic, which it farmed out to Tana Oil & Gas Corporation in
1996. Tana drilled a successful well to 12,800 feet which encountered 85 feet of
net pay and is  producing  14,000  Mcf per day.  The  Company  retained a 5.833%
overriding  royalty  interest in the farmout.  This override is convertible to a
25% working interest at payout.
    

         The main  production  facility on the West Delta  Properties  is a four
platform  complex  designated  as Tank  Battery  #3.  There  are four  ancillary
platforms in the eastern portion of the properties connected to Tank Battery #3.
Three wells are on one of these  platforms.  In the western portion there is one
production  platform  designated  as Platform "D" in Block 58, with three wells.
The  remaining  30 wells are located on satellite  structures  connected to Tank
Battery  #3 or one of its  ancillary  platforms.  Eight  wells  produce  oil and
natural gas. The remaining wells produce only natural gas.

   
         The Company is replacing the pipeline  connecting "D" Platform in Block
58 with Tank Battery # 3 in Block 54 with two new 6" pipelines.  For this reason
production  from Block 58 is currently  shut-in.  Resumption  of  production  is
anticipated in February.
    

         In  connection   with  the  acquisition  of  the  West  Delta  offshore
properties  the Company  provides  the sellers  with a  $4,100,000  plugging and
abandonment bond collateralized in part with a bank escrow account.
See "The Company - Plugging and Abandonment Escrows".

Zapata Properties

   
           On July 12th,  1995,  the Company  entered  into a Purchase  and Sale
Agreement with Zapata Exploration  Company ("Zapata") to acquire all of Zapata's
offshore oil and gas properties in the Gulf of Mexico. The properties consist of
East Breaks Blocks 109 and 110, East Cameron Block 359, Eugene Island Block 372,
South  Timbalier  Block 185 and West Cameron  Block 538,  totaling  31,134 gross
acres.  The  transaction  was closed July 26,  1995.  The  Company  took over as
operator of the East Breaks and West  Cameron  properties  effective at closing.
The East Cameron  property is operated by Anadarko  Petroleum  Corporation.  The
Eugene Island property is operated by Unocal Corporation and the South Timbalier
property is operated by Louisiana Land & Exploration Company. Proved reserves at
December 31, 1995  attributable  to the  Company's net working  interests,  were
222,000 Bbls of oil and 15.3 Bcf of natural  gas.  During  1995,  subsequent  to
closing on July 26th, the properties  produced 20,000 barrels of oil and 1.8 Bcf
of natural gas, net to the Company's interest.
    

         In addition to the mineral interests acquired,  the Company purchased a
100% interest in a 31 mile natural gas pipeline  connecting  the Company's  East
Breaks  110  platform  to the  High  Island  Offshore  System  and a 22 mile oil
pipeline  which  connects  the East  Breaks 110  platform  with the High  Island
Pipeline System. HIOS and HIPS are the primary natural gas and crude oil systems
in that part of the Gulf of Mexico.


                                                        39

<PAGE>



         The Company's East Breaks 110 platform has significant  excess capacity
 for both crude oil and natural gas. Prior to the acquisition of the properties,
 Zapata had entered into a Facilities Sharing Agreement with
AGIP Petroleum  Company,  Inc. ("AGIP") to operate and process for AGIP's subsea
wells in Blocks 112 and 157.  Under the Agreement  AGIP will pay certain fees to
the Company and split the cost of operating  the East Breaks 110  platform  with
the Company, based upon each company's proportion of production.  A portion, not
to exceed $6 million,  of the monies earned pursuant to this Agreement are being
paid to Zapata as part of the acquisition of the properties.

         The  purchase  price for the assets  acquired  in the  transaction  was
$2,748,000  in cash and the  obligation  to pay a  production  payment to Zapata
based upon future  production.  The production  payment is based upon production
from the East Breaks 109 Field after  production  of 12 Bcfe gross (10 Bcfe net)
measured from October 1, 1994. The Company will pay to Zapata $.4167 per Mcfe on
the next 27 Bcfe of gross  production,  if that much is  produced.  Payments  to
Zapata on this production  payment are to be made by the Company when it is paid
for the oil or gas. The  Company's  oil and gas reserves are  calculated  net of
this production payment.

Bayou Sorrel Field

           As of December 27, 1995 the Company  acquired  from Shell Western E &
P, Inc.  all of its  interest in the Bayou  Sorrel  Field in  Iberville  Parish,
Louisiana.  The purchase price of the field and a related receivable of $600,000
was $10,455,000 in cash, including a $205,000 brokers' fee.

   
          Effective September 1, 1996 the Company sold the Bayou Sorrel Field to
National Energy Group, Inc. for $11 million.  The Company received $9 million in
cash and 477,612 shares of National Energy Group, Inc. common stock,  which were
valued at $2 million as of the November 26, 1996, closing date. These shares are
restricted  securities  and are not freely  tradeable.  The  Company  has demand
registration  rights  and has made  such a demand.  The  Company  retained  a 3%
overriding  royalty  interest  in the deep  rights of the field at depths  below
11,000 feet.
    

Oil and Gas Information

   
         The following tables set forth selected oil and gas information for the
Company,  and certain forward looking  information about its properties.  Future
results may vary significantly from the amounts reflected in the information set
forth herein because of normal production declines and future acquisitions.  See
"Risk Factors  Estimates of Reserves and Future Net Revenue" and "Replacement of
Reserves".
    

                             Proved Reserves (a) (b)

         The following table sets forth information as of November 1, 1996 as to
the estimated Proved Reserves attributable to the Company's properties.

Oil and liquids (Bbls):
       Proved Developed Reserves ..................................    2,438,000
       Proved Undeveloped Reserves ................................      482,000
           Total Proved Reserves ..................................    2,920,000

Natural gas (Mcf):
       Proved Developed Reserves ..................................   52,192,000
       Proved Undeveloped Reserves ................................   12,733,000
           Total Proved Reserves ..................................   64,925,000

(a)    Calculated by the Company in accordance with the rules and regulations of
       the SEC,  based upon  November 1, 1996 prices of $22.00 per barrel of oil
       and $2.63 per MMBtu of gas, adjusted for basis differentials, Btu content
       of gas and specific gravity of oil. The Company's independent reservoir

                                                        40

<PAGE>



       engineers prepare a reserve report as of the end of each calendar year.
(b) Includes the recently  acquired  Amoco  Properties and excludes the recently
sold Bayou Sorrel Field.


                          Estimated Future Net Revenues
                          from Proved Reserves (a) (b)

         The following table sets forth information as of November 1, 1996 as to
the estimated  future net revenues  (before  deduction of income taxes) from the
production  and  sale  of the  Proved  Reserves  attributable  to the  Company's
properties.



                                                    Proved               Total
                                                  Developed              Proved
                                                   Reserves             Reserves
Estimated Future net revenues (c):
         1996 (2 mos.)..........................$  6,290,000        $  6,290,000
         1997 ..................................  35,573,000          36,847,000
         1998 ..................................  25,008,000          31,607,000
         1999 ..................................  16,910,000          22,331,000
         Thereafter ............................  53,627,000          79,623,000
         Total .................................$137,409,000        $176,698,000
Present value (10%) of estimated future net
         revenues (SEC 10 Value)............... $104,868,000        $128,092,000

     (a) Calculated by the Company in accordance  with the rules and regulations
of the SEC,  based upon  November 1, 1996 prices of $22.00 per barrel of oil and
$2.63 per MMBtu of offshore gas, adjusted for basis  differentials,  Btu content
of gas  and  specific  gravity  of  oil.  The  Company's  independent  reservoir
engineers prepare a reserve report as of the end of each calendar year.
     (b)  Includes  the  recently  acquired  Amoco  Properties  and excludes the
recently sold Bayou Sorrel Field.
     (c) Estimated future net revenues represent estimated future gross revenues
from the  production  and sale of Proved  Reserves,  net of estimated  operating
costs,  future  development  costs estimated to be required to achieve estimated
future  production  and estimated  future costs of plugging  offshore  wells and
removing offshore structures.

                        Production, Price, and Cost Data

          The following  table sets forth certain  production,  price,  and cost
data  with  respect  to the  Company's  properties,  for the three  years  ended
December 31, 1995,  1994 and 1993 and the nine months ended  September  30, 1996
and 1995.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                For the nine months                         For the years
                                                ended September 30,                       ended December 31,

                                               1996(a)          1995           1995          1994            1993
Oil:
<S>                                           <C>             <C>            <C>            <C>             <C>    
         Net Production (Bbls)(b)             203,000         122,000        170,000        137,000         180,000
         Revenue........................$   3,724,000  $    1,989,000  $   2,853,000  $   2,103,000  $    3,003,000
         Average net Bbls per day                 741             447            466            375             493
         Average price per Bbl          $       18.34  $        16.30  $       16.78  $       15.35  $        16.69

Gas:
         Net Production(Mcf)(b)             4,590,000       7,578,000      9,850,000      8,139,000       5,586,000
         Revenue........................$   9,533,000  $   11,671,000  $  15,594,000  $  15,235,000  $    9,602,000

                                                        41

<PAGE>



         Average net Mcf per day               16,800          27,800         27,000         22,300          15,300
         Average price per Mcf          $        2.08  $         1.54  $        1.58           1.87  $         1.72

Total Revenues..........................$  13,257,000  $   13,660,000  $  18,447,000   $ 17,338,000  $   12,605,000




Production Costs:
         Production cost                    6,049,000   5,729,0008,055,   5,231,000   5,297,000
         Mcfe(c)                            5,808,000     8,310,000      10,870,000      8,961,500     6,666,000
         Production costs per Mcfe(c)                 1.04       .69            .74                 .58           .79
</TABLE>

- ------
(a)      The  information  shown for 1996 was impacted by the explosion and fire
         on April 24th at West Delta Tank  Battery #3,  which  resulted in those
         fields being off  production  until  October 7, 1996,  when  production
         resumed. For that reason management would not consider these production
         costs to be indicative of the future.  Also this  information  includes
         Bayou Sorrel Field  through  August 31, the date of its sale,  and does
         not include any information with respect to the recently acquired Amoco
         Properties.
(b)      Production  information  is net of all  royalty  interests,  overriding
         royalty  interest  and the  net  profits  interest  in the  West  Delta
         Properties owned by the Company's former lenders.
(c)      Oil production is converted to Mcfe  (Equivalent  Mcf) at the rate of 6
         Mcf per Bbl,  representing  the estimated  relative  energy  content of
         natural gas to oil.


                               Productive Wells(a)

         The  following  table sets forth the number of  productive  oil and gas
wells, as of the date hereof, attributable to the Company's properties.

Gross productive offshore wells (b):        Productive Wells    Company Operated

         Oil     . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . .33. . . . . . . . . .10
         Gas   . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . .90. . . . . . . . . .42
           Total  . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . .123. . . . . . . . . .52

Net productive offshore wells (c):
         Oil   . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . .. . .1. . . . . . . . . .10
         Gas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . .49. . . . . . . . . .38
           Total  . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . 64. . . . . . . . . .48

- -----
(a)      Productive  wells  consist  of  producing  wells and wells  capable  of
         production,  including  shut-in wells and water  disposal and injection
         wells.  One or more completions in the same borehole are counted as one
         well.
(b)      A "gross  well" is a well in which a working  interest  is  owned.  The
         number  of  gross  wells  represents  the sum of the  wells  in which a
         working interest is owned.
(c)      A "net well" is deemed to exist when the sum of the fractional  working
         interests in gross wells equals one. The number of net wells is the sum
         of the fractional working interests in gross wells.

                                Leasehold Acreage

     The following table sets forth the developed  acreage as of the date hereof
attributable to the
                                                        42

<PAGE>



Company's properties, excluding onshore acreage which is no longer significant.

Developed offshore acreage (a):
         Gross acres (b)........................................  103,771
         Net acres (c)..........................................   43,645

(a)      Developed acreage is acreage assignable to productive wells.
(b)      A "gross  acre" is an acre in which a working  interest  is owned.  The
         number  of  gross  acres  represents  the sum of the  acres  in which a
         working interest is owned.
(c)      A "net acre" is deemed to exist when the sum of the fractional  working
         interests in gross acres equals one. The number of net acres is the sum
         of the fractional working interests in gross acres.


                               Drilling Activities

         The following  table sets forth the number of gross  productive and dry
wells in which the  Company had an  interest,  that were  drilled and  completed
during  the three  years  ended  December  31,  1995 and the nine  months  ended
September 30, 1996.  Such  information  should not be  considered  indicative of
future  performance,  nor should it be assumed  that  there is  necessarily  any
correlation  between the number of productive  wells drilled and the oil and gas
reserves  generated  thereby  or the costs to the  Company of  productive  wells
compared to the costs to the Company of dry wells.

                     Developmental Wells            Exploratory Wells
                  Completed          Dry          Completed         Dry
                Oil      Gas     Oil     Gas     Oil     Gas     Oil     Gas
1993             3        0       0       0       0       0       0       0
1994             5        4       0       0       0       1       0       0
1995             0        0       0       0       0       0       0       3
1996 (9 mos)     0        0       2       0       0       0       0       0
Total            8        4       2       0       0       1       0       3


Title to Oil and Gas Properties

   
         In the case of acquired  properties title opinions are obtained for the
more significant properties.  Prior to the commencement of drilling operations a
thorough  drillsite  title  examination is conducted and curative work performed
with respect to significant defects.
    


Undeveloped Acreage and Unproved Properties

          The  Company  does  not  hold  interest  in a  significant  amount  of
Undeveloped Acreage to which no Proved Reserves have been assigned. However, the
Company  retained a 3% overriding  royalty  interest in depths below 11,000 feet
when it sold the Bayou Sorrel  Field,  and no reserves  have been  attributed to
these depths.



                                                        43

<PAGE>




                                   MANAGEMENT

Officers and Directors

         The Company has a classified Board of Directors.  Directors are elected
to serve for  three-year  terms and  until  their  successors  are  elected  and
qualified.  One-third of the  directors  stand for  election  each year as their
terms expire.  The Board of Directors consists of three employees of the Company
and six independent directors.

         Officers  are  elected by and serve at the  discretion  of the Board of
Directors.

   
         Set forth below are the names,  ages,  and positions of the persons who
are executive  officers and directors of the Company,  and the committees of the
Board on which they serve.
    

                                Director
    Name                    Age  Since    Position

   
H. James Maxwell .......... 52    1992  Chairman of the Board, President,
                                        Chief Executive Officer, and Director(a)
Bob F. Mallory ............ 64    1992  Chief Operating Officer,  Executive Vice
                                        President and Director- Executive and
                                        Personnel Committee (a)
Larry M. Wright ........... 52    1992  Executive Vice President and
                                        Director-Executive and Personnel
                                        Committee (b)
Robert G. Wonish .......... 43    ---   Vice President
    

Edward A. Bush............. 53    ---   Vice President

William J. Doyle .......... 45    ---   Vice President

Todd R. Bart .............. 32    ---   Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and
                                        Treasurer
A. Theodore Stautberg, Jr.. 50    1993  Director(c)-Compensation Committee

Donald W. Chesser ......... 57    1992  Director(a)

James B. Kreamer .......... 57    1993  Director(c)

N. Lynne Sieverling ....... 59    1992  Director(b)-Audit and Compensation
                                        Committees
Mark C. Barrett............ 46    1996  Director(b)-Audit and Compensation
                                        Committees
Michael Springs............ 47    1996  Director(c)-Audit Committee


   
(a)      These persons are designated as Class III directors, with their term of
         office expiring at the annual meeting of shareholders in 1998.
(b)      These persons are designated as Class II directors,  with their term of
         office expiring at the annual meeting of shareholders in 1997.
(c)      These persons are  designated as Class I directors,  with their term of
         office expiring at the annual meeting of shareholders in 1999.
    


                                                        44

<PAGE>



         Set forth below are descriptions of the principal  occupations,  during
at least the past five years,  of the directors  and  executive  officers of the
Company.

   
         H.  James  Maxwell  received  a  B.A.  degree  in  Economics  from  the
University  of  Missouri-Kansas  City and received his Law Degree from that same
university in 1972. Mr. Maxwell practiced  securities law from 1972 to 1984, and
was a frequent  author and  speaker on oil and gas tax and  securities  law.  He
served as a General Partner of Castle Royalty Limited  Partnership  from 1984 to
1988,  Managing  General Partner of PAN Petroleum MLP from 1987 to 1992, both of
which were predecessors of the Company,  and President,  CEO and Chairman of the
Company from 1992 to date.

         Bob F. Mallory  received his Ph.D.  in Geology from the  University  of
Missouri in 1968 and a B.A. in Geology from the  University  of Wichita in 1961.
He began  consulting in the oil industry in 1980. He served as a General Partner
of Castle Royalty Limited Partnership from 1984 to 1988, as a General Partner of
PAN  Petroleum  MLP from 1987 to 1992,  both of which were  predecessors  of the
Company, and Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company
from 1992 to date.

         Larry M.  Wright  received  his B.S.  Degree  in  Engineering  from the
University of Oklahoma in 1966.  From 1966 to 1976 he was with Union Oil Company
of  California  (UNOCAL).  From 1976 to 1980,  he was with  Texas  International
Petroleum  Corporation,  ultimately as division operations manager. From 1980 to
1981,  he was  with  what  is now  Transamerica  Natural  Gas  Company  as  Vice
President-Exploration  and  Production.  From  1981-1982,  he  was  Senior  Vice
President of Operations for Texas International Petroleum Corporation, and, from
1983 to 1985, he was Executive  Vice President of Funk Fuels Corp., a subsidiary
of  Funk  Exploration.  From  1985  to  1993,  Mr.  Wright  was  an  independent
consultant.  From 1993 to date, he has served as Executive Vice President of the
Company.

         Robert G. Wonish  received his B.S. in Mechanical  Engineering  in 1975
from the University of Missouri-Rolla.  He was a production  engineer with Amoco
from 1975 to 1977, Napeco,  Inc. from 1977 to 1979;  Division Operation Engineer
with Texas  International  from 1979 to 1980;  Production  Manager  with  Cliffs
Drilling  Company  from  1980 to 1984  and  District  Superintendent  with  Ladd
Petroleum  Corporation  from  1985 to  1991.  He then  worked  as a  consultant,
starting  with the Company in 1992,  and became an employee in 1993,  serving as
Vice President - Production.
    

     Edward A. Bush  received his B.S.  Degree in Geology  from Baldwin  Wallace
College in 1964 and his M.A. in Geology from Bowling  Green State  University in
1966. He served in various  geological  and  exploration  capacities  with Exxon
(1968-75),  Union Texas Petroleum  (1975-79),  Home Petroleum  Corp.  (1979-81),
Traverse Oil Co. (1981-83) and Sohio Petroleum Co. (1983-85).  From 1985 to 1995
he served first as Exploration  Manager,  then Vice President of Exploration and
later Vice  President of Operations  for Columbia Gas Devp.  Corp.  From 1995 to
1996 he served as Vice  President-Exploration  and then the  President of Howell
Petroleum Corp.

         William J. Doyle received his Masters in Geology in 1975 from Texas A&M
University  and his B.S. in Earth Sciences from the University of New Orleans in
1973.  From 1975 to 1978 he was a geologist  with Mobil Oil focusing on offshore
Gulf of Mexico  projects.  From 1978 to the present he has worked as an employee
and consultant for various oil and gas  exploration  companies  operating in the
Gulf Coast. He joined the Company as a consulting geologist in 1992 and became a
Vice President in 1995.

         Todd R. Bart received his B.B.A. in Accounting  from Abilene  Christian
University in 1987. He worked in the energy industry with Pennzoil  Company from
1987 to 1990 and the public  accounting firm of Arthur Andersen and Company from
1990 until 1992. From 1992 to 1995 he worked for Yellow Freight System,  Inc., a
trucking company, in financial  accounting and reporting.  He joined the Company
as  Controller in 1995 and was elected Chief  Financial  Officer,  Treasurer and
Secretary in 1996.  He received his C.P.A.  designation  in Texas in 1990 and in
Kansas in 1993, and is a member of the A.I.C.P.A.

     A. Theodore Stautberg, Jr. has since 1981 been the President and a director
of Triumph Resources
                                                        45

<PAGE>



Corporation and its parent company, Triumph Oil and Gas Corporation of New York.
Triumph engages in the oil and gas business,  assists others in financing energy
transactions,  and serves as general  partner of  Triumph  Production  L.P.  Mr.
Stautberg is also the president of Triumph Securities  Corporation and BT Energy
Corporation.  Prior  to  forming  Triumph  in  1981,  Mr.  Stautberg  was a Vice
President of Butcher & Singer,  Inc., an investment  banking firm,  from 1977 to
1981.  From 1972 to 1977, Mr.  Stautberg was an attorney with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.  Mr. Stautberg is a graduate of the University of Texas and
the University of Texas School of Law.

         Donald W. Chesser  received his B.B.A.  in  Accounting  from Texas Tech
University  in 1963 and has  served  with  several  CPA firms  since  that time,
including eight years with Elmer Fox and Company. From 1977 to 1981, he was with
IMCO  Enterprises,  Inc.  Since 1982 he has been a shareholder  and President of
Chesser & Company, P.A., a CPA firm. He is also President of Financial Advisors,
Inc., a registered investment advisor.

         James  B.  Kreamer  received  his  B.S.  Degree  in  Business  from the
University  of Kansas in 1963 and has been active in  investment  banking  since
that time. Since 1982 he has managed his personal investments.

         N. Lynne  Sieverling  received his B.S.  Degree in Accounting  from the
University  of  Kansas  in 1959 and has  practiced  as a CPA  since  graduation,
serving 17 years as a partner with the accounting firm of Coopers & Lybrand. Mr.
Sieverling  has also been  actively  involved in the oil and gas industry  since
1984 both as an  investor  and as an  operator  of oil and gas leases in Kansas,
Oklahoma and North Dakota.

         Mark   C.   Barrett    received    his   B.S.    Degree   in   Business
Administration/Accounting  in 1972 and is  licensed  to  practice as a Certified
Public  Accountant  in both  Kansas and  Missouri.  He was a partner in the firm
Drees  Dunn  Lubow and  Company  from 1974  until  1981.  He  founded  Barrett &
Associates, a CPA firm, in 1981 and is the president and majority shareholder in
that firm. His CPA firm served as the Company's  independent  public accountants
from 1985 to 1995.

     Michael  Springs  graduated from the Medical Field Service  School,  Brooke
Hospital,  San Antonio,  Texas in 1971 and the  University  of Missouri,  Kansas
City,  in 1969 with a degree in  Business.  He is the  President  and founder of
Ortho-Care, Inc. of Kansas City, Missouri and Ortho-Care Southeast of Charlotte,
North  Carolina.  Ortho-Care,  Inc. is a  manufacturer  of  orthopedic  fracture
management and sports  medicine  products,  and holds a number of patents in the
field. Mr. Springs is also controlling partner in Ortho-Implants,  a distributor
of total joint replacement prosthesis.

         None  of  the  officers  or  directors  serve  pursuant  to  employment
agreements.

Board of Directors

         The Board of Directors has the  responsibility  for establishing  broad
corporate policies and for the overall  performance of the Company,  although it
is not involved in day-to-day operating details.  Directors are kept informed of
the Company's business by various reports and documents, as well as by operating
and financial reports presented at Board and committee  meetings by the Chairman
and other officers.

         Meetings of the Board of Directors are held  regularly each quarter and
there is also a  meeting  following  the  annual  meeting  of the  shareholders.
Additional  meetings,  including  meetings by telephone  conference call, of the
Board may be called whenever needed.  The Board of Directors of the Company held
six (6) meetings in 1995,  two of which were  meetings by  telephone  conference
call.  Each  director  attended  all  meetings of the Board,  except for the two
telephone  conference  calls, of which James B. Kreamer was not connected either
time and  Allen H.  Sweeney  and  Thomas  E.  Clark ( then  directors)  were not
connected on one conference call.

Committees of the Board

     The  committees  established  by the Board of Directors to assist it in the
discharge of its responsibilities
                                                        46

<PAGE>



   
are described  below.  The previous table  identifies the committee  memberships
currently held.
    

         The  Executive  Committee  has  three  members,  all of whom  are  also
officers of the Company.  The Committee  meets on call  whenever  needed and has
authority to act on most matters  during the intervals  between Board  meetings.
The Executive Committee also serves as the Personnel Committee.

         The Audit  Committee has three members,  none of whom is an employee of
the Company. The Committee meets with management to consider the adequacy of the
internal controls of the Company and the objectivity of its financial reporting;
the  Committee  also meets with the  independent  accountants  concerning  these
matters.   The  Committee  recommends  to  the  Board  the  appointment  of  the
independent  accountants,  subject to  ratification  by the  shareholders at the
annual meeting.  The independent  accountants  periodically  meet alone with the
Committee and have unrestricted access to the Committee.  The Committee met once
in 1995.

         The  Compensation  Committee  has  three  members,  none  of whom is an
employee of the Company.  It makes  recommendations to the Board with respect to
the  compensation  of  management  of the  Company and the  Company's  Long-Term
Incentive Plan. The Committee met twice in 1995.

Compensation of Directors

          Directors  receive  travel  expenses  incurred in  attending  Board of
Directors or committee meetings.  Officers of the Company who serve as directors
do not receive special  compensation  for serving on the Board of Directors or a
committee thereof.  However, during 1995 Messrs.  Stautberg,  Chesser,  Sweeney,
Kreamer and Sieverling,  the then non-employee directors, were each issued 1,039
Common  Shares as a $5,000  bonus.  In 1995 Mr.  Chesser was issued  warrants to
acquire  25,000  Common Shares at $2.50 per share,  which  expired  December 31,
1995, for services  performed for the Company in 1991.  During 1995 he exercised
those warrants. See "Certain Relationships and Related Transactions," herein.

     Newly  elected  non-employee  directors  are granted a one-time  restricted
stock award in Common  Shares equal in value to $10,000 upon their being elected
to the Board. See "Long-Term Incentive Plan," herein.

Long-Term Incentive Plan

         The  Company's  Long-Term  Incentive  Plan  (the  "Long-Term  Incentive
Plan"),  adopted in 1992,  provides for the granting to certain officers and key
employees of the Company and its participating  subsidiaries incentive awards in
the form of stock options,  stock appreciation  rights ("SARs"),  Common Shares,
and cash awards. The Long-Term  Incentive Plan is administered by a committee of
non-employee members of the Board of Directors with respect to awards to certain
executive  officers  of the  Company  but may be  administered  by the  Board of
Directors  with  respect to any other  awards  (either,  the "Plan  Committee").
Except for certain automatic awards, the Plan Committee has discretion to select
the employees to be granted  awards,  to determine the type,  size, and terms of
the awards, to determine when awards will be granted,  and to prescribe the form
of the instruments evidencing awards.

         Options,  which include non-qualified stock options and incentive stock
options,  are rights to purchase a specified  number of Common Shares at a price
fixed at the time the option is granted.  Payment may be made with cash or other
Common  Shares  owned by the  optionee  or a  combination  of both.  Options are
exercisable at the time and on the terms that the Plan Committee determines. The
payment  of the  option  price  can be made  either  in  cash  or by the  person
exercising the option turning in to the Company  shares  presently  owned by the
person,  which would be valued at the then current market price. SARs are rights
to receive a payment,  in cash or Common Shares or both, based on the value of a
Common  Share.  A stock  award is an award of Common  Shares or  denominated  in
Common Shares that may be subject to a restriction against transfer as well as a
repurchase  option  exercisable  by  the  Company.  During  the  period  of  the
restriction,  the employee may be given the right to vote and receive  dividends
on the shares covered by restricted stock

                                                        47

<PAGE>



   
awards.  Cash awards are generally based on the extent to which  pre-established
performance  goals  are  achieved  over a  pre-established  period  but may also
include individual bonuses paid for previous, exemplary performance.
    

         The  Long-Term  Incentive  Plan  provides for the issuance of a maximum
number  of Common  Shares  equal to 20% of the  total  number  of Common  Shares
outstanding from time to time. Unexercised SARs, unexercised options, restricted
stock, and performance  units under the Long-Term  Incentive Plan are subject to
adjustment in the event of a stock dividend,  stock split,  recapitalization  or
combination  of  the  Company,  merger,  or  similar  transaction  and  are  not
transferable except by will and by the laws of descent and distribution.  Except
when a participant's employment terminates as a result of death, disability,  or
retirement under an approved retirement plan or following a change in control in
certain  circumstances,  an award generally may be exercised (or the restriction
thereon may lapse) only if the participant is an officer,  employee, or director
of the Company or a  subsidiary  at the time of exercise or lapse or, in certain
circumstances,  if the exercise or lapse occurs within 180 days after employment
is terminated.

         The  Long-Term   Incentive  Plan  allows  for  the  satisfaction  of  a
participant's  tax  withholding  with respect to an award by the  withholding of
Common Shares issuable  pursuant to the award or the delivery by the participant
of  previously  owned  Common  Shares,  in either case valued at the fair market
value, subject to limitations the Plan Committee may adopt.

         Awards  granted  pursuant to the Long-Term  Incentive  Plan may provide
that, upon a change of control of the Company, (a) each holder of an option will
be granted a  corresponding  SAR,  (b) all  outstanding  SARs and stock  options
become  immediately  and  fully  vested  and  exercisable  in full,  and (c) the
restriction  period on any restricted  stock award shall be accelerated  and the
restriction  shall expire.  Options and SARs will remain  exercisable  for their
original  terms whether or not  employment  is terminated  following a change in
control.

         The Long-Term  Incentive Plan may be amended by the Board of Directors,
except that under current law no amendment that materially  increases the number
of Common Shares  subject to the Long-term  Incentive Plan or that makes certain
other material changes may be made without  shareholder  approval.  No grants or
awards  may  be  made  under  the  Long-Term  Incentive  Plan  after  the  tenth
anniversary  of the Closing  Date.  No  shareholder  approval will be sought for
amendments to the Long-Term  Incentive Plan except as required by law (including
Rule  16b-3  under the  Exchange  Act) or the rules of any  national  securities
exchange on which the Common Shares are then listed.

         There are no incentive  awards  pertaining  to stock  options,  SARs or
Common Shares issued or outstanding under the Long-Term Incentive Plan.

         Under the Company's  Long-Term  Incentive  Plan  beginning in 1996, all
employees on December 31 of each year share a bonus equal to 5% of the Company's
pre-tax net income, computed in accordance with GAAP, exclusive of extraordinary
and  non-recurring  items.  The  bonuses  will be paid to all full time (1,000 +
hours)  employees  at December  31. The bonus will be paid upon  delivery of the
independent audit. The bonus shall be allocated to the full time employees based
upon their salary at December 31 of that year.

         Each non-employee  director of the Company who becomes a director will,
on the day after the first  meeting  of the  Board of  Directors  at which  that
director is in attendance,  automatically be granted a restricted stock award of
the  number  of  Common  Shares  that  have a value of  $10,000,  which  will be
calculated based on the average trading price of the Common Shares during the 60
days immediately preceding the date of grant. These restricted stock awards will
vest over two years,  with  one-third  vesting six months  following the date of
grant,  another one-third vesting on the first anniversary of the date of grant,
and the last one-third vesting on the second anniversary of the date of grant so
long as the  non-employee  director  remains a director of the  Company  through
those vesting dates.

         Each non-employee  director will be entitled to vote each share subject
to these restricted stock

                                                        48

<PAGE>



awards  from the date of grant  until the shares  are  forfeited,  if ever.  The
Long-Term Incentive Plan requires each non-employee director to make an election
under Section 83(b) of the Code to include the value of the restricted  stock in
his income in the year of grant and provides for cash awards to the non-employee
directors in amounts sufficient to pay the federal income taxes due with respect
to the award.

         The following table shows  information with respect to restricted stock
awards owned by non-employee directors.

         Name               Date of Grant           Shares         Price
Michael Springs             September 4, 1996          2,447       $4.09
Mark C. Barrett             September 4, 1996          2,447        4.09
Total                                                  4,894

Employee Stock Ownership Plan

   
         In 1994,  the  shareholders  approved the adoption of the PANACO,  Inc.
Employee Stock Ownership Plan ("ESOP").  The primary purposes of the ESOP are to
enable  participants to acquire ownership in the Company and to provide a source
of equity  capital to the  Company.  The ESOP  establishes  a trust to hold ESOP
assets,  which  primarily  consist of Common Shares of the Company.  The ESOP is
administered  by the Board of Directors.  Subject to the discretion of the Board
of  Directors,  the Company may  contribute  up to fifteen  percent (15%) of the
participant's  (including employees and other consultants to the Company) annual
compensation to the ESOP. The ESOP does not allow  contributions by participants
in the Plan.
    

         Company  contributions  to the ESOP may be in the form of Common Shares
or cash.  Cash  contributions  may be used,  at the  discretion  of the Board of
Directors,  to purchase  Common Shares in the open market or from the Company at
prevailing prices.

         The  allocation  of ESOP  assets is  determined  by a formula  based on
participant compensation.  Participation in the ESOP requires completion of more
than one thousand  (1,000)  hours of service to the Company  within  twelve (12)
consecutive months.

         The ESOP is  intended  to satisfy any  applicable  requirements  of the
Internal  Revenue Code of 1986 and the Employee  Retirement and Income  Security
Act of 1974.  The Company has been  advised that its  contributions  to the ESOP
will be deductible for Federal Income Tax purposes,  and the  participants  will
not recognize  income on their  allocated share of ESOP assets until such assets
are distributed.

         As of  September  30,  1996,  the ESOP  owned of record  59,865  Common
Shares,  allocable  to the  years  prior to 1996,  and  will,  subject  to Board
approval,  be issued 20,460 Common Shares for the first three  quarters of 1996.
Such Common Shares are owned beneficially by the employees of the Company.

Summary Compensation Table

         The  following  table sets forth the  annual  compensation  paid to the
Company's Chief Executive Officer and each executive officer whose  compensation
exceeds $100,000 during 1995.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                     Long-Term Incentive Plan
                                  Annual Compensation                      Awards            Payouts
                                                                                 Securities
                                                      Other       Restricted     Underlying    LTIP       All
Name and Principal                Salary   Bonus       Annual          Stock      Options    Payouts      Other
      Position           Year     ($)(1)       ($)   Comp. ($)    Award(s) ($)         (#)       ($)   Comp.($)(2)
<S>                      <C>     <C>           <C>        <C>           <C>         <C>          <C>      <C>   
H. James Maxwell         1995    153,500       0          0             0           24,615       0        22,500
  President and Chief    1994    120,000       0          0             0           22,857       0        18,000
  Executive Officer      1993     80,000       0          0             0          115,000       0           0

                                                        49

<PAGE>




Larry M. Wright          1995    147,300       0          0             0             0          0        22,100
  Executive Vice         1994    134,000       0          0             0             0          0        20,000
  President              1993    120,000       0          0             0             0          0           0

Robert G. Wonish         1995     92,100       0          0             0             0          0        13,800
  Vice President         1994     78,800       0          0             0             0          0        11,800
                         1993     77,000       0          0             0             0          0           0
</TABLE>

(1)      The 1993 salary figures for Messrs.  Wright and Wonish include payments
         made to them as independent  consultants  before becoming  employees of
         the Company in that year.
(2)      The   other   compensation   figures   for  1995  and  1994   represent
         contributions  to the  accounts of the  employees  under the  Company's
         Employee Stock Ownership Plan. The Plan was adopted in 1994.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

Aggregated Option (Warrants) Exercises in Last Fiscal Year and Fiscal Year End Option Values

         The following  table  provides  information  relating to the number and
value of Common Shares subject to options  exercised  during 1995 or held by the
named executive officers as of December 31, 1995.

                                                                  Number of
                                                             securities underlying      Value of unexercised
                        Securities                           unexercised options             in-the-money
                         acquired          Value             at fiscal year-end ($)     options at year-end($)(2)
          Name         on Exercise (#)   Realized ($)(1)    Exercisable/unexercisable   Exercisable/Unexercisable
<S>                      <C>               <C>                          <C>   <C>                    <C>    <C>
H. James Maxwell         250,972           410,129                   -0- / -0-                    -0-  / -0-
Larry M. Wright              0                  0                250,000 / -0-                 549,375 / -0-
Robert G. Wonish             0                  0                    -0 -/ -0-                    -0-  / -0-
</TABLE>

(1)      Value  realized is  calculated  based upon the  difference  between the
         options exercise price and the market price of the Common Shares on the
         date of  exercise  multiplied  by the  number  of  shares  to which the
         exercise price relates.
(2)      Value of unexercised  in-the-money  options is calculated  based on the
         difference  between the option  exercise price and the closing price of
         the  Common  Shares at  year-end,  multiplied  by the  number of shares
         underlying  the options.  The closing price on December 29, 1995 of the
         Common Shares was $4.4375.

Option Grants in Last Fiscal Year
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                      Number of      Percent of
                      Securities    total options
                     Underlying      granted to    Exercise or    Market price
                        Options      employees     Base price        at date       Expiration    Grant Date
          Name         Granted      in fiscal year  ($/Share)      of grant($)         Date        Value($)
<S>                   <C>    <C>        <C>          <C>             <C>            <C>   <C>       <C>   
H. James Maxwell      24,615 (1)        33%          2.03125         4.0625         12/31/95        50,000
Larry M. Wright           -0-           -0-            N/A             N/A             N/A            N/A
Robert G. Wonish          -0-           -0-            N/A             N/A             N/A            N/A
</TABLE>

(1)      Mr. Maxwell's options were exercised in 1995.




                                                        50

<PAGE>

     The  following   Performance  Graph  compares  the  annual  change  of  the
cumulative total shareholder return,  assuming reinvestment of dividends,  of an
assumed $100 investment on January 1, 1991 in (1) Common Shares,  (2) the NASDAQ
Market  Index  and (3) a peer  group of all  crude  petroleum  and  natural  gas
exploration and production  companies (SIC Code 1311) listed on NASDAQ September
21, 1989.

                               FISCAL YEAR ENDING
COMPANY     12/31/90 12/31/91  12/31/92  12/31/93  12/31/94  12/29/95  11/29/96*
           
PANACO, Inc.  100.00  214.37     130.49    195.73    298.26    330.88    391.46
PEER GROUP    100.00  109.81     116.29    139.38    125.19    144.76    213.62 
BROAD MARKET  100.00  128.38     129.64    155.50    163.26    211.77    257.90

SOURCE:  MEDIA GENERAL FINANCIAL SERVICES.                                    
* 1996 IS BASED ON ELEVEN MONTHS, THROUGH NOVEMBER 1996.

                                                PERFORMANCE GRAPHS

         The  following  Performance  Graph  compares  the annual  change of the
cumulative total shareholder return , assuming reinvestment of dividends,  of an
assumed $100 investment on January 1, 1991 in (1) Common Shares,  (2) the NASDAQ
Market  Index  and (3) a peer  group of all  crude  petroleum  and  natural  gas
exploration  and  production  companies  (SIC Code 1311)  listed on NASDAQ.  The
Company began trading on NASDAQ September 21, 1989.





























                                                        51

<PAGE>



                             PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

         The following table sets forth  information  with respect to record and
beneficial ownership of Common Shares by (a) each executive officer and director
of the Company,  (b) all  executive  officers and  directors of the Company as a
group,  and (c) for each person who  beneficially  owns 5% or more of the Common
Shares as of November 15, 1996.
                                                                              Shares Owned
Name and Positions of Owners                                       Of Record                Beneficially

                                                                Number   Percent        Number       Percent
<S>     <C>    <C>    <C>    <C>    <C>    <C>
H. James Maxwell; Chief Executive Officer,
President, Chairman of the Board & Director ............       313,386    2.18         322,971  (1)      2.01
Larry M. Wright; Executive Vice President &
Director................................................       395,000    2.75         654,999  (1)(2)   4.08
Bob F. Mallory; Chief Operating Officer,
Executive Vice President & Director.....................       228,030    1.59         233,030  (1)      1.45
Robert G. Wonish; Vice President........................        12,000     .08          18,328  (1)       .11
William J. Doyle; Vice President .......................            -      .00           4,405  (1)       .03
A. Theodore Stautberg, Jr.; Director....................         6,137     .04           9,137            .06
Donald W. Chesser; Director.............................         1,039     .01           1,039            .00
Michael Springs; Director...............................         3,096     .02           3,096  (3)       .02
James B. Kreamer; Director..............................        51,055     .36          51,055            .32
N. Lynne Sieverling; Director...........................         8,137     .06           8,137            .05
Mark C. Barrett; Director...............................         2,447     .02           2,447  (3)       .02

All directors and officers as a group (13 persons)......     1,020,327    7.11       1,308,644  (1)      8.15

Carl C. Icahn...........................................     1,095,000    7.63       1,095,000  (4)      6.82
c/o Icahn Associates Corp.
114 West 47th Street, 19th Fl
New York, NY  10036
Richard A. Kayne........................................       694,047    4.84       2,160,714  (5)(6)  13.45
Kayne, Anderson Investment Management, Inc.
1800 Avenue of the Stars, #200
Los Angeles, CA 90067
Amoco Production Company................................     2,000,000   13.94       2,000,000          12.45
550 WestLake Park Blvd.
Houston, TX 77079
Attn.: John M. Kaffenes
</TABLE>

     (1) Includes shares held in the Company's Employee Stock Ownership Plan for
each officer as follows:  Mr. Maxwell - 9,585 shares, Mr. Wright - 9,999 shares,
Mr.  Mallory - 5,000  shares,  Mr.  Wonish - 6,328  shares and Mr. Doyle - 4,405
shares, and for all directors and officers as a group - 35,307 shares.
     (2) Includes  250,000  shares  issuable  pursuant to currently  exercisable
warrants.
     (3) These persons were each issued 2,447 shares upon election as a director
in 1996.
     (4) Mr. Icahn is the sole  shareholder of Riverdale  Investors Corp,  Inc.,
the general  partner of High River  Limited  Partnership,  the record  holder of
these shares.
     (5) Mr. Kayne has sole voting power with respect to  investments  of Kayne,
Anderson  Investment  Management,  Inc.,  which is the  general  partner of KAIN
Non-Traditional, L.P., which is the general partner of: Offense Group Associates
Limited;  Opportunity  Associates,  L.P.;  ARBCO  Associates,  L.P.;  and Kayne,
Anderson  Non-Traditional  Investments,  L.P.;  the record holders of 694,047 of
these  shares were some of the  lenders  with  respect to the 1993  Subordinated
Notes.
     (6) Mr. Kayne has sole voting power with respect to  investments  of Kayne,
Anderson Investment & Management,  Inc., which is the general partner of Offense
Group Associates,  L.P.; Kayne,  Anderson  Non-Traditional  Investments,  L. P.;
ARBCO  Associates,  L. P.;  Kayne,  Anderson  Offshore  Limited and  Opportunity
Associates,  L. P.; the  beneficial  holders of 1,466,667  shares  issuable upon
conversion of some of the 1996 Tranche A Convertible Subordinated Notes.


                 CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

         A. Theodore Stautberg, Jr., a director of the Company since 1993, is an
officer,  director and beneficial shareholder of Triumph Securities Corporation,
which  is  participating  in  this  Offering  as  a  finder,  and  will  receive
one-seventh of the 7% Underwriters discount.

   
         During 1996 two new non-employee directors, Michael Springs and Mark C.
Barrett,  were each issued  restricted  stock awards of 2,447 Common Shares upon
election to the Board.
    

         Mark C. Barrett  became a director of the Company on September 4, 1996.
For the years 1985 through 1995 his CPA firm, Barrett and Associates,  served as
the Company's independent accountants. During 1995 his CPA firm was paid $53,400
for accounting services, including the audit.

         Those  entities  which  invest  through  Kayne,   Anderson   Investment
Management, Inc., that were the lenders in connection with the 1993 Subordinated
Notes,  own 816,526 Common Shares by virtue of their exercise of warrants issued
to them in 1993 and exercised in first quarter 1996. They are paid interest with
respect to the 1993  Subordinated  Notes,  which  totaled  $600,000 in 1995.  In
addition, the Company is required to pay certain expenses, including legal fees,
of those lenders, of which there were none during 1996.

         During 1995 Donald W. Chesser, a director who is not an employee of the
Company was issued  warrants to acquire  25,000 Common Shares at $2.50 per share
for past  services  to the  Company.  The  warrants,  which  would have  expired
December 31, 1995, were all exercised during 1995.

         During 1995 each of the five  directors  who are not  employees  of the
Company  were  issued a stock  bonus of $5,000,  paid by the  issuance  of 1,039
Common Shares.

          Employees of the Company are eligible to receive stock  awards,  stock
options,  stock  appreciation  rights,  and  performance  units  pursuant to the
Company's Long-Term Incentive Plan.

         The Company has several procedures,  provisions,  and plans designed to
reduce the  likelihood of a change in the  management  or voting  control of the
Company  without  the  consent  of  the  incumbent  Board  of  Directors.  These
provisions  may have the effect of  strengthening  the ability of  officers  and
directors  of the Company to continue as officers  and  directors of the Company
despite changes in share ownership of the Company.

         Under the terms of the Company's Long-Term Incentive Plan, three of the
officers and directors  surrendered Common Shares in January 1995 in exercise of
outstanding  options during 1995.  The following  table sets forth the number of
shares  surrendered and market value thereof and the number of options exercised
and the aggregate exercise price thereof.

                             Shares         Market       Options   Aggregate
                         Surrendered (a)    Value ($)   Exercised  Price ($) (b)
H. James Maxwell             24,615          99,998       43,100      100,245
Bob F. Mallory               24,615          99,998       42,400      100,018
Thomas E. Clark (c)          24,615          99,820       38,900      100,137

(a)      Persons  surrendering  shares in  payment of the  exercise  price of an
         option were granted new options for a like number of shares at $2.03125
         expiring December 31, 1995.
(b)      Differences between the value of the share surrendered and the exercise
         prices were paid in cash by the person exercising the option.
(c)      Mr. Clark is a former officer and director.

         Messrs.  Maxwell  and  Mallory  are the  partners  of 1050  Blue  Ridge
Building  Partnership,  which owns a 5,200  square foot office  building at 1050
West Blue  Ridge  Boulevard,  Kansas  City,  Missouri,  which  they lease to the
Company  on a triple  net basis for  $4,000  per month for a term of ten  years,
expiring  in 2003.  The lease was  approved  by the  Board of  Directors,  which
determined that the rate was as good or better than that which could be obtained
from a non-affiliated party.

   
         H. James  Maxwell and Bob F.  Mallory,  officers  and  directors of the
Company,  are personal guarantors of the Company's  obligation to plug the wells
and remove the platforms on the West Delta Properties acquired from Conoco, Arco
(now Vastar), Texaco and Oxy in 1991.

         On October 8, 1996 the Company  borrowed  $17 million  from lenders who
invest through Kayne,  Anderson  Investment  Management,  Inc., which then owned
694,047  Common  Shares  and  would,  upon  conversion  of the  1996  Tranche  A
Convertible  Subordinated Notes, own 2,160,714 Common Shares. See "The Company -
Funding of Business Activities - Borrowing and Obligations".
    


                                               SELLING SHAREHOLDERS

   
         The following  table sets forth  information as of November 15, 1996 as
adjusted to reflect the sale of all of the Common Shares  offered  hereby,  with
respect to the Common Shares offered by the Selling Shareholders.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
    

                                                   Shares Owned                   Shares       Shares Beneficially
         Name and Positions of                    Before Offering                Offered         Owned After
              Beneficial Owners              Directly        Beneficially         Hereby           Offering
<S>                                         <C>             <C>           <C>       <C>         <C>       <C>  
   
H. James Maxwell; Director, President         313,386         322,971    2.01%    30,000         292,971   1.82%
and CEO of the Company................
Offense Group Associates Limited        (1)   163,305         599,669(2) 3.73     70,000         529,669   3.30
   1800 Avenue of the Stars, #200
   Los Angeles, CA 90067
Opportunity Associates, L.P...........  (1)    40,826         137,796(2) 0.86     40,826          96,970   0.60
   1800 Avenue of the Stars, #200
   Los Angeles, CA 90067
ARBCO Associates, L.P.................  (1)   285,785         722,149(2) 4.49     70,000         652,149   4.06
   1800 Avenue of the Stars, #200
   Los Angeles, CA 90067
Kayne, Anderson Non-Traditional
   Investments, L.P...................  (1)   204,131         604,495(2) 3.77     70,000         570,495   3.55
   1800 Avenue of the Stars, #200
   Los Angeles, CA 90067
Evanston Insurance Company............  (1)    81,653          81,653    0.51     81,653              0    0.00
   P.O. Box 2009
   Glen Allen, VA 23058-2009
Nobel Insurance Company...............  (1)    40,826          40,826    0.25     40,826              0    0.00
   3010 LBJ Freeway, Suite 320
   Dallas, TX 75234
Amoco Production Company..............      2,000,000       2,000,000   12.45  2,000,000              0    0.00
   550 WestLake Park Blvd.
   Houston, TX 77079
    

                Total.................      3,129,912       4,509,559   28.07% 2,403,305       2,142,254  13.33%
</TABLE>

                                                        52

<PAGE>



   
(1)      These firms are the Company's lenders under the 1993 Subordinated Notes
         described  under  "The  Company  - Funding  of  Business  Activities  -
         Borrowing and  Obligations." In 1993 these lenders were issued warrants
         to acquire a total of 816,526  Common  Shares at an  exercise  price of
         $2.25 anytime prior to December 31, 1998,  all of which were  exercised
         during first quarter 1996.
(2)      Includes  436,364,   96,970,   436,364,   and  436,364  Common  Shares,
         respectively,   issuable   upon   conversion  of  the  1996  Tranche  A
         Convertible Subordinated Notes.
    


               DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL SHARES AND OTHER SECURITIES

   
         The  authorized  capital  shares of the Company  consist of  40,000,000
Common Shares,  par value $.01 per share, and 5,000,000  preferred  shares,  par
value $.01 per share.  The following  description  of the capital  shares of the
Company does not purport to be complete or to give full effect to the provisions
of  statutory  or common law and is subject in all  respects  to the  applicable
provisions of the Company's  Certificate of  Incorporation  and the  information
herein is qualified in its entirety by this reference.
    

Common Shares

   
         The Company is  authorized  by its  Certificate  of  Incorporation,  as
amended,  to issue  40,000,000  Common Shares,  of which  14,350,255  shares are
issued  and  outstanding  as of the  date  hereof  and are  held  by over  6,000
shareholders.
    

         The  holders of Common  Shares are  entitled to one vote for each share
held on all matters  submitted to a vote of common  holders.  The Common  Shares
have no cumulative voting rights,  which means that the holders of a majority of
the Common Shares  outstanding  can elect all the directors if they choose to do
so. In that event, the holders of the remaining shares will not be able to elect
any directors.

         Each Common Share is entitled to participate  equally in dividends,  as
and when declared by the Board of Directors,  and in the  distribution of assets
in the  event of  liquidation,  subject  in all  cases to any  prior  rights  of
outstanding preferred shares. The Common Shares have no preemptive or conversion
rights,  redemption  rights, or sinking fund provisions.  The outstanding Common
Shares are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid, and nonassessable.

Warrants

         The Company has  outstanding  warrants to acquire 289,365 Common Shares
at  prices  ranging  from  $2.00  to  $2.375.  These  warrants  contain  limited
provisions for adjustment of the number of shares in the event of a subdivision,
combination or reclassification of Common Shares. They do not have any rights to
demand  registration  or "piggy back" rights in the event of a  registration  of
Common Shares.

         A group of the  Company's  lenders,  pursuant to the 1993  Subordinated
Notes,  acquired 816,526 Common Shares upon the exercise of warrants,  which are
restricted  securities  within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933 and can
only be sold pursuant to an exemption from  registration or an offering which is
the subject of an effective registration statement.  The holders of these shares
have demand registration rights and "piggy back" rights in the event the Company
registers an offering of its Common  Shares.  Six of those  lenders are offering
Common Shares pursuant to this Prospectus. See "Selling Shareholders".  See also
"The Company - Funding of Business Activities - Borrowing and Obligations."

         The  Company  has  agreed  to  grant  to  the   Representative  of  the
Underwriters,  or its designees, warrants to purchase Common Shares equal to 10%
of the aggregate number of Common Shares sold pursuant to this  Prospectus.  The
warrants  will expire two years from the date of this  Prospectus.  The exercise
price per warrant will equal the Public Offering Price. See  "Underwriting." The
warrants will be  exercisable  at any time and from time to time, in whole or in
part,   during  said  two  year  term.   The   Company  has  also   granted  the
Representative,  or his designee,  "piggy back" registration rights with respect
to the Common

                                                        53

<PAGE>



Shares underlying the warrants.


Convertible Securities

   
         After the  expiration  of 180 days  following  the  conclusion  of this
offering,  a group of the  Company's  lenders,  pursuant  to the 1996  Tranche A
Convertible Subordinated Notes issued October 8, 1996, have the right to convert
$8,500,000  in notes into  2,060,606  Common  Shares at $4.125 per share,  which
Common  Shares  would  be  restricted  securities  within  the  meaning  of  the
Securities  Act of 1933  and can  only be sold  pursuant  to an  exemption  from
registration  or an offering  which is the subject of an effective  registration
statement. The holders of these shares, after conversion, will have the right to
demand  registration  of the  shares  or "piggy  back" in the event the  Company
registers an offering of its Common Shares.
    

Preferred Shares

         Pursuant to the Company's Certificate of Incorporation,  the Company is
authorized to issue  5,000,000  preferred  shares,  and the  Company's  Board of
Directors,  by  resolution,  may  establish  one or more  classes  or  series of
preferred  shares  having the number of shares,  designations,  relative  voting
rights,   dividend  rates,   liquidation  and  other  rights  preferences,   and
limitations that the Board of Directors fixes without any shareholder approval.

         A number of preferred shares equal to one share for every one hundredth
of one Common Share  outstanding has been reserved for issuance  pursuant to the
Company's  Shareholder Rights Plan, and designated as Series A Preferred Shares.
No shares of this Series A Preferred Shares have been issued or are outstanding.
Other than the  designation as Series A, the Series A Preferred  Shares have not
had designations,  preferences and rights established by the Board of Directors.
See "Shareholder  Rights Plan," below. The designations,  preferences and rights
will be established  if and when any of the Series A Preferred  Shares are to be
issued.

Transfer Agent

         The transfer  agent,  registrar and dividend  disbursing  agent for the
Common Shares is American Stock  Transfer and Trust  Company,  6201 15th Avenue,
Brooklyn, New York 11204.

Shareholder Rights Plan

         On  August  2,  1995,  the  Board  of  Directors  declared  a  dividend
distribution  of one Right for each  outstanding  Common Share of the Company to
the  shareholders of record on August 3, 1995,  (the "Record Date").  Each Right
entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company one one-hundredth of
one share of the Series A Preferred Shares (the "Preferred Shares"),  or in some
circumstances,  Common  Shares,  other  securities,  cash  or  other  assets  as
summarized below, at a price of $30.00 per share (the "Purchase Price"), subject
to adjustment. The description and terms of the Rights are set forth in a Rights
Agreement  (the  "Rights  Agreement")  between the Company  and  American  Stock
Transfer and Trust Company, as Rights Agent.

         The  Shareholder  Rights Plan was designed to reduce the  likelihood of
inadequate bids, partial bids, market  accumulations and front-end loaded offers
to acquire the Company's  Common  Shares,  which are not in the best interest of
all the  Company's  shareholders.  The  adoption  of the Plan  communicates  the
Company's  intention to resist such  actions as are not in the best  interest of
all  shareholders  and provides  time for the Board of Directors to consider any
offer and seek alternative  transactions to maximize shareholder value. The Plan
was adopted upon the advice of the Company's investment bankers in 1995.

         Until  the  earlier  to occur of (i) the date of a public  announcement
that a person  or group of  affiliated  or  associated  persons  (an  "Acquiring
Person") acquired, or obtained the right to acquire, beneficial ownership

                                                        54

<PAGE>



of 20% or more of the  outstanding  Common Shares or (ii) ten days following the
commencement  or announcement of an intention to make a tender offer or exchange
offer that would result in a Person or group beneficially  owning 20% or more of
such  outstanding  Common  Shares (the  earlier of such dates  being  called the
"Distribution  Date"), the Rights will be evidenced,  with respect to any of the
Company's Common Share  certificates  outstanding as of the Record Date, by such
Common  Share  certificate.  The  Rights  Agreement  provides  that,  until  the
Distribution  Date, the Rights will be transferred with and only with the Common
Shares.  Until the Distribution Date (or earlier redemption or expiration of the
Rights),  new  Common  Share  certificates  issued  after the  Record  Date upon
transfer  or  new  issuance  of  the  Common  Shares  will  contain  a  notation
incorporating the Rights Agreement by reference. Until the Distribution Date (or
earlier  redemption or expiration of the Rights),  the surrender for transfer of
any of the Company's  Common Share  certificates  outstanding  as of the Record,
will also  constitute  the  transfer  of the Rights  associated  with the Common
Shares  represented by such  certificate.  As soon as practicable  following the
Distribution  Date,  separate   certificates   evidencing  the  Rights  ("Rights
Certificates")  will be mailed to holders  of record of the Common  Shares as of
the  close  of  business  on the  Distribution  Date and  such  separate  Rights
Certificates alone will evidence the Rights.

         The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution  Date. The Rights
will  expire on August 4,  2005,  unless  earlier  redeemed  by the  Company  as
described below.

         The Purchase  Price  payable,  and the number of  Preferred  Shares (or
Common  Shares,  other  securities,  cash or other assets,  as may be necessary)
issuable upon exercise of the Rights are subject to adjustment from time to time
to prevent  dilution (i) in the event of a stock  dividend on, or a subdivision,
combination or  reclassification of the Preferred Shares, (ii) upon the grant to
holders of the Preferred  Shares of certain  rights or warrants to subscribe for
Preferred Shares or convertible securities at less than the current market price
of the  Preferred  Shares  or (iii)  upon the  distribution  to  holders  of the
Preferred  Shares of  evidences of  indebtedness  or assets  (excluding  regular
periodic  cash  dividends  out of  earnings or  retained  earnings or  dividends
payable in the Preferred  Shares) or of  subscription  rights or warrants (other
than those referred to above).

         In the  event  that the  Company  were  acquired  in a merger  or other
business  combination  transaction of 50% or more of its assets or earning power
were sold, proper provision shall be made so that each holder of a Right,  other
than of Rights that are or were beneficially owned by an Acquiring Person (which
will thereafter be void) shall  thereafter  have the right to receive,  upon the
exercise thereof at the then current exercise price of the Right, that number of
common  shares of the acquiring  company  which at the time of such  transaction
would have a market value of two times the exercise  price of the Right.  In the
event that an Acquiring  Person becomes the  beneficial  owner of 20% or more of
the  outstanding  Common  Shares,  proper  provision  shall be made so that each
holder of a Right,  other than of Rights that are or were beneficially  owned by
the Acquiring  Person (which will thereafter be void),  will thereafter have the
right to receive upon  exercise  that number of the Common Shares (or in certain
other  circumstances,  assets or other securities)  having a market value of two
times the exercise price of the Right.

         With certain  exceptions,  no adjustment in the Purchase  Price will be
required until  cumulative  adjustments  require an adjustment of at least 1% in
such Purchase Price. No fractional  shares will be issued (other than fractional
shares which are integral multiples of one one-hundredth of one Preferred Share)
and, in lieu  thereof,  an  adjustment  in cash will be made based on the market
price of the  Preferred  Shares on the last  Trading  Date  prior to the date of
exercise.

         At any time prior to 5:00 P.M. Kansas City,  Missouri time on the tenth
calendar day after the first date after the public announcement that a person or
group of affiliated or associated persons has acquired  beneficial  ownership of
20% or  more  of the  outstanding  Common  Shares  of the  Company  (the  "Share
Acquisition Date"), the Company may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part,
at a price of $0.005 per Right (the  "Redemption  Price").  Following  the Share
Acquisition  Date,  but prior to an event listed in Section  13(a) of the Rights
Agreement,  the  Company  may  redeem the  Rights in  connection  with any event
specified in Section 13(a) in which all shareholders are treated alike and which
does not include the Acquiring Person

                                                        55

<PAGE>



or his Affiliates or Associates.  Thereafter,  the Company's right of redemption
may be reinstated if an Acquiring Person reduces his beneficial ownership to 10%
or  less  of the  outstanding  Common  Shares  in a  transaction  or  series  of
transactions not involving the Company. Immediately upon the action of the Board
of Directors  of the Company  electing to redeem the Rights,  the Company  shall
make  announcement  thereof,  and upon such election,  the right to exercise the
Rights  will  terminate  and the only right of the  holders of Rights will be to
receive the Redemption Price.

         Until a Right is exercised,  the holder thereof,  as such, will have no
rights as a shareholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right
to vote or to receive dividends.

         The  provisions of the Rights  Agreement may be amended by the Board of
Directors in order to cure any ambiguity or correct any defect or inconsistency,
extend the  Redemption  Period  and,  prior to the  Distribution  Date,  to make
changes  deemed to be in the best  interests  of the  holders  of the Rights or,
after the  Distribution  Date, to make such other changes which do not adversely
affect the  interests of the holders of the Rights  (excluding  the interests of
any Acquiring Person and its affiliates and associates).

Certain Anti-takeover Provisions

         The  provisions  of the  Company's  Certificate  of  Incorporation  and
By-laws  summarized  in the  following  paragraphs  may be  deemed  to  have  an
anti-takeover effect and may delay, defer, or prevent a tender offer or takeover
attempt  that a  shareholder  might  consider to be in that  shareholder's  best
interests,  including  attempts  that might  result in a premium over the market
price for the shares held by shareholders.  In addition,  certain  provisions of
Delaware law and the Company's  Long-Term Incentive Plan may be deemed to have a
similar effect.

         Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws. The Board of Directors of the
Company  is  divided  into  three  classes.  The term of  office of one class of
directors expires at each annual meeting of shareholders,  when their successors
are  elected  and  qualified.   Directors  are  elected  for  three-year  terms.
Shareholders  may remove a director  only for cause.  In  general,  the Board of
Directors,  not the Company's shareholders,  has the right to appoint persons to
fill vacancies on the Board of Directors.

         Pursuant to the Company's  Certificate of Incorporation,  the Company's
Board of Directors,  by resolution,  may establish one or more classes or series
of preferred  shares having the number of shares,  designation,  relative voting
rights,  dividend  rates,  liquidation  and  other  rights,   preferences,   and
limitations that the Board of Directors fixes without any shareholder  approval.
Any rights, preferences,  privileges, and limitations that are established could
have the effect of impeding or  discouraging  the  acquisition of control of the
Company.

         The  Company's  Certificate  of  Incorporation  contains a "fair price"
provision that requires the  affirmative  vote of the holders of at least 80% of
the voting shares of the Company and the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds
of the voting shares of the Company not owned,  directly or  indirectly,  by the
Related Person (hereafter defined) to approve any merger, consolidation, sale or
lease of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or certain other
transactions  involving  any  Related  Person.  For  purposes  of the fair price
provision,  a "Related Person" is any person  beneficially owning 10% or more of
the voting shares of the Company who is a party to the  Transaction  at issue, a
director who is also an officer of the Company and is a party to the Transaction
at issue, an affiliate of either such person,  and certain  transferees of those
persons.  The voting  requirement  is not  applicable  to certain  transactions,
including  those that are approved by the  Company's  Continuing  Directors  (as
defined in the Certificate of  Incorporation)  or that meet certain "fair price"
criteria contained in the Certificate of Incorporation.

         The  Company's  Certificate  of  Incorporation  further  provides  that
shareholders  may act only at an annual or special meeting of  shareholders  and
not by written consent, that special meetings of shareholders may be called only
by the Board of  Directors,  and that  only  business  proposed  by the Board of
Directors may be considered at special meetings of shareholders.

                                                        56

<PAGE>



         The Company's  Certificate of Incorporation also provides that the only
business  (including  election of directors) that may be considered at an annual
meeting of shareholders,  in addition to business proposed (or persons nominated
to be  directors)  by the  directors  of the Company,  is business  proposed (or
persons  nominated to be directors) by  shareholders  who comply with the notice
and disclosure requirements of the Certificate of Incorporation. In general, the
Certificate of Incorporation requires that a shareholder give the Company notice
of  proposed  business  or  nominations  no later than 60 days before the annual
meeting  of  shareholders  (meaning  the  date on  which  the  meeting  is first
scheduled and not  postponements or adjournments  thereof) or (if later) 10 days
after  the  first  public  notice  of the  annual  meeting  is  sent  to  common
shareholders. In general, the notice must also contain certain information about
the  shareholder  proposing  the  business or  nomination,  his  interest in the
business,  and (with respect to nominations for director)  information about the
nominee  of the nature  ordinarily  required  to be  disclosed  in public  proxy
solicitations.  The shareholder must also submit a notarized letter from each of
his nominees  stating the nominee's  acceptance of the nomination and indicating
the nominee's intention to serve as director if elected.

         The  Certificate  of  Incorporation   also  restricts  the  ability  of
shareholders  to interfere  with the powers of the Board of Directors in certain
specified ways, including the constitution and composition of committees and the
election and removal of officers.

         The Certificate of Incorporation  provides that approval by the holders
of at least two-thirds of the outstanding voting shares is required to amend the
provisions  of the  Certificate  of  Incorporation  discussed  in the  preceding
paragraphs and certain other provisions,  except that approval by the holders of
at least 80% of the  outstanding  voting  shares of the Company,  together  with
approval by the holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding  voting shares
not owned,  directly or indirectly,  by the Related Person, is required to amend
the fair price  provisions  and except that  approval of the holders of at least
80% of the  outstanding  voting  shares  is  required  to amend  the  provisions
prohibiting shareholders from acting by written consent.

         Delaware  Anti-takeover  Statute. The Company is a Delaware corporation
and is  subject to Section  203 of the  Delaware  General  Corporation  Law.  In
general,  Section 203 prevents an "interested shareholder" (defined generally as
a person owning 15% or more of the  Company's  outstanding  voting  shares) from
engaging  in a  "business  combination"  (as  defined in  Section  203) with the
Company for three years  following  the date that  person  became an  interested
shareholder unless (a) before that person became an interested shareholder,  the
Board of  Directors  of the  Company  approved  the  transaction  in  which  the
interested shareholder became an interested shareholder or approved the business
combination,  (b) upon  consummation  of the  transaction  that  resulted in the
interested  shareholder's  becoming an interested  shareholder,  the  interested
shareholder owns at least 85% of the voting shares of the Company outstanding at
the time the transaction  commenced  (excluding shares held by directors who are
also  officers of the  Company  and by employee  stock plans that do not provide
employees with the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject
to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange  offer),  or (c)  following
the  transaction  in which that person  became an  interested  shareholder,  the
business  combination  is approved by the Board of  Directors of the Company and
authorized at a meeting of shareholders  by the affirmative  vote of the holders
of at least two-thirds of the outstanding voting shares of the Company not owned
by the interested shareholder.

         Under  Section  203,  these  restrictions  also do not apply to certain
business  combinations  proposed  by an  interested  shareholder  following  the
announcement  or  notification  of one  of  certain  extraordinary  transactions
involving the Company and a person who was not an interested  shareholder during
the  previous  three  years or who  became an  interested  shareholder  with the
approval  of a  majority  of the  Company's  directors,  if  that  extraordinary
transaction  is approved or not opposed by a majority of the  directors who were
directors  before any person  became an interested  shareholder  in the previous
three years or who were  recommended  for  election  or elected to succeed  such
directors by a majority of such directors then in office.

         Long-Term  Incentive  Plan.  Awards  granted  pursuant to the Company's
Long-Term  Incentive  Plan may  provide  that,  upon a change in  control of the
Company,  (a) each  holder of an option  will be granted a  corresponding  stock
appreciation  right,  (b) all outstanding  stock  appreciation  rights and stock
options become

                                                        57

<PAGE>



immediately  and fully vested and  exercisable in full, and (c) the  restriction
period on any restricted  stock award shall be accelerated and the  restrictions
shall expire.

         Debt.  Certain  provisions in the Bank Facility and Subordinated  Notes
may also impede a change in control,  in that they provide that the loans become
due if there is a change  in the  management  of the  Company  or a merger  with
another company.


                                  UNDERWRITING

   
         The  Company  and  the  Selling   Shareholders  have  entered  into  an
underwriting  agreement  dated the date of this  Prospectus  (the  "Underwriting
Agreement").  Subject to the terms and conditions of the Underwriting Agreement,
the Company and the Selling  Shareholders have appointed the Underwriters  named
below, for whom Nolan Securities  Corporation is acting as  Representative  (the
"Representative"), exclusive agents to offer and sell 8,403,305 Common Shares on
behalf of the Company and the Selling Shareholders, on a "best efforts", minimum
(7,247,851  shares)- maximum (8,403,305 shares) basis. The Underwriters have not
made a firm  commitment  to  purchase  any Common  Shares.  The number of Common
Shares that each  Underwriter  has agreed to use its "best  efforts" to sell, is
set forth below opposite each Underwriter's name:
    

         Underwriter                                 Number of Shares
Nolan Securities Corporation                              8,403,305

             Total                                        8,403,305

   
         The Underwriting  Agreement  provides that unless the minimum number of
Common Shares offered hereby  (7,247,851  shares) are sold within 60 days of the
date of this Prospectus  (subject to one extension of up to 30 days, if mutually
agreed  between  the  Company  and the  Underwriters),  the  appointment  of the
Underwriters by the Company will terminate and all amounts paid for Shares shall
be returned to the purchasers.  If less than the maximum number of Common Shares
offered hereby are sold,  then the  individual  numbers of shares offered by the
Company and the Selling Shareholders shall be reduced pro-rata,  but in no event
below the aggregate minimum offering amount.
    

         The  Underwriting  Agreement  provides  that  the  obligations  of  the
Underwriters  are subject to approval of certain legal matters by counsel to the
Underwriters and various other conditions. The Underwriters are obligated to use
their "best efforts" to sell all of the Common Shares offered hereby (other than
those covered by the over-allotment option described below).

         The  Company  has  been   advised  by  the   Representative   that  the
Underwriters  propose to offer the Common  Shares  directly to the public at the
initial  public  offering  price per  share set forth on the cover  page of this
Prospectus (the "Public Offering Price"). Upon the closing of the sale of any of
the Common  Shares,  the Company will receive the net proceeds  therefrom  after
deducting a discount  equal to seven percent (7%) of the Public  Offering  Price
for each Common Share sold,  including any  Over-Allotment  Option  shares.  The
Underwriters have agreed to pay Triumph Securities Corporation  ("Triumph") as a
finder, an amount equal to one-seventh of such 7%. A. Theodore  Stautberg Jr., a
director of the Company, is also an officer, director and beneficial shareholder
of Triumph.

         The Company has granted to the  Underwriters an option,  exercisable by
the Representative within 45 days after the date of this Prospectus,  to require
the  Company  to offer and sell an  additional  1,260,496  Common  Shares at the
Public Offering Price per share, herein  "Over-Allotment  Option." To the extent
that such option is exercised,  each of the  Underwriters  has agreed to use its
best efforts to sell on behalf of the Company  approximately the same percentage
of  such  additional  shares  as  the  number  set  forth  above  next  to  such
Underwriter's  name in the  preceding  table bears to the total number of Common
Shares  offered by this  Prospectus.  This Option may only be exercised  for the
purpose  of  covering  any  over-allotments  in the sale of the  shares  offered
hereby.

                                                        58

<PAGE>



         The  Company  has  agreed  to  grant  to  the  Representative,  or  its
designees,  warrants (the  "Warrants") to purchase Common Shares equal to 10% of
the  aggregate  number of Common  Shares  sold by the  Company  pursuant to this
Prospectus. The Warrants will expire two years from the date of this Prospectus.
The  exercise  price per  Warrant  will equal the  Public  Offering  Price.  The
Warrants will be  exercisable  at any time and from time to time, in whole or in
part, during said two year term. The Company has also granted the Representative
or his  designee  "piggy  back"  registration  rights with respect to the Common
Shares underlying the Warrants.

         The Company has agreed to pay all expenses of the  Offering,  including
the fees and  expenses  of  counsel  to the  Underwriters  and the  expenses  of
qualifying  the  Common  Shares  for sale  under the laws of such  states as the
Representative  may designate,  including  expenses of counsel retained for such
purpose.

         In the Underwriting  Agreement,  the Company,  the Selling Shareholders
and the  Underwriters  have agreed to indemnify  each other against  liabilities
arising out of or based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of
any material fact or omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to
be stated or necessary to make the  statements  made not misleading (in the case
of the  Underwriters  only to the extent such  statement or omission was made in
reliance  upon  or in  conformity  with  written  information  furnished  by the
Underwriters  for use  herein).  If such  indemnifications  are  unavailable  or
insufficient,  the Company,  the Selling  Shareholders and the Underwriters have
agreed to damage  contribution  arrangements  between  them based upon  relative
benefits  received  from this  Offering  and  relative  fault  resulting in such
damage.

         The  Underwriters  do not intend to confirm  sales of the Common Shares
offered hereby to discretionary accounts.

         The Company,  its directors  and officers and the Selling  Shareholders
have agreed not to offer,  sell,  contract to sell or  otherwise  dispose of any
Common  Shares,  for a period  of 180  days  after  the date of this  Prospectus
without the prior written consent of the  Representative,  other than the Common
Shares offered  hereby.  Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  the Company may issue
Common  Shares to a party who executes a "lock-up  agreement"  pursuant to which
such party will not sell or dispose of such Common Shares for 180 days.

         The Public Offering Price has been determined by negotiations among the
Underwriters,  the  Company  and the  Selling  Shareholders.  Among the  factors
considered in such negotiations were certain financial and operating information
for recent  periods,  the future  prospects of the Company,  and its industry in
general,  the general  condition  of the  securities  markets at the time of the
Offering,  and the  market  prices  of  securities  and  certain  financial  and
operating information of companies engaged in activities similar to those of the
Company. There can, however, be no assurance that the prices at which the Common
Shares will sell in the public  market after the Offering will not be lower than
the price at which they are sold hereunder.

         Pursuant to the Underwriting  Agreement,  the Public Offering will take
place only if certain  material  conditions  are satisfied by the Company.  Such
material   conditions  include  that,  except  for  matters  disclosed  in  this
Prospectus  (i)  between  the  date of the  last  audited  financial  statements
included in the  Prospectus  and the Closing  Date,  the Company  shall not have
sustained any loss on account of fire, explosion,  flood, accident,  calamity or
any other cause, which materially  adversely affects its business or properties,
whether or not such loss is covered by insurance; (ii) there shall be no pending
or  threatened  action,  suit or  proceeding  before  any court or  governmental
agency,  authority or body or any  arbitrator  involving the Company that is not
adequately disclosed and there is no required contract or other document that is
not  adequately  disclosed;  (iii) the Company (1) shall be in  compliance  with
applicable  environmental laws, (2) has received all permits,  licenses or other
approvals required of the Company under applicable  environmental  laws, and (3)
shall be in compliance  with all such permits,  licenses or approvals;  (iv) the
material  agreements,  relating to the  Company  rights of  ownership,  lease or
operation of oil and gas properties, the acquisition of interests in oil and gas
properties,  or  exploration  for,  development  of or production of oil and gas
reserves  thereon  are  valid,  binding  and  enforceable  agreements;  (v)  the
statements  in  the  Prospectus  regarding  the  legal  matters,   documents  or
proceedings,  shall fairly  represent and summarize the  information  called for
with respect to such legal

                                                        59

<PAGE>



matters,  documents  and  proceedings;  (vi)  since the date of the most  recent
financial  statements  included  in the  Prospectus,  there  shall  have been no
material  adverse  change  in the  condition  (financial  or  other),  earnings,
business or properties of the Company;  (vii) the lock up agreement  between the
Representative and certain  shareholders,  officers and directors of the Company
for sales and certain dispositions of Common Shares shall have been delivered on
a timely  basis;  and (viii) since the date of the  Registration  Statement,  no
material adverse change in the general affairs, business prospects,  properties,
management,  condition  (financial or otherwise) or results of operations of the
Company shall have occurred.

         The foregoing does not purport to be a complete  statement of the terms
and conditions of the Underwriting Agreement, copies of which are on file at the
offices of the  Company,  the  Representative  and the  Securities  and Exchange
Commission.



                         SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE

   
         As of the date  hereof the Company had  outstanding  14,350,255  Common
Shares,  warrants  exercisable for 289,365 Common Shares, and the 1996 Tranche A
Convertible  Subordinated  Notes which are  convertible  into  2,060,606  Common
Shares.  An additional  1,260,496  Common Shares may be sold if the Underwriters
exercise the  Over-Allotment  Option.  The  Underwriters  have also been granted
warrants to acquire 600,000 Common Shares if all shares offered hereby are sold,
assuming  they  do  not  exercise  the  Over-Allotment  Option.   Following  the
consummation of the Offering,  and assuming the Underwriters receive warrants to
acquire 600,000 Common Shares (726,050 assuming no exercise of the Underwriter's
Over- Allotment  Option),  the Company will then have  16,459,444  Common Shares
available  for  issuance at such times and upon such terms as may be approved by
the Company's Board of Directors. No prediction can be made as to the effect, if
any, that future sales or the  availability  of shares for sale will have on the
market price of the Common Shares  prevailing  from time to time.  Nevertheless,
sales of  substantial  amounts  of Common  Shares of the  Company  in the public
market could adversely  affect the prevailing  market price of the Common Shares
and could impair the  Company's  ability to raise  capital  through sales of its
equity securities.
    

         After giving effect to the Offering, 3,436,358 Common Shares (including
shares  issuable  upon exercise of  outstanding  warrants and the 1996 Tranche A
Convertible  Subordinated Notes) will be held by executive  officers,  directors
and  affiliates  of  the  Company  and  may be  sold  pursuant  to an  effective
registration  statement  covering  such  shares or  pursuant  to Rule 144 of the
Securities Act, subject to the contractual restrictions described below.

         In  general,  under Rule 144,  as  currently  in  effect,  a person (or
persons  whose  shares  are  aggregated),   including  an  affiliate,   who  has
beneficially  owned  restricted  shares for at least two years,  is  entitled to
sell, within any three-month period, a number of shares that does not exceed the
greater of (i) 1% of the then outstanding  Common Shares or (ii) an amount equal
to the average weekly  reported volume of trading in such shares during the four
calendar weeks preceding the date on which notice of such sale is filed with the
Securities  and  Exchange  Commission.  Sales under Rule 144 are also subject to
certain manner of sale limitations,  notice requirements and the availability of
current public information about the Company. Restricted shares properly sold in
reliance on Rule 144, are thereafter  freely tradeable  without  restrictions or
registration under the Securities Act, unless thereafter held by an affiliate of
the  Company.  In  addition,  affiliates  of the  Company  must  comply with the
restrictions  and  requirements  of Rule 144,  other than the  two-year  holding
period  requirement,  in order to sell Common  Shares  which are not  restricted
shares  (such as Common  Shares  acquired by  affiliates  of the Company in this
Offering).  As defined in Rule 144, an "affiliate" of an issuer is a person that
directly,  or  indirectly  through  one or more  intermediaries,  controls or is
controlled by, or is under common control with, such issuer. If three years have
elapsed since the later of the date of any acquisition of restricted shares from
the Company or from any affiliate of the Company, and the acquiror or subsequent
holder  thereof is deemed not to have been an  affiliate  of the  Company at any
time during the 90 days preceding a sale,  such person would be entitled to sell
such  shares in the public  market  pursuant to Rule  144(k)  without  regard to
volume limitations, manner of sale restrictions, or public information or notice

                                                        60

<PAGE>



requirements.

         The lenders under the 1993 Subordinated Notes have the right to request
registration of 816,526  restricted shares which they received upon the exercise
of  warrants  issued  to  them at the  time  of the  borrowing  under  the  1993
Subordinated  Notes;  373,305 of which are being sold pursuant to this Offering.
The lenders  under the 1996 Tranche A  Convertible  Subordinated  Notes have the
right to receive  2,060,606 shares upon conversion of the Notes,  which may take
place  anytime  after 180 days from the date of this  Prospectus.  They have the
right to request  registration  with  respect to those  shares.  There can be no
assurance that the holders of such rights will not exercise  these  registration
rights in a manner and at a time which may adversely  impact the market price of
the Common Shares or business  plans of the Company or may adversely  affect the
Company's efforts to seek additional capital.



                                  OTHER MATTERS

Available Information

         The  Company  is  subject  to  the  informational  requirements  of the
Exchange Act, as amended, and, in accordance therewith,  files reports and other
information with the SEC.  Reports,  proxy and information  statements and other
information  filed by the Company  with the SEC  pursuant  to the  informational
requirements  of the  Exchange  Act may be  inspected  at the  public  reference
facilities  maintained  by the SEC at 450 Fifth  Street,  NW,  Judiciary  Plaza,
Washington,  D.C. 20549-1004,  and at the following Regional Offices of the SEC:
Chicago Regional Office, 500 West Madison Street, Suite 1400 , Chicago, Illinois
60661-2511,  and New York Regional Office,  7 World Trade Center,  New York, New
York  10048.  Copies  of such  material  may also be  obtained  from the  Public
Reference Section of the SEC, 450 Fifth Street, NW Washington,  D.C.  20549-1004
at prescribed rates. The Common Shares are traded on the NASDAQ National Market.
The  Company's   registration   statements,   reports,   proxy  and  information
statements,  and  other  information  may  also  be  inspected  at the  National
Association of Securities  Dealers,  Inc., 1735 K Street, NW,  Washington,  D.C.
20006.  Copies of such material may also be obtained from the SEC EDGAR archives
on      the      Internet      at      the      following      SEC      address:
HTTP://WWW.SEC.GOV/CGI-BIN/SRCH-EDGAR.

         The  Company  will  furnish to the  holders  of the  Common  Shares the
Company's annual reports  containing  audited  financial  statements and interim
reports containing unaudited financial statements.

         This Prospectus  constitutes a part of a Registration Statement on Form
S-1 filed by the Company with the SEC under the Securities  Act. This Prospectus
omits certain of the information  contained in the Registration  Statement,  and
reference is hereby made to the Registration  Statement for further  information
with respect to the Company and the securities  offered  hereby.  Any statements
contained  herein  concerning the provisions of any document filed as an exhibit
to  the  Registration  Statement  or  otherwise  filed  with  the  SEC  are  not
necessarily  complete and in each instance reference is made to the copy of such
document so filed.
Each such statement is qualified in its entirety by such reference.

SEC Position on Indemnification

         Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act  may be  permitted  to  directors,  officers,  or  persons  controlling  the
registrant  pursuant  to  any  provisions  described  in  this  Prospectus,  the
registrant has been informed that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification
is against  public  policy as expressed in the  Securities  Act and is therefore
unenforceable.


                                  LEGAL MATTERS

     The validity of the Common Shares offered  hereby,  including  those shares
offered by the Selling
                                                        61

<PAGE>



Shareholders,  and  certain  other  legal  matters  will be passed  upon for the
Company by Shughart Thomson & Kilroy P.C., Kansas City, Missouri, counsel to the
Company.  Certain legal matters in connection with the Offering are being passed
upon for the Underwriters by Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft, New York, New York.

                                     EXPERTS

         The  financial  statements  of the Company as of December  31, 1995 and
1994 and for each of the years in the three year period ended  December 31, 1995
and the audit of Schedules of Revenues, Direct Operating Expenses and Production
Taxes of the Zapata  Properties  and the Bayou  Sorrel Field for each of the two
years in the period ended  December 31, 1994 included  herein have been examined
by Barrett and Associates,  independent  certified  public  accountants,  to the
extent and for the periods indicated in their reports with respect thereto,  and
are included  herein in reliance  upon those  reports and upon the  authority of
that firm as experts in accounting  and  auditing.  On September 4, 1996 Mark C.
Barrett became a director of the Company.

         The  Schedule of Revenues  and Direct  Operating  Expenses of the Amoco
Properties  for each of the three years in the period  ended  December  31, 1995
included  herein have been examined by Arthur Andersen LLP,  independent  public
accountants, as indicated in their report with respect thereto, and are included
herein in  reliance  upon the  authority  of such firm as experts in giving such
reports.

         The firm of  Arthur  Andersen  LLP has been  engaged  to do the  annual
audits of the Company  commencing  with the year ending  December 31, 1996. They
have not audited any period of the Company during 1996.

         The information  with respect to the independent  reserve reports as of
December 31, 1995, 1994 and 1993 was prepared by the petroleum engineering firms
of Ryder Scott Company (offshore and Bayou Sorrel Field) and McCune Engineering,
P.E.  (onshore  other than Bayou Sorrel  Field),  and are  referenced  herein in
reliance  upon such firms as experts  with respect to such  information.  Dwayne
McCune, the sole proprietor of McCune Engineering,  P.E., was an employee of the
Company from September 1992 to July 1995. Other reserve  information  referenced
herein  was  based  upon  reports  prepared  by the  Company,  which  is  solely
responsible for its content.























                                                        62

<PAGE>





                     GLOSSARY OF SELECTED OIL AND GAS TERMS

         The  following  are  abbreviations  and  definitions  of certain  terms
commonly used in the oil and gas industry and this Prospectus.

     "3-D seismic" means seismic data that are acquired and processed to yield a
three-dimensional picture of the subsurface.

     "Bank Facility" means the Company's  reducing  revolving bank facility with
First Union National Bank of North Carolina and Banque Paribas.

     "Bbl" means a barrel of oil and condensate or natural gas liquids, being 42
U.S. gallons.

     "Bcf" means billion cubic feet of natural gas.

     "Bcfe" means billion cubic feet of natural gas equivalents.

     "Block" means one offshore unit of lease acreage, generally 5,000 acres.

     "Btu" or  "British  Thermal  Unit" means the  quantity of heat  required to
raise the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit.

     "Condensate" means a hydrocarbon  mixture that becomes liquid and separates
from natural gas when the gas is produced and is similar to crude oil.

     "Developed  acreage"  means oil and gas acreage spaced for or assignable to
productive wells.

     "Development well" means a well drilled within the proved area of an oil or
gas reservoir to the depth of a stratigraphic horizon known to be productive.

     "Dry hole" means a well found to be incapable  of  producing  either oil or
gas in sufficient quantities to justify completion as an oil or gas well.

     "Equivalent Bbls" means a measure of gas volumes representing the estimated
relative  energy  content of natural gas to oil,  being 6 Mcf of natural gas per
Bbl of oil.

     "Estimated  future net revenues"  means revenues from production of oil and
gas, net of all production  -related taxes, lease operating expenses and capital
costs.

     "Exploratory  well" means a well  drilled to find and produce oil or gas in
an unproved  area,  to find a new  reservoir in a field  previously  found to be
productive of oil and gas in another reservoir, or to extend a known reservoir.

     "Farmout"  means an  agreement  whereby  the  lease  owner  agrees to allow
another to drill a well or wells and thereby earn the right to an  assignment of
a portion or all of the lease, with the original lease owner typically retaining
an overriding royalty interest and other rights to participate in the lease.

     "Gross,"  when used  with  respect  to acres or wells,  refers to the total
acres or wells in which the Company has a working interest.

     "Group 3-D seismic" means seismic procured by a group of parties or shot on
a speculative basis by a seismic company.
                                                        63

<PAGE>




   
     "MBbls" means thousands of barrels of oil.
    

     "MBO" means one thousand barrels of oil.

     "Mbtu" means one thousand Btus.

     "Mcf" means thousand cubic feet of natural gas.

     "Mcfe" means thousand cubic feet of natural gas equivalents.

     "MMBbls" means millions of barrels of oil.

   
     "MMBtu" means one million British Thermal Units.
    

     "MMcf" means million cubic feet of natural gas.

     "MMcfe" means million cubic feet of natural gas equivalents.

     "Natural  gas  equivalents"  means a volume,  expressed in Mcf's of natural
gas,  that  includes  not only  natural  gas but also  liquids  converted  to an
equivalent quantity of natural gas on an energy equivalent basis. Equivalent gas
reserves are based on a conversion factor of 6 Mcf of gas per barrel of liquids.

   
     "Net," when used with respect to acres,  wells or reserves  refers to gross
acres,  wells or reserves  multiplied,  in each case, by the percentage  working
interest owned by the Company.
    

     "Net  pay"  means  the  thickness  of a  productive  reservoir  capable  of
containing hydrocarbons.

     "Net  production"  means  production  that is  owned  by the  Company  less
royalties and production due others.

     "NGLs" means the natural gas liquids such as ethane,  propane,  iso-butane,
normal butane and natural gasoline that have been extracted from natural gas.

     "Oil" means crude oil or condensate.

     "Operator" means the individual or company responsible for the exploration,
development and production of an oil or gas well or lease.

     "Overriding royalty interest" or "ORRI" means an interest in an oil and gas
property  entitling the owner to a share of oil and gas production free of costs
of exploration and production.

   
     "Payout" means that point in time when a party has recovered  monies out of
the production from a well equal to the cost of drilling and completing the well
and the cost of operating the well through that date.

     "Present  value of  future  net  revenues"  or  "Present  value  of  proved
reserves"  means the present value of estimated  future revenues to be generated
from the production of proved reserves  calculated in accordance with Securities
and  Exchange  Commission  guidelines,  net of estimated  production  and future
development  costs,  using prices and costs as of the date of estimation without
future  escalation,  except as otherwise  provided by contract,  without  giving
effect to  non-property  related  expenses  such as general  and  administrative
expenses,  debt service,  future income tax expense and depreciation,  depletion
and amortization, and discounted using an annual discount rate of 10%.
    

     "Production  costs" means costs  necessary for the  production of a well or
field and sale of oil and gas,
                                                        64

<PAGE>



including production and ad valorem taxes.

     "Productive  well"  means a well  that is  producing  oil or gas or that is
capable of production.

     "Proprietary 3-D seismic" means seismic privately procured and owned by the
procurer.

     "Proved  developed  nonproducing  reserves" means those reserves that exist
behind the casing if existing  wells or at minor depths below the present bottom
of such wells and that are  expected to be produced  through  these wells in the
predictable  future,  when the cost of  making  such oil and gas  available  for
production should be relatively small compared to the cost of a new well.

     "Proved  developed  producing  reserves"  means  those  reserves  that  are
expected  to be  produced  from  existing  completion  intervals  now  open  for
production in existing wells.

     "Proved  developed  reserves"  means  reserves  that can be  expected to be
recovered through existing wells with existing  equipment and operating methods.
Additional oil and gas expected to be obtained  through the application of fluid
injection or other improved  recovery  techniques for  supplementing the natural
forces and mechanisms of primary recovery will be included as "proved  developed
reserves"  only after  testing by a pilot  project or after the  operation of an
installed  program has confirmed  through  production  response  that  increased
recovery will be achieved.

     "Proved reserves" means the estimated  quantities of crude oil, natural gas
and natural gas liquids that geological and engineering  data  demonstrate  with
reasonable  certainty to be  recoverable  in future years from known  reservoirs
under existing economic and operating  conditions (i.e.,  prices and costs as of
the date the  estimate  is made).  Prices  include  consideration  of changes in
existing prices provided only by contractual arrangements, but not on escalation
based upon future conditions.

         i.  Reservoirs  are  considered  proved if  economic  producibility  is
         supported by either actual production or conclusive formation test. The
         area  of a  reservoir  considered  proved  includes  (A)  that  portion
         delineated  by  drilling  and  defined  by  gas-oil  and/or   oil-water
         contacts,  if any; and (B) the immediately  adjoining  portions not yet
         drilled, but which can be reasonably judged as economically  productive
         on the basis of  available  geological  and  engineering  data.  In the
         absence of information on fluid contacts,  the lowest known  structural
         occurrence  of  hydrocarbons  controls  the lower  proved  limit of the
         reservoir.

         ii. Reserves that can be produced  economically  through application of
         improved recovery  techniques (such as fluid injection) are included in
         the "proved" classification when successful testing by a pilot project,
         or the  operation of an installed  program in the  reservoir,  provides
         support  for the  engineering  analysis on which the project or program
         was based.

         iii. Estimates of proved reserves do not include the following: (A) oil
         that may become  available  from  known  reservoirs  but is  classified
         separately as "indicated  additional  reserve",  (B) crude oil, natural
         gas and  natural  gas  liquids,  the  recovery  of which is  subject to
         reasonable  doubt  because  of  uncertainty  as to  geology,  reservoir
         characteristics  or economic  factors;  (C) crude oil,  natural gas and
         natural  gas liquids  that may occur in  undrilled  prospects;  and (D)
         crude oil,  natural gas and natural gas liquids  that may be  recovered
         from oil shales, coal, gilsonite and other such sources.

     "Proved  undeveloped  reserves"  means  reserves  that are  expected  to be
recovered  from new wells on undrilled  acreage,  or from existing wells where a
relatively major expenditure is required for recompletion. Reserves on undrilled
acreage is limited to those drilling units offsetting  productive units that are
reasonably  certain  of  production  when  drilled.  Proved  reserves  for other
undrilled units can be claimed only where it can be demonstrated  with certainty
that there is continuity of production from the existing  productive  formation.
Under no circumstances are estimates of proved undeveloped reserves attributable
to any acreage for which an  application  of fluid  injection or other  improved
recovery technique is contemplated, unless such techniques

                                                        68

<PAGE>


have  been  proved  effective  by  actual  tests  in the  area  and in the  same
reservoir.

     "Recompletion"  means the completion for production of an existing wellbore
in another formation from that in which the well has previously been completed.

     "Reserves" means proved reserves.

     "Royalty" means an interest in an oil and gas lease that gives the owner of
the  interest the right to receive a portion of the  production  from the leased
acreage (or of the proceeds of the sale thereof), but generally does not require
the owner to pay any portion of the costs of drilling or operating  the wells on
the lease  acreage.  Royalties may be either  landowner's  royalties,  which are
reserved by the owner of the leased acreage at the time the lease is granted, or
overriding  royalties,  which are usually reserved by the owner of the leasehold
in connection with a transfer to a subsequent owner.

     "SEC 10 Value" means the present  value of estimated  future net  revenues,
before taxes, of the specified reserves or property,  determined in all material
respects in  accordance  with the rules and  regulations  of the SEC  (generally
using prices and costs in effect at a fixed date and a 10% discount rate).

     "Shut-in"  means to close down a producing  well or field  temporarily  for
repair,  cleaning  out,  building  up  reservoir  pressure,  lack of a market or
similar conditions.

     "Undeveloped acreage" means the oil and gas acreage on which wells have not
been  drilled  or to which no Proved  Reserves  other  than  Proved  Undeveloped
Reserves have been attributed by independent petroleum engineers.

     "Unproved  properties"  means  the oil and gas  acreage  to which no Proved
Reserves have been attributed by independent petroleum engineers.

     "Unproved   reserves"   means  those  reserves  based  on  geologic  and/or
engineering  data  similar to that used in  estimates  of proved  reserves;  but
technical,  contractual,  economic,  or regulatory  uncertainties  preclude such
reserves  being  classified  as proved.  They may be estimated  assuming  future
economic conditions different from those prevailing at the time of the estimate.
Unproved  reserves may be divided into two  subclassifications:  "probable"  and
"possible."

     "Working interest" means an interest in an oil and gas lease that gives the
owner of the  interest  the  right to drill for and  produce  oil and gas on the
leased  acreage and  requires  the owner to pay a share of the costs of drilling
and production  operations.  The share of production to which a working interest
owner is  entitled  will  always be  smaller  than the  share of costs  that the
working  interest owner is required to bear,  with the balance of the production
accruing to the owners of  royalties.  For example,  the owner of a 100% working
interest in a lease  burdened  only by a  landowner's  royalty of 12.5% would be
required to pay 100% of the costs of a well but would be entitled to retain only
87.5% of the production.










         .



                                                        69

<PAGE>


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                                                   PANACO, INC.
                                           INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

PRO FORMA COMBINED FINANCIAL INFORMATION                                                 Page


<S>                         <C> <C>                                                       <C>
   
   Balance Sheet, September 30, 1996                                                       13
   Statements of Income (Operations) for the nine months
         ended September 30, 1996                                                          14
   Statements of Income (Operations) for the year ended
         December 31, 1995                                                                 15
   Notes to Pro Forma Financial Statements                                                 16
    

PANACO, INC. -  AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

   Independent Auditors' Report                                                            F-2
   Balance Sheets, December 31, 1995 and 1994                                              F-3
   Statements of Income (Operations)  for the Years Ended
         December 31, 1995, 1994 and 1993                                                  F-5
   Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Equity and Retained Earnings (Deficit)
         for the Years Ended December 31, 1995, 1994 and 1993                              F-6
   Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended
         December 31, 1995, 1994 and 1993                                                  F-7
   Notes to Financial Statements for the Years Ended
         December 31, 1995, 1994 and 1993                                                  F-8

ZAPATA PROPERTIES AND BAYOU SORREL FIELD

   Independent Auditors' Report                                                           F-21
   Schedules of Revenues, Selected Direct Operating Expenses and Production Taxes
         for the Years Ended December 31, 1994 and 1993                                   F-22
   Notes to the Schedules of Revenues, Selected Directed Expenses and Production
         Taxes for the Years Ended December 31, 1994 and 1993                             F-23

PANACO, INC. -  UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

   Balance  sheets,  September 30, 1996 and December 31, 1995 F-27 Statements of
   Income operating for the nine months ended
         September 30, 1996                                                               F-29
   Statement of Changes in Stockholders' Equity for the nine months ended
         September 30, 1996                                                               F-30
   Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended September 30, 1996                  F-31
   Notes to Financial Statements for the nine months ended September 30, 1996             F-32

AMOCO PROPERTIES

   Independent Auditors' Report                                                           F-40
Statement of Revenues and Direct Operating Expenses                                       F-41
   Notes to the Statement                                                                 F-42

</TABLE>




                                                        F-1

<PAGE>








Independent Auditors' Report


To the Board of Directors
PANACO, Inc.

We have  audited the  accompanying  balance  sheets of PANACO,  Inc. (a Delaware
corporation)  as of December 31, 1995 and 1994,  and the related  statements  of
income (operations),  changes in Stockholders' equity and cash flows for each of
the  three  years  in the  period  ended  December  31,  1995.  These  financial
statements   are  the   responsibility   of  the   Company's   management.   Our
responsibility  is to express an opinion on these financial  statements based on
our audits.

We  conducted  our  audits  in  accordance  with  generally   accepted  auditing
standards.  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement.  An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements.  An audit also includes
assessing the  accounting  principles  used and  significant  estimates  made by
management,  as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

As  discussed  in Note 1 to the  Financial  Statements,  the  Company  has given
retroactive effect to the change in accounting for its oil and gas operations.

In our opinion,  the financial  statements  referred to above present fairly, in
all material respects, the financial position of PANACO, Inc. as of December 31,
1995 and 1994,  and the  results of its  operations,  changes  in  stockholders'
equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period  ended  December
31, 1995 in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.



BARRETT & ASSOCIATES
Overland Park, Kansas

February 26, 1996, except for Note 1, which the date is June 7, 1996.

















                                                        F-0

<PAGE>







                                  PANACO, INC.
                                 BALANCE SHEETS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                                     ASSETS

                                                                                    December 31,
                                                                          1995                       1994
CURRENT ASSETS:

<S>                                                                    <C>                        <C>          
Cash and cash equivalents                                              $   1,198,000              $   1,583,000
Accounts receivable
    Trade                                                                  3,294,000                  2,230,000
    Other                                                                  1,092,000                      1,000
    Prepaid expenses                                                         465,000                    272,000
                                                                     ---------------            ---------------
       Total current assets                                                6,049,000                  4,086,000
                                                                      --------------             --------------

OIL AND GAS PROPERTIES, AS DETERMINED
BY THE SUCCESSFUL EFFORTS METHOD
OF ACCOUNTING
    Oil and gas properties                                               103,105,000                 89,010,000
    Less accumulated depreciation, depletion, amortization,
       and valuation allowances                                         (73,620,000)               (65,065,000)
                                                                        -----------                -----------
       Net oil and gas properties                                         29,485,000                 23,945,000
                                                                        ------------               ------------

PROPERTY, PLANT, AND EQUIPMENT
    Equipment                                                                196,000                    158,000
    Less accumulated depreciation                                           (92,000)                   (68,000)
                                                                     --------------             --------------
       Net property, plant, and equipment                                    104,000                    90,000
                                                                      --------------            --------------

OTHER ASSETS:
    Loan costs, net                                                          471,000                    714,000
    Certificates of deposit - escrow                                          26,000                     47,000
    Other                                                                      5,000                      6,000
    Accounts receivable - other                                                8,000                    186,000
    Note receivable                                                           21,000                     21,000
                                                                    ----------------            ---------------
       Total other assets                                                    531,000                    974,000
                                                                     ---------------             --------------

TOTAL ASSETS                                                            $ 36,169,000                $29,095,000
                                                                        ============                ===========

</TABLE>








              The  accompanying  notes to financial  statements  are an integral
part of this statement.

                                                        F-1

<PAGE>



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>



                      LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY


                                                                                  December 31,
                                                                          1995                      1994

CURRENT LIABILITIES
<S>                                                                  <C>                      <C>          
    Accounts payable                                                 $  4,444,000             $   1,528,000
    Interest payable                                                      161,000                   185,000
    Current portion of long-term debt                                         -0-                       -0-
                                                                    -------------             -------------
       Total current liabilities                                        4,605,000                 1,713,000
                                                                    -------------             -------------


LONG-TERM DEBT                                                         22,390,000                12,500,000
                                                                     ------------              ------------


STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

    Preferred Share, $.01 par value,
       1,000,000 shares authorized; no
       shares issued and outstanding                                          -0-                       -0-
    Common Share, $.01 par value,
       20,000,000 shares authorized;
       11,504,615 and 10,220,138 shares
       issued and outstanding, respectively                               115,000                   102,000
    Additional paid in capital                                         21,155,000                17,586,000
    Retained earnings (deficit)                                      (12,096,000)               (2,806,000)
                                                                    -------------              ------------
       Total Stockholders' Equity                                       9,174,000                14,882,000
                                                                    -------------              ------------



TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS'   EQUITY                         $ 36,169,000              $ 29,095,000
                                                                     ============              ============


</TABLE>














              The  accompanying  notes to financial  statements  are an integral
part of this statement.



                                                        F-2

<PAGE>



                                  PANACO, INC.
                        STATEMENTS OF INCOME (OPERATIONS)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                                                                           Year Ended December 31,
                                                                1995                1994                1993
REVENUES
<S>                                                         <C>                  <C>                <C>         
    Oil and gas sales                                       $18,447,000          $17,338,000        $ 12,605,000

COSTS AND EXPENSES
    Lease operating                                           8,055,000            5,231,000           5,297,000
    Depreciation, depletion and amortization                  8,064,000            6,038,000           4,288,000
    General and administrative                                  690,000              587,000             542,000
    Production and ad valorem taxes                           1,078,000            1,006,000             754,000
    Exploration expenses                                      8,112,000                  -0-                 -0-
    Provision for losses and (gains) on disposition
       and write-down of assets                                 751,000            1,202,000           3,824,000
                                                         --------------        -------------       -------------
       Total                                                 26,750,000           14,064,000          14,705,000
                                                           ------------         ------------        ------------

NET OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)                                 (8,303,000)            3,274,000         (2,100,000)
                                                          ------------         -------------       -------------

OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)
    Interest income                                               5,000               46,000              27,000
    Interest expense                                          (992,000)          (1,669,000)         (1,913,000)
                                                         -------------         ------------        ------------
    Total                                                     (987,000)          (1,623,000)         (1,886,000)
                                                         --------------        ------------        ------------
NET INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME
TAXES AND EXTRAORDINARY ITEM                                (9,290,000)            1,651,000         (3,986,000)
INCOME TAXES (BENEFIT)                                              -0-                  -0-                 -0-
NET INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE
EXTRAORDINARY ITEM                                          (9,290,000)            1,651,000         (3,986,000)
EXTRAORDINARY ITEM - LOSS ON EARLY
RETIREMENT OF DEBT                                                  -0-            (536,000)                 -0-
                                                   --------------------      -------------- --------------------

NET INCOME (LOSS)                                         $ (9,290,000)        $   1,115,000       $ (3,986,000)
                                                          ============         =============       ============

EARNINGS (LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE
    Primary:
       Earnings (loss) before extraordinary item     $            (.81)   $              .16  $            (.53)
       Extraordinary loss                                           -0-                (.05)                 -0-
                                                    -------------------   ----------------- --------------------
       Net earnings (loss)                           $            (.81)   $              .11  $            (.53)
                                                     =================    ==================  =================
    Assuming full dilution:
       Earnings (loss) before extraordinary item     $            (.81)   $              .16  $            (.53)
       Extraordinary loss                                           -0-                (.05)                 -0-
                                                    -------------------    ----------------  -------------------
       Net earnings (loss)                           $            (.81)   $              .11  $            (.53)
                                                     ==================   ==================  ==================
    Weighted average shares outstanding:
       Primary                                               11,504,615            9,952,870           7,583,761
                                                           ============        =============       =============
    Assuming full dilution                                   11,504,615           10,039,042           7,583,761
                                                           ============         ============       =============


</TABLE>


              The  accompanying  notes to financial  statements  are an integral
part of this statement.



                                                        F-3

<PAGE>



                                  PANACO, INC.
                  STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
                         AND RETAINED EARNINGS (DEFICIT)
              FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1993, 1994 AND 1995
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                                                                      Common         Additional         Retained
                                                                       Share           Paid-In          Earnings
                                                       Shares        Par Value         Capital          (Deficit)
<S>                <C> <C>                       <C>              <C>               <C>          <C>            
Balances, December 31, 1992                      $   7,534,496    $    75,000       $ 11,298,000 $        65,000
Net loss                                                   -0-            -0-                -0-     (3,986,000)
Exercises of stock options and warrants                620,759          7,000          1,285,000              -0-
                                                   -----------   ------------      ------------------------------
Balances, December 31, 1993                      $   8,155,255      $  82,000        $12,583,000    $(3,921,000)

Net income                                                 -0-            -0-                -0-       1,115,000
Exercises of stock options and warrants and
 shares  issued under Employee Stock
   Ownership Plan                                    2,064,883         20,000          5,003,000              -0-
                                                    ----------    -----------       -----------------------------
Balances, December 31, 1994                       $ 10,220,138       $102,000        $17,586,000    $(2,806,000)

Net Loss                                                   -0-            -0-                -0-     (9,290,000)
Exercise of stock options and warrants               1,181,602         12,000          3,137,000             -0-
Issuance of new shares                                 102,875          1,000            432,000             -0-
                                                   -----------   ------------       -----------------------------
Balances, December 31, 1995                       $ 11,504,615      $ 115,000        $21,155,000   $(12,096,000)
                                                  ============      =========        ===========   =============



</TABLE>
























              The  accompanying  notes to financial  statements  are an integral
part of this statement.



                                                        F-4

<PAGE>



                                  PANACO, INC.
                            STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                                                                               Year Ended December 31,
                                                                     1995               1994              1993
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
<S>                                                             <C>                  <C>             <C>          
   Net income (loss) before extraordinary item                  $(9,290,000)         $1,651,000      $ (3,986,000)
   Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to
       net cash provided by operating activities:
     Depreciation, depletion, and amortization                     8,065,000          6,038,000          4,288,000
     Amortization of loan discount                                       -0-            340,000            512,000
     Exploration expenses                                          8,112,000                -0-                -0-
     Provision for losses and (gains) on disposition
       and write-down of assets                                      751,000          1,202,000          3,824,000
   Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
     Accounts receivable                                         (2,155,000)        (1,202,000)          1,261,000
     Prepaid expenses                                              (193,000)          (113,000)           (20,000)
   Other assets                                                      200,000          (388,000)           (11,000)
     Accounts payable                                              2,916,000           (79,000)          (896,000)
     Interest payable                                               (24,000)             26,000           (40,000)
   Extraordinary loss                                                    -0-          (536,000)                -0-
                                                              --------------      -------------      -------------
     Net cash provided by operating activities                     8,382,000          6,939,000          4,932,000
                                                              --------------      -------------      -------------

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
   Sale of oil and gas properties                                     11,000            300,000             41,000
   Capital expenditures and acquisitions                        (21,803,000)       (12,101,000)          (790,000)
   Purchase of other property and equipment                         (38,000)           (37,000)           (52,000)
   Sale of other property and equipment                                  -0-             10,000                -0-
   Purchase of certificate of deposit                                    -0-                 -0-          (26,000)
                                                              --------------      ------------     ---------------
     Net cash used by investing activities                      (21,830,000)       (11,828,000)          (827,000)
                                                              --------------      ------------     --------------

CASH FLOW FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
   Long-term debt proceeds                                        16,890,000          5,564,000                -0-
   Repayment of long-term debt                                   (7,000,000)        (7,326,000)        (3,535,000)
   Issuance of common shares - exercise of
     warrants and options                                          3,173,000          5,023,000          1,163,000
                                                               -------------      -------------      -------------
   Net cash provided (used) by financing activities               13,063,000          3,261,000        (2,372,000)
                                                               -------------      -------------      -------------

NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH                                    (385,000)        (1,628,000)          1,733,000

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT
   BEGINNING OF YEAR                                               1,583,000          3,211,000          1,478,000
                                                               -------------       ------------      -------------

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF YEAR                        $  1,198,000       $  1,583,000       $  3,211,000
                                                                ============       ============       ============

</TABLE>



              The  accompanying  notes to financial  statements  are an integral
part of this statement.





                                                        F-7

<PAGE>



                                  PANACO, INC.

                          NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

              FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1995, 1994, AND 1993



Note 1 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

This summary of significant accounting policies of PANACO, Inc. (the Company) is
presented to assist in understanding  the Company's  financial  statements.  The
financial statements and notes are representations of the Company's  management,
who  are  responsible  for  the  integrity  and  objectivity  of  the  financial
statements.  These accounting  policies conform to generally accepted accounting
principles  and  have  been  consistently  applied  in  the  preparation  of the
financial statements.

Revenue Recognition
The Company  recognizes its ownership  interest in oil and gas sales as revenue.
It records revenues on an accrual basis,  estimating  volumes and prices for any
months for which actual information is not available.  If actual production sold
differs  from  its  allocable  share  of  production  in a  given  period,  such
differences would be recognized as deferred or accounts receivable.

Hedging Transactions
The Company engages in natural gas futures contracts within the normal course of
its business. The Company uses futures and floor contracts to reduce the effects
of  fluctuations  in natural  gas prices.  Changes in the market  value of these
contracts are deferred and subsequent gains and losses are recognized monthly in
the same  period as the hedged  item based on the  difference  between the First
Nearby  Contract  for Natural Gas - NYMEX and the  contract  price.  The Company
entered into a hedge agreement  beginning in January,  1996, for the delivery of
15,000  MMBTU of gas for each day in 1996  with  contract  prices  ranging  from
$1.7511/MMBTU to $2.253/MMBTU.  Prior to this agreement, the Company had entered
into a floor  contract that expired  December,  1994, and a hedge contract which
expired September, 1993.

Income Taxes
In 1993, the Company adopted Statement of Financial  Accounting  Standards (FAS)
No. 109 - "Accounting for Income Taxes",  which requires recognition of deferred
tax assets and liabilities  for the expected  future tax  consequences of events
that have been included in the financial  statements or tax returns.  Under this
method,  deferred  tax  assets  and  liabilities  are  determined  based  on the
differences  between  the  financial  statement  and tax  bases  of  assets  and
liabilities  using  enacted  tax  rates in  effect  for the  year in  which  the
differences are expected to reverse.  Generally, FAS 109 allows for at least the
partial  recognition of deferred tax assets in the current period for the future
benefit of net operating loss carry forwards.

Income (Loss) per share
The  computation  of  earnings  or loss per  share in each  year is based on the
weighted  average  number of common shares  outstanding.  When  dilutive,  stock
options and warrants are included as share  equivalents using the treasury share
method. Stock options and warrants were not included in the calculation for 1993
and 1995, as the effects were not dilutive. Shares to be contributed to the ESOP
plan are treated as common share equivalents.

Property, Plant & Equipment
Other property and equipment is recorded at cost. Depreciation is provided using
the straight-line method based on estimated useful lives which range from 5 to 7
years.

Oil and Gas Producing Activities and Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization
     Effective  December 31, 1995,  PANACO  changed its method of accounting for
oil and gas operations from the
                                                        F-8

<PAGE>



full cost method to the successful efforts method. Management concluded that the
successful efforts method will more  appropriately  reflect PANACO's oil and gas
operations  and will enable  investors  and others to better  compare  PANACO to
similar  oil and gas  companies,  the  majority of which  follow the  successful
efforts  method.  All prior period  financial  statements  have been restated to
reflect the change.

Under the successful  efforts method,  lease  acquisition costs are capitalized.
Exploratory drilling costs are also capitalized pending  determination of proved
reserves.  If proved  reserves are not  discovered,  the  exploratory  costs are
expensed. All development costs are capitalized.  Provision for depreciation and
depletion is determined on a field-by-field  basis using the  unit-of-production
method.  The  carrying  amounts of proven and unproven  properties  are reviewed
periodically  on a  property-by-property  basis,  based on future net cash flows
determined by an  independent  engineering  firm,  and an impairment  reserve is
provided  as  conditions  warrant.  The  provision  for write down of assets was
$751,000 for 1995, $1,202,000 for 1994, and $3,824,000 for 1993.

The  change in the  Company's  accounting  method  increased  1995 net income by
$2,054,000 or $0.18 per share from  previously  reported  results under the full
cost method.  The change  decreased 1994 and 1993 net income by  $1,298,000,  or
$0.13  per  share  and  $3,800,000,  or  $0.51  per  share,  respectively,  from
previously reported results under the full cost method. As of December 31, 1995,
retained  earnings was  decreased by  $2,797,000  as a result of the  accounting
change and additional paid in capital was reduced by $1,264,000.

Amortization of Note Discount
The note  discount was being  amortized  utilizing  the interest  method,  which
applies a constant  rate of interest  to the book value of the note.  Additional
interest expense of $0, $234,000,  and $512,000,  was recorded in 1995, 1994 and
1993,  respectively,  from the  amortization of the discount.  Effective July 1,
1994 the debt related to the note discount was extinguished,  and the balance of
the note discount totaling $106,000 was recorded as an extraordinary item.

   
Statement of Cash Flows
For purposes of reporting cash flows, the Company considers all cash investments
with original maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents.
    

Use of Estimates
Management  relies on the use of estimates  for oil and gas reserve  information
and the  valuation  allowance for deferred  income taxes in preparing  financial
statements  in  accordance  with  generally  accepted   accounting   principles.
Estimates  related  to oil  and gas  reserve  information  and the  standardized
measure  are based on  estimates  provided by third  parties.  Changes in prices
could significantly affect these estimates from year to year.

Reclassification
Certain  financial  statement  items  have been  reclassified  to conform to the
current year's presentation.

Note 2 - LOAN COSTS

Loan costs in the amount of $602,000 and $255,000 are being  amortized  over the
lives of the loans,  three years and six years,  respectively.  Additional  loan
costs of $402,000 were incurred during 1994.

Note 3 - MAJOR CUSTOMERS

One  purchaser  accounted  for  69%  and  83% of  revenues  in  1995  and  1994,
respectively, and two purchasers accounted for 65% and 17% of revenues in 1993.

Note 4 - CERTIFICATE OF DEPOSITS - ESCROW

The Company has CD's to satisfy  plugging  obligations  with certain  government
entities.


                                                        F-9

<PAGE>



Note 5- LONG-TERM DEBT
                                  1995                        1994
                             -------------                ------------
Note payable (a)             $   5,000,000               $   5,000,000
Note payable (b)                17,390,000                   7,500,000
                             -------------                ------------
                                22,390,000                  12,500,000

Less current portion                    -                          -
                             ------------                ------------
    Long-term debt           $ 22,390,000                $ 12,500,000
                             ============                ============

     (a) Note payable  dated  December 31, 1993 due to a group of six lenders in
the  amount  of  $5,000,000  bearing  interest  at 12%.  The  lenders  at  their
discretion  can loan an  additional  $5,000,000  to the  Company.  Payments  for
interest only are required  quarterly.  The Company may deliver up to $1,000,000
in PIK (payment in kind) notes,  bearing interest at 12%, in satisfaction of all
or part of any interest payment. The loan agreement limited the use of the first
$5,000,000 to capital expenditures and the next $5,000,000 (assuming the lenders
approve  additional  borrowings) to  acquisitions.  The loan agreement  contains
certain  financial  covenants  including  future  indebtedness  and  payment  of
dividends.  The note  matures on December  31, 1999 and is  collateralized  by a
second  mortgage on a  substantial  portion of offshore oil and gas  properties,
production  proceeds and receivables.  The lenders were issued 816,526 warrants,
at an exercise price of $2.25, expiring December 31, 1998 in connection with the
financing (see Note 8).
     (b)  Reducing  Revolving  Line of Credit  dated July 1, 1994 with a maximum
debt  incurred  equal to the lesser of thirty  million  dollars or the Borrowing
Base ($21,000,000 at December 31, 1995). The Borrowing Base reduces on a monthly
basis at a rate of $500,000 and is reviewed on a semi-annual basis as of June 30
and December 31. The note is due July 1, 1998 and bears interest at either prime
or Libor plus 1.0% to 1.75%  depending on the  percentage of the borrowing  base
used (8% and 7.625% at December 31, 1995,  respectively).  At December 31, 1995,
the Company had $3,025,000 borrowed at 7.625%,  $10,500,000 borrowed at 7.5625%,
and $3,865,000 borrowed at 7.6875%. Interest is due on the last day of the month
for prime notes and is due on the last day of the interest period or every three
months on Libor notes.  A commitment  fee of .375% to .5% of the average  unused
portion of the Borrowing Base is due on a quarterly basis. The revolving line of
credit is collateralized by a substantial portion of the oil and gas properties,
receivables,  inventory and general  intangibles.  The loan  agreement  contains
certain  covenants  including  maintaining a positive  indebtedness to cash flow
ratio,  a  positive  working  capital  ratio,  a  certain  tangible  net  worth,
limitations on future debt,  guarantees,  liens,  dividends,  mergers,  material
change in ownership by management,  and sale of assets. In addition,  the Lender
has issued the  Company a letter of credit for  $3,000,000  to  collateralize  a
plugging bond which reduces the available Borrowing Base.

Maturities of long-term debt are as follows:

                 December 31, 1997                        $17,390,000


                 December 31, 1999                        $ 5,000,000
                                                          ------------
                                                          $22,390,000

Note 6 - STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

During 1995,  1,181,602  shares were issued  related to the exercise of warrants
and options, 97,680 shares were issued related to property acquisition costs and
5,195 shares were issued for board of directors fees.

During 1994,  2,034,033  shares were issued  related to the exercise of warrants
and options, and 30,850 shares were issued related to the Company's ESOP.

During 1993,  12,294  shares were awarded to three new  directors,  1,200 shares
were issued in exchange for oil and gas  properties,  36,363  shares were issued
for payment of a finders fee on new  financing  (see Note 5) and 575,000  shares
were issued related to the exercise of warrants and options.

                                                       F-10

<PAGE>



During 1993,  4,098 shares were  relinquished  to the Company under the terms of
the Long-Term  Incentive Plan by a director upon his  resignation.  These shares
were reissued in the above transactions during 1993.

Shares outstanding are as follows:
     Year Ending December 31,
                                        Common       Preferred
                                        Shares        Shares
                         1993          8,155,255         -
                         1994         10,220,138         -
                         1995         11,504,615         -

Note 7- WARRANTS

Warrants  outstanding  at  December  31,  1995 to acquire  common  shares are as
follows:

                    Number of     Price per
                      Shares       Share      Expiration Date
                    --------    ----------  ------------------
                    160,000        $2.375       June 1, 1996
                      90,000       $2.000       June 1, 1996
                      39,365       $2.000       December 31, 1997
                     289,365

During 1995, warrants with exercise prices ranging from $2.00 to $4.00 per share
were exercised for a total of 495,735 shares.

Note 8 -  LENDER WARRANTS

In  connection  with the note  payable  dated  December  31,  1993  (See Note 4)
warrants were issued to a group of six lenders. These warrants differ from those
described  in Note 5;  they have  stronger  antidilution  provisions,  effective
January 1, 1996 the holders can demand  registering  the warrant  shares  either
issuable  upon  exercise or held by the holder,  and the holder may also, if the
Company  files a  Registration  Statement,  have an  opportunity  to include the
warrant shares in such Registration Statement. Warrants to acquire Common Shares
were as follows:

                      Number of      Price per
                      Shares         Share            Expiration Date
                      816,526        $2.25            December 31, 1998


Early in 1996, the warrants were exercised.

Note 9 - STOCK OPTIONS AND LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN

On August 26,  1992,  the  shareholders  approved  a  long-term  incentive  plan
allowing  the  Company  to  grant  incentive  and  nonstatutory  stock  options,
performance units,  restricted stock awards and stock appreciation rights to key
employees,  directors, and certain consultants and advisors of the Company up to
a maximum of 20% of the total number of shares outstanding.

At December 31, 1995, there were no stock options outstanding.

During 1995, options with exercise prices ranging from $2.00 to $3.975 per share
were exercised for a total of 759,712 shares.

     Under  the  terms  of  the  Long-Term   Incentive  Plan,   three  directors
surrendered 73,845 shares to exercise
                                                       F-11

<PAGE>



   
124,400  options.  New  options  were  issued  equal  to the  number  of  shares
surrendered at a price of $2.0313 per share,  which would have expired  December
31, 1995, but were exercised by that date.
    

Note 10 - RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

During  1995,  25,000  warrants at a price of $2.50 per share were issued to and
exercised by a director.

During 1994,  650,000  warrants at a price of $2.75 per share were issued to the
Board of Directors. All warrants were exercised during 1994.

The Company entered into a triple net lease  agreement with a partnership  owned
by two directors for the lease of an office building.  The lease,  which expires
November,  2003,  has monthly rental  payments of $4,000.  During 1995 and 1994,
$48,000 per year in rent was paid under the lease  agreement.  During  1993,  no
rent was due under the lease agreement. A deposit of $4,000 was due and included
in accounts payable at December 31, 1993.

Stock  options  (see Note 7)  originally  issued to three  directors  to acquire
250,000 shares each,  were  exercisable  through  December 31, 1995 at $2.00 per
share.  During 1995,  1994 and 1993,  150,000,  275,000 and 300,000 options were
exercised  at $2.00 per  share.  In 1994 and 1993,  an  additional  275,000  and
300,000 options  respectively were issued at prices ranging from $2.32 per share
to $3.9375 per share, and all options were exercised in 1995.

Under the terms of the Long-Term  Incentive  Plan,  three  directors were issued
73,845  options at $2.0313 per share and 68,567  options at $2.1875 per share in
1995 and 1994, respectively. These options were exercised in 1995.

Warrants were issued to a director in 1991 to acquire 250,000 shares.  Of these,
160,000 shares were exercised in 1993 at $2.00 per share and 90,000 warrants are
exercisable  through  June 1,  1996 at $2.00 per  share.  In  addition,  160,000
warrants at $2.375 issued  December 10, 1993,  are  exercisable  through June 1,
1996.

Consulting fees of $80,000 were paid in 1993 to an entity of which a director is
a 100% owner. At December 31, 1993, no such fees were payable to this entity.

In 1993,  three new directors  were awarded 4,098 shares each (valued at a total
of $30,000)  pursuant to the Company's  Long-Term  Incentive Plan.  These shares
become vested over a thirty month period.

During 1993, a director relinquished 4,098 shares upon his resignation.

Note 11 - LEASES

The following is a schedule of future rental  payments  required under an office
building lease described in Note 10 as of December 31, 1995.


     Year ending December 31,

                           1996                  $   48,000
                           1997                      48,000
                           1998                      48,000
                           1999                      48,000
                           2000                      48,000
                         2001-2003                  140,000
                                                 $  380,000


                                                       F-12

<PAGE>



Rental expense incurred on a former office lease for the year ended December 31,
1993, was $26,180.

Note 12 - INCOME TAXES

At December  31, 1995,  the Company had net  operating  loss carry  forwards for
federal income tax purposes of $15,765,000  which are available to offset future
federal taxable income through 2010.

Significant  components of the Company's  deferred tax liabilities and assets as
of December 31 are as follows:

                                                1995                1994
                                          ------------        ----------
Deferred tax assets
     Fixed asset basis differences        $1,408,000         $    557,000
     Net operating loss carry forwards     6,306,000            3,504,000
                                           ---------         ------------
        Total deferred tax assets          7,714,000            4,061,000
                                           ---------         ------------

  Valuation allowance for deferred
     tax assets                           (7,714,000)         (4,061,000)
                                          ----------          ----------
        Total deferred tax assets         $        -  $                -
                                          ==========          ===========


A valuation  allowance  is provided to reduce the deferred tax assets to a level
which, more likely than not, will be realized.

The  valuation  allowance  for  deferred  tax assets as of December 31, 1993 was
$3,704,000.  The net change in the total valuation allowance for the years ended
December  31,  1995  and  1994  was an  increase  of  $3,653,000  and  $357,000,
respectively.

Note 13 - COMMITMENT AND CONTINGENCIES

A  $3,000,000  letter of credit,  collateralizing  a plugging  bond,  expires on
December 14, 1996. The contract amount of the letter of credit  approximates its
fair value.

   
In January  1996 the  Company  has had a suit filed  against it related to a gas
gathering system in Oklahoma seeking  $700,000.  The Company has filed a counter
claim  against the plaintiff  seeking  damages for fraud.  Management  feels the
plaintiffs  suit is without merit and any outcome would be immaterial to results
of operations or financial position.
    

Concentrations of Credit Risk
Financial  instruments which potentially subject the Company to concentration of
credit risk consist  principally of bank account balances in excess of federally
insured limits and trade receivables.  The Company's  receivables consist of oil
and gas sales to third parties primarily from offshore production in the Gulf of
Mexico and onshore oil production in the central part of the United States. This
concentration may impact the Company's overall credit risk, either positively or
negatively,  in that these  entities  may be  similarly  affected  by changes in
economic or other  conditions.  Receivables  are generally  not  collateralized.
Historical  credit losses  incurred by the Company on receivables  have not been
significant.

Note  14 -  EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN (ESOP)

In August, 1994, the Company established an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)
and Trust that covers  substantially  all employees.  The Board of Directors can
approve  contributions,  up to a maximum  of 15% of  eligible  employees'  gross
wages. The Company  incurred  $132,000 and $123,000 in costs for the years ended
December 31, 1995 and 1994, respectively.

Note 15 - IMPAIRMENT OF LONG-LIVED ASSETS

                                                       F-13

<PAGE>



In 1995 the company adopted the Statement of Financial  Accounting Standards No.
121,  "Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived  Assets and Long-Lived Assets
to be Disposed Of",  which  requires  that  long-lived  assets and  identifiable
intangibles be reviewed for impairment  when the assets  carrying amount may not
be  recoverable  based on the fair market value of the asset.  SFAS 121 requires
assets to be reviewed  for  impairment  at the lowest  level for which there are
independent,  identifiable cash flows. The adoption of SFAS 121 had no effect on
1995  financial  statements  and the Company  expects no future  impact,  as the
Company  periodically  evaluates its oil and gas properties for impairment under
the  successful  efforts  method  of  accounting  on a field by  field  basis as
prescribed by FAS No. 121.

Note 16 - FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

Effective  December 31, 1995, the Company adopted the  requirements of Statement
of  Financial  Accounting  Standards  No. 107,  "Disclosure  about Fair Value of
Financial  Instruments"  requires disclosure of an estimate of the fair value of
certain  financial  instruments.  The  carrying  amount  and fair  values of the
Company's financial instruments at December 31, 1995, are as follows:


                                                       Assets (Liabilities)
                                          --------------------------------------
                                           Carrying Amount           Fair Value
Cash and cash equivalents                 $    1,198,000           $  1,198,000
Receivables                                    4,415,000              4,415,000
Payables                                      (4,605,000)            (4,605,000)
Long-term variable rate debt                 (17,390,000)           (17,390,000)
Long-term fixed rate debt                     (5,000,000)            (3,675,150)
Off balance sheet financial instruments
     Letter of credit                                  0                      0
     Hedge contracts                                   0             (2,000,000)

Cash and cash equivalents,  receivables,  payables,  and long-term variable rate
debt
The carrying amount reported on the consolidated  balance sheet approximates its
fair value because of the short maturities of these instruments.

Long-term, fixed rate debt
The Company estimates the fair value of its long-term, fixed rate debt generally
using discounted cash flow analysis based on the Corporation's current borrowing
rates for debt with similar maturities.

Letter of credit
A  $3,000,000  letter of credit  collateralizes  a  plugging  bond.  Fair  value
estimated on the basis of fees paid to obtain the  obligation is not material at
December 31, 1995.

Hedge contract
The fair  values of the  Company's  futures  contracts  are  estimated  based on
current settlement values.

Concentrations of Credit Risk
Financial  instruments which potentially subject the Company to concentration of
credit risk consist  principally of bank account balances in excess of federally
insured limits and trade receivables.  The Company's  receivables consist of oil
and gas sales to third parties primarily from offshore production in the Gulf of
Mexico and onshore oil production in the central part of the United States. This
concentration may impact the Company's overall credit risk, either positively or
negatively,  in that these  entities  may be  similarly  affected  by changes in
economic or other  conditions.  Receivables  are generally  not  collateralized.
Historical  credit losses  incurred by the Company on receivables  have not been
significant.


Note 17 - SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION RELATED TO OIL AND GAS PRODUCING ACTIVITIES

                                                       F-14

<PAGE>



(UNAUDITED)

The  following  table  reflects  the  costs  incurred  in oil and  gas  property
activities for each of the three years ended December 31:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                   1995             1994              1993
                                               -------------    -------------    --------------
<S>                                            <C>              <C>              <C>      
Property acquisition costs, proved             $ 12,603,000     $     352,000    $       -

Property acquisition costs, unproved           $        -       $         -      $       -

Exploration costs                              $  8,112,000     $         -      $       -

Development costs                              $  1,497,000     $ 11,749,000     $     801,000
</TABLE>

Quantities of Oil and Gas Reserves

The estimates of proved developed and proved  undeveloped  reserve quantities at
December  31,  1995 are based upon  reports of  petroleum  engineers  and do not
purport to reflect realizable values or fair market values of PANACO's reserves.
It should be  emphasized  that reserve  estimates are  inherently  imprecise and
accordingly,  these  estimates  are  expected  to change  as future  information
becomes available. These are estimates only and should not be construed as exact
amounts. All reserves are located in the United States.

Proved  reserves  are  estimated  reserves  of  natural  gas and  crude  oil and
condensate  that  geological and engineering  data  demonstrate  with reasonable
certainty to be recoverable in future years from known reservoirs under existing
economic and operating conditions.  Proved developed reserves are those expected
to be recovered through existing wells, equipment, and operating methods.

Proved developed and undeveloped reserves        Oil                 Gas

Estimated reserves as of December 31, 1992    1,121,000           46,595,000

     Production                               (180,000)          (5,586,000)
     Sale of minerals in-place                 (12,000)            (155,000)
     Revisions of previous estimates          (184,000)            2,842,000
                                            ----------            ----------
Estimated reserves as of December 31, 1993      745,000           43,696,000

     Production                               (137,000)          (8,139,000)
     Extensions and discoveries                 183,000           16,930,000
     Sale of minerals in-place                 (24,000)             (45,000)
     Revisions of previous estimates            176,000         (10,860,000)
                                            -----------         -----------
Estimated reserves as of December 31, 1994      943,000           41,582,000

     Production                               (170,000)          (9,850,000)
     Sale of minerals in-place                  (1,000)             (22,000)
     Purchase of minerals in-place            1,140,000           20,094,000
     Revisions of previous estimates           (12,000)          (5,093,000)
                                            ----------          -----------
Estimated reserves as of December 31, 1995    1,900,000           46,711,000
                                            ===========         ============








                                                       F-15

<PAGE>



Proved developed reserves:

                                  Oil                  Gas
                                 (BBLS)               (MCF)
                              -------------         ----------

    December 31, 1992             1,053,000         36,208,000
                             ==============         ==========

    December 31, 1993               745,000         24,665,000
                            ===============         ==========

    December 31, 1994               907,000         36,282,000
                            ===============         ==========

    December 31, 1995             1,794,000         40,323,000
                             ==============         ==========

Standardized Measure of Discounted Future Net Cash Flows
Future cash  inflows are  computed  by applying  year-end  prices of oil and gas
(with  consideration of price changes only to the extent provided by contractual
arrangements) to the year-end  estimated future production of proved oil and gas
reserves.  Estimates of future  development  and  production  costs are based on
year-end costs and assume  continuation  of existing  economic  conditions.  The
estimated  future net cash flows are then discounted using a rate of 10 per cent
per  year to  reflect  the  estimated  timing  of the  future  cash  flows.  The
standardized  measure of discounted cash flows is the future net cash flows less
the computed discount.

     The  accompanying  table  reflects the  standardized  measure of discounted
future cash flows  relating to proved oil and gas reserves as of the three years
ended December 31:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                           1995              1994                1993
                                                      --------------      ------------     ---------------
<S>                                                   <C>                <C>                <C>         
Future cash inflows                                     $140,247,000       $88,893,000        $113,419,000
Future development and production costs                   50,723,000        32,197,000          38,375,000
                                                      --------------     ------------       --------------
Future net cash flows                                     89,524,000        56,696,000          75,044,000
Future income taxes                                       11,755,000         6,304,000          13,937,000
                                                      --------------     -------------      --------------
Future net cash flows after income taxes                  77,769,000        50,392,000          61,107,000
10% annual discount                                      (14,848,000)       (8,477,000)        (13,728,000)
                                                      --------------      ------------       --------------
Standardized measure after income taxes               $   62,921,000       $41,915,000       $  47,379,000
                                                      =============      =============        =============
</TABLE>

Changes Relating to the Standardized Measure of Discounted Future Net Cash Flows
The  accompanying  table  reflects  the  principal  changes in the  standardized
measure of discounted  future net cash flows  attributable to proved oil and gas
reserves for each of the three years ended December 31:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                             1995               1994              1993
                                                      ------------------ ----------------    --------------
<S>                                                   <C>                <C>                <C>         
Beginning balance                                     $    41,915,000      $47,379,000        $ 48,163,000
Sales of oil and gas, net of production costs              (9,314,000)     (11,047,000)         (9,426,000)
Net change in income taxes                                 (4,267,000)       5,562,000          (2,130,000)
Changes in price and production costs                      11,498,000      (10,781,000)          2,199,000
Purchase of minerals in-place                              34,415,000               -                   -
Revision of previous estimates, extensions,
   discoveries, & sales of minerals in place-net          (11,326,000)      10,802,000           8,573,000
                                                        --------------     ------------       -------------
Ending balance                                        $    62,921,000      $41,915,000        $ 47,379,000
                                                        ==============     ============        ============

Price per MCF                                         $          2.24      $      1.75        $       2.40
                                                      ================   ==============     ===============
Price per BBL                                         $         17.75      $     16.00        $      12.75
                                                      ================   ==============     ===============

</TABLE>





                                                       F-16

<PAGE>


Note 18 - ACQUISITIONS

On July 12, 1995,  the Company  entered into a Purchase and Sale  Agreement with
Zapata  Exploration  Company  ("Zapata") to acquire all of Zapata's offshore oil
and gas properties in the Gulf of Mexico.  The properties consist of East Breaks
Blocks 109 and 110,  East Cameron  Block 359,  Eugene  Island  Block 372,  South
Timbalier Block 185 and West Cameron Block 538, totaling 31,134 gross acres. The
transaction closed July 26, 1995.

The purchase price for the assets acquired in this transaction was $2,748,000 in
cash and the obligation to pay a production  payment to Zapata based upon future
production. The production payment is based upon production from the East Breaks
109 Field after  production of 12 Bcfe gross (10 Bcfe net) measured from October
1,  1994.  The  Company  will pay to Zapata  $.4167 per Mcfe on the next 27 Bcfe
produced.  Payments to Zapata on this  production  payment are to be made by the
Company when it is paid for the oil or gas. Oil and gas reserves attributable to
this production  payment are not included in the reserves for the properties set
forth herein.

As of November 30, 1995, the Company  entered into a Purchase and Sale Agreement
with Shell Western E&P Inc.  ("Shell") to acquire all of Shell's interest in the
Bayou  Sorrel Field in  Iberville  Parish,  Louisiana.  The  transaction  closed
December 27, 1995, and PANACO took over as operator from Shell.  Proved reserves
attributable to the field at December 31, 1995, were 898,000 barrels and 3.1 Bcf
of natural gas. In addition to the proved  reserves  management  has  identified
significant  probable  and possible  reserves  attributable  to this field.  The
purchase price of the field was $10,455,000  which included a $204,000  brokers'
fee and a related receivable of $600,000.

Both of the  acquisitions  made in 1995 were  accounted  for using the  purchase
method.  The results of the Zapata  properties  acquisition  are included in the
Company's  statement of income  (operations)  from July 27 to December 31, 1995.
The  results of the Bayou  Sorrel  acquisition  are  included  in the  Company's
statement of income (operations) from December 28 to December 31, 1995.

The unaudited pro forma  statements  of income  (operations)  for the year ended
December  31, 1995  assumes the Zapata and Bayou  Sorrel  acquisitions  had been
consummated  January  1,  1995.  The  unaudited  pro forma  statement  of income
(operations)  includes certain adjustments to give effect to the acquisitions of
the oil and gas properties.

   
The pro forma  statements  are presented in order to comply with the  disclosure
requirements of Accounting  Principles  Board ("APB")  pronouncement  number 16.
This information is not the same as the pro forma statements presented elsewhere
in this Prospectus.  The pro forma statements do not purport to be indicative of
the results of the Company had these acquisitions  occurred on the date assumed,
nor is the pro forma statement  necessarily  indicative of the future results of
the Company.  The pro forma statement should be read together with the Financial
Statements of the Company, including the notes thereto and included elsewhere in
this Statement.
    





                                  PANACO, INC.
          Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Statement of Income (Operations)
                      For the Year Ended December 31, 1995
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                                                       Zapata          Bayou                        PANACO, Inc.
                                   PANACO, Inc.      Properties    Sorrel Field      Pro Forma        Pro Forma
                                   (As Restated)     1/1-7/26/95   1/1-12/26/95     Adjustments       Combined
REVENUES
<S>                                 <C>             <C>              <C>                              <C>         
Oil and gas sales                   $ 18,447,000    $ 3,623,000      $ 3,326,000  $         --        $ 25,396,000

COSTS AND EXPENSES
   Lease operating                     8,055,000      1,460,000          867,000        280,000  (a)    10,662,000
   Depreciation, depletion and
      amortization                     8,064,000             --               --      1,812,000  (b)     9,876,000
   Exploration expenses                8,112,000             --               --             --          8,112,000
   Provision for losses and
      (gains) on disposition
      & write-down of assets             751,000             --               --             --            751,000
   General and administrative            690,000             --               --             --            690,000
   Production and ad valorem
      taxes                            1,078,000             --          297,000             --          1,375,000
                                    ------------------------------ -----------------------------------------------
   Total                              26,750,000      1,460,000        1,164,000      2,092,000         31,466,000

NET OPERATING INCOME
   (LOSS)                            (8,303,000)      2,163,000        2,162,000    (2,092,000)        (6,070,000)
                                    ------------   ------------     ------------   ------------     --------------

OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)
   Interest income                         5,000             --               --             --              5,000
   Interest expense                    (992,000)             --               --      (651,000)  (c)   (1,643,000)
                                   ------------------------------------------------------------     --------------
      Total                            (987,000)             --               --      (651,000)        (1,638,000)
                                   ---------------------------------------------------------------- --------------

NET INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE
   INCOME TAXES                      (9,290,000)      2,163,000        2,162,000    (2,743,000)        (7,708,000)
INCOME TAXES (BENEFIT)                        --             --               --             --                 --
                             -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NET INCOME (LOSS)                   $(9,290,000)     $2,163,000       $2,162,000   $(2,743,000)       $(7,708,000)
                                    ============     ==========       ==========   ============       ============

EARNINGS (LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE
   Primary
      Net earnings (loss)       $         (0.81)                                                 $          (0.67)
                                ================                                                 =================

   Assuming full dilution
       Net earnings (loss)      $         (0.81)                                                 $          (0.67)
                                ================                                                 =================

   Weighted average shares outstanding:
      Primary                         11,504,615                                                        11,504,615
                                  ==============                                                     =============

    Assuming full dilution            11,504,615                                                        11,504,615
                                  ==============                                                     =============
</TABLE>



         The  accompanying  notes  to  pro  forma  financial  statements  are an
integral part of this statement.




<PAGE>



                                  PANACO, INC.
          Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Statement of Income (Operations)
                      For the Year Ended December 31, 1994
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                         Zapata          Bayou                       PANACO, Inc.
                                      PANACO, Inc.     Properties    Sorrel Field       Pro Forma      Pro Forma
                                      (As Restated)   1/1-12/31/94   1/1-12/31/94      Adjustments     Combined
REVENUES
<S>                                   <C>           <C>              <C>                            <C>          
   Oil and gas sales                  $ 17,338,000  $   7,540,000    $  2,888,000           --      $  27,766,000

COSTS AND EXPENSES
   Lease operating                       5,231,000      3,317,000       1,942,000         480,000  (a) 10,970,000
   Depreciation, depletion and 
   amortization                          6,038,000             --              --       1,447,000  (b)  7,485,000
   Exploration expenses                         --             --              --              --             --
   Provision for losses and (gains)
     on disposition and write-down
     of assets                           1,202,000             --              --              --       1,202,000
   General and administrative              587,000             --         310,000              --         897,000
    Production and ad valorem taxes      1,006,000             --              --              --       1,006,000
                                    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Total                              14,064,000      3,317,000       2,252,000       1,927,000      21,560,000
                                     ------------- --------------   -------------   -------------   -------------

NET OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)              3,274,000      4,223,000         636,000     (1,927,000)      6,206,000
                                    --------------  -------------  --------------  --------------  -------------

OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)
   Interest income                          46,000            --              --              --         46,000
   Interest expense                    (1,669,000)            --              --        (788,000)(c) (2,457,000)
                                    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Total                             (1,623,000)            --              --        (788,000)    (2,411,000)
                                    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

NET INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE
   INCOME TAXES AND
   EXTRAORDINARY ITEM                    1,651,000      4,223,000         636,000     (2,715,000)      3,795,000

INCOME TAXES (BENEFIT)                          --            --              --             --              --
                              -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


NET INCOME (LOSS)                     $  1,651,000    $ 4,223,000    $    636,000    $(2,715,000)   $  3,795,000
                                      ------------    -----------    ------------    ------------   ------------

EARNINGS (LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE
   Primary

       Net earnings (loss)           $        0.16                                                 $        0.37
                                     =============                                                 =============

   Assuming full dilution

       Net earnings (loss)           $        0.16                                                 $        0.38
                                     =============                                                 =============

   Weighted average shares outstanding:
     Primary                             9,952,870                                                     9,952,870
                                    ==============                                                 =============
     Assuming full dilution             10,039,042                                                    10,039,042
                                     =============                                                  ============

</TABLE>








         The  accompanying  notes  to  pro  forma  financial  statements  are an
integral part of this statement.









<PAGE>



     NOTES TO UNAUDITED PRO FORMA COMBINED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (OPERATIONS)


1.  Basis of Presentation

   
The  Unaudited  Pro Forma  Statement  of Income  (Operations)  of  PANACO,  Inc.
presents the combined  effects of the  acquisition of the Zapata  properties and
Bayou Sorrel Field as if the acquisitions  had been  consummated  January 1st of
each year.  The pro forma  statements  are presented in order to comply with the
disclosure  requirements of Accounting  Principles  Board ("APB")  pronouncement
number  16.  This  information  is not  the  same as the  pro  forma  statements
presented elsewhere in this Prospectus.
    

2.  Pro Forma Entries

    (a)   To record the estimated additional insurance expense.
    (b)   To record the additional  depletion and  depreciation  expense for the
          increased property costs and production volumes (see Note 4 below).
    (c) To  record  the  additional  interest  expense  for  increased  term  of
borrowing (see Note 5 below).

3.  Taxes

No  additional  operating  taxes are included for the Zapata  properties  as the
production  from these  properties  is from federal  offshore  waters and is not
subject to severance taxes.

4.  Depletion, depreciation & amortization

Additional  depletion  and  depreciation  expense is  included  to  reflect  the
additional  property costs and production  volumes  assuming the transaction was
consummated January 1. The original purchase prices are used for the cost of the
properties. The actual purchase prices of the properties were reduced by the net
income of the  properties  from the effective  dates of the purchases  until the
closing dates.

5.  Interest

Additional  interest  expense is included as if the transactions had taken place
January 1. It is assumed that the Zapata  acquisition price was paid in cash and
the Bayou  Sorrel  acquisition  price was paid for using the  Company's  Primary
Credit  Facility.  Interest  is  computed on the  additional  borrowings  at the
estimated rates in effect at January 1.










<PAGE>




                          Independent Auditors' Report




To the Board of Directors
PANACO, Inc.


We have  audited  the  accompanying  schedules  of  Revenues,  Direct  Operating
Expenses and Production Taxes of the Zapata  properties  (which were acquired by
PANACO,  Inc.,  on July 26, 1995) and the Bayou Sorrel Field (which was acquired
by PANACO on December  27,  1995) for each of the two years in the period  ended
December 31, 1994.  These  schedules are the  responsibility  of PANACO,  Inc.'s
management.  Our  responsibility is to express an opinion on the schedules based
on our audits.

We conducted our audit in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards.
These standards  require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable
assurance about whether the Schedules of Revenues, Direct Operating Expenses and
Production Taxes are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining,
on a  test  basis,  evidence  supporting  the  amounts  and  disclosures  in the
schedules.  An audit also includes assessing the accounting  principles used and
significant  estimates  made by  management,  as well as evaluating  the overall
schedule presentation. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for
our opinion.

The accompanying  Schedules of Revenues,  Selected Direct Operating Expenses and
Production  Taxes were prepared for the purpose of complying  with the rules and
regulations  of the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission  (for inclusion in the
current  report on Form 10-K) and is not intended to be a complete  presentation
of the Zapata properties and Bayou Sorrel Field's revenues and expenses.

In our  opinion,  the  Schedules  of  Revenues,  Direct  Operating  Expenses and
Production Taxes referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the
revenues,  selected direct operating expenses and production taxes of the Zapata
properties  and the Bayou  Sorrel  Field for each of the two years in the period
ended  December 31, 1994,  in  conformity  with  generally  accepted  accounting
principles.



BARRETT & ASSOCIATES
Overland Park, Kansas

December 15, 1995















<PAGE>




                    ZAPATA PROPERTIES AND BAYOU SORREL FIELD

            SCHEDULES OF REVENUES, SELECTED DIRECT OPERATING EXPENSES
                              AND PRODUCTION TAXES

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                                                    Zapata              Bayou Sorrel
                                                  Properties                Field                  Total

                                                                Year Ended December 31, 1994

<S>                                               <C>                   <C>                    <C>          
Oil and gas revenues                              $  7,540,000          $  2,888,000           $  10,428,000
                                                  ============          ============           =============

Selected direct operating expenses                $  3,317,000          $  1,942,000          $    5,259,000
                                                  ============          ============          ==============

Production taxes                                  $          0         $     310,000         $       310,000
                                                  ============         =============         ===============



                                                               Year Ended December 31, 1993


Oil and gas revenues                              $ 11,823,000          $  2,908,000            $ 14,731,000
                                                  ============          ============            ============

Selected direct operating expenses               $   3,696,000          $  1,806,000           $   5,502,000
                                                 =============          ============           =============

Production taxes                                 $           0         $     352,000          $      352,000
                                                 =============         =============          ==============


</TABLE>





















                                     See accompanying notes to this schedule.



<PAGE>




                    ZAPATA PROPERTIES AND BAYOU SORREL FIELD

                       NOTES TO THE SCHEDULES OF REVENUES,
             SELECTED DIRECT OPERATING EXPENSES AND PRODUCTION TAXES

                 FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1994 AND 1993

Note 1 -  SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

This summary of  significant  accounting  policies  related to the  Schedules of
Revenues,  Selected Direct Operating Expenses and Production Taxes of the Zapata
properties  and the Bayou Sorrel  Field is presented to assist in  understanding
the  schedules.  The  schedules and notes are  representations  of the Company's
management,  which is  responsible  for the  integrity  and  objectivity  of the
schedules.  These accounting  policies conform to generally accepted  accounting
principles  and  have  been  consistently  applied  in  the  preparation  of the
statement.

Acquisitions
The Zapata  properties were acquired on July 26, 1995,  from Zapata  Exploration
Co. The Bayou Sorrel Field was acquired on December 27, 1995, from Shell-Western
E&P, Inc.

Revenue Recognition
Revenues  are  recorded  on the accrual  basis,  with  volumes and prices  being
estimated for properties  during periods when actual  production  information is
not available.

Selected Direct Operating Expenses
Selected direct operating  expenses include  necessary and ordinary  expenses to
maintain  production.   Insurance  expense  is  not  included  since  sufficient
information is not available  from the Seller.  Management  estimates  insurance
costs to be $280,000 per annum.

Depreciation, depletion and amortization
Depreciation,   depletion  and  amortization  is  not  presented  as  sufficient
information is not available from the Seller.

Operating Taxes
No  additional  tax  expense  is  included  for the  Zapata  properties,  as the
production from federal offshore waters is not subject to state severance taxes.

General, Administrative, and Overhead  Expenses
General,  administrative,  and overhead expenses are not presented as sufficient
information is not available from the Seller.


Note 2 - 1995 REVENUES,  SELECTED DIRECT OPERATING EXPENSES AND PRODUCTION TAXES
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
          (UNAUDITED)

The following is a schedule of revenues,  selected direct operating expenses and
production taxes for the periods in 1995 that the Company did not own the Zapata
properties  and the Bayou  Sorrel  Field.  The  schedule is not intended to be a
complete presentation of the Zapata properties and Bayou Sorrel Field's revenues
and expenses.






<PAGE>


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                                                      Oil and Gas         Selected Direct         Production
                                                      Revenues         Operating Expenses            Taxes
Zapata Properties
<S>          <C>             <C> <C>                 <C>                   <C>                   <C>             
     January 1, 1995 to July 25, 1995                $ 3,623,000           $ 1,460,000           $        0

Bayou Sorrel
     January 1, 1995 to December 26, 1995              3,326,000               867,000              297,000
                                                     ------------         --------------         ------------

TOTAL                                                $ 6,949,000           $ 2,327,000           $  297,000
                                                     ===========           ===========           ===========
</TABLE>


Note 3 -  SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION RELATED TO OIL AND GAS PRODUCING ACTIVITIES
          --------------------------------------------------------------------
          (UNAUDITED)

Quantities of Oil and Gas Reserves
The estimates of proved developed and proved  undeveloped  reserve quantities of
the Zapata  properties and the Bayou Sorrel Field at December 31, 1994 are based
upon management's  computation from the report of PANACO's independent petroleum
engineers  as of December  31,  1995,  and do not purport to reflect  realizable
values  or  fair  market  values  of the  properties'  reserves.  It  should  be
emphasized  that reserve  estimates are  inherently  imprecise and  accordingly,
these estimates are expected to change as future information  becomes available.
These are  estimates  only and should not be  construed  as exact  amounts.  All
reserves are located in the United  States.  Reserve  quantities  for the Zapata
properties  and the Bayou Sorrel Field were not  available at December 31, 1992,
1993,  and 1994,  and the balances at those dates were  derived from  production
activity during 1993 and 1994.

Proved  reserves  are  estimated  reserves  of  natural  gas and  crude oil that
geological and engineering  data  demonstrate  with  reasonable  certainty to be
recoverable in future years from known  reservoirs  under existing  economic and
operating  conditions.  Proved  developed  reserves  are  those  expected  to be
recovered through existing wells, equipment, and operating methods.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

Proved developed and                       OIL (BBLS)                                  GAS (MCF)
undeveloped reserves                         Bayou                                       Bayou
                                Zapata       Sorrel         Total          Zapata        Sorrel         Total
Estimated reserves as of
<S>         <C> <C>            <C>         <C>            <C>            <C>           <C>           <C>       
   December 31, 1992           391,000     1,323,000      1,714,000      27,647,000    4,039,000     31,686,000

Production                     (54,000)     (143,000)      (197,000)     (4,924,000)    (228,000)    (5,152,000)
                               --------     ---------     ----------     -----------   ----------     -----------

Estimated reserves as of
   December 31, 1993           337,000     1,180,000      1,517,000      22,723,000    3,811,000     26,534,000

Production                     (67,000)     (127,000)      (194,000)     (3,419,000)    (368,000)    (3,787,000)
                               --------     ---------      ---------     -----------   ----------    -----------

Estimated reserves as of
   December 31, 1994           270,000     1,053,000      1,323,000      19,304,000    3,443,000     22,747,000
                               =======     =========      =========      ===========   =========     ==========


Proved, developed reserves:

   December 31, 1993           337,000     1,180,000      1,517,000      22,723,000    3,811,000     26,534,000
                               =======     =========      =========      ==========    =========     ==========
   December 31, 1994           270,000     1,053,000      1,323,000      19,304,000    3,443,000     22,747,000
                               =======     =========      =========      ==========    =========     ==========
</TABLE>



<PAGE>




Standardized Measure of Discounted Future Net Cash Flows
Future cash  inflows are  computed  by applying  year-end  prices of oil and gas
(with  consideration of price changes only to the extent provided by contractual
arrangements) to the year-end  estimated future production of proved oil and gas
reserves.  Estimates of future  development  and  production  costs are based on
year-end costs and assume  continuation  of existing  economic  conditions.  The
estimated  future net cash flows are then discounted  using a rate of 10 percent
per  year to  reflect  the  estimated  timing  of the  future  cash  flows.  The
standardized  measure of discounted cash flows is the future net cash flows less
the computed discount.

The accompanying  table reflects the standardized  measure of discounted  future
cash flows relating to the proved oil and gas reserves of the Zapata  properties
as of the two years ended December 31:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                              1994                                          1993
                              --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             Bayou                                          Bayou
                              Zapata         Sorrel          Total         Zapata           Sorrel         Total

<S>                       <C>            <C>            <C>             <C>            <C>             <C>         
Future cash inflows       $ 45,181,000   $27,233,000    $72,414,000     $52,721,000    $30,121,000     $ 82,842,000
Future development
  and production costs      15,341,000     9,021,000     24,362,000      18,658,000     11,273,000       29,931,000
                          -------------  -------------  ------------    -------------  ------------    -------------
Future net cash flows       29,840,000    18,212,000     48,052,000      34,063,000     18,848,000       52,911,000
10% annual discount
  to reflect timing of
  cash flows                 1,821,000     5,532,000      7,353,000       1,821,000      5,532,000        7,353,000
                          -------------- -------------  -------------   -------------- -------------   --------------
Standardized measure
  before income taxes     $ 28,019,000   $12,680,000    $40,699,000     $32,242,000   $ 13,316,000     $ 45,558,000
                          ============   ===========    ===========     ============   ===========     ============
</TABLE>




Changes Relating to the Standardized Measure of Discounted Future Net Cash Flows
The  accompanying  table  reflects  the  principal  changes in the  standardized
measure of discounted  future net cash flows  attributable to proved oil and gas
reserves of the Zapata properties for each of the two years ended December 31:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                      1994                                          1993
                              --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             Bayou                                          Bayou
                              Zapata         Sorrel          Total         Zapata           Sorrel         Total

<S>                       <C>            <C>            <C>             <C>            <C>             <C>          
Beginning balance         $ 32,242,000   $13,316,000    $45,558,000     $40,369,000   $14,066,000     $  54,435,000
  Sales of oil and gas,
  net of production
  costs                      4,223,000       636,000      4,859,000       8,127,000       750,000         8,877,000
                          ------------   -----------    ------------    ------------   -----------    --------------

Ending balance            $ 28,019,000   $12,680,000    $40,699,000    $ 32,242,000   $13,316,000     $  45,558,000
                          ============   ===========     ===========    ============   ===========     =============
</TABLE>












<PAGE>








                                                   PANACO, Inc.










                                                September 30, 1996



                                               Financial Statements

                                                    (Unaudited)

















<PAGE>
                                  PANACO, INC.
              Condensed Balance Sheets (Successful Efforts Method)
                                  (Unaudited)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

ASSETS                                                              As of                      As of
                                                               September 30, 1996        December 31, 1995
CURRENT ASSETS:
<S>                                                                       <C>                      <C>       
     Cash and cash equivalents                                            $766,000                 $1,198,000
     Accounts receivable                                                 4,435,000                  4,386,000
     Accounts receivable - sale of Bayou Sorrel                         11,152,000                          0
     Prepaid expenses                                                      359,000                    465,000
                                                           ------------------------   ------------------------
        Total Current Assets                                            16,712,000                  6,049,000
OIL AND GAS PROPERTIES, AS DETERMINED BY THE
     SUCCESSFUL EFFORTS METHOD OF ACCOUNTING:
     Oil and gas properties                                             98,015,000                103,105,000
     Less: accumulated depreciation,
        depletion and amortization                                    (77,526,000)               (73,620,000)
                                                           ------------------------   ------------------------
        Net Oil and Gas Properties                                      20,489,000                 29,485,000
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT:
     Equipment                                                             248,000                    196,000
     Less: accumulated depreciation                                      (122,000)                   (92,000)
                                                           ------------------------   ------------------------
        Net Property, Plant and Equipment                                  126,000                    104,000

OTHER ASSETS:
     Earnest deposit - Amoco acquisition                                 5,000,000                          0
     Restricted deposits                                                 1,733,000                          0
     Loan costs, net                                                       323,000                    471,000
     Certificate of deposit                                                 27,000                     26,000
     Note receivable                                                        21,000                     21,000
     Other                                                                  13,000                     13,000
                                                           ------------------------   ------------------------
        Total Other Assets                                               7,117,000                    531,000


TOTAL ASSETS                                                           $44,444,000                $36,169,000
                                                           ========================   ========================
                 The accompanying notes to financial statements are an integral part of this statement.
                                                          F-27

</TABLE>

<PAGE>
                                  PANACO, INC.
              Condensed Balance Sheets (Successful Efforts Method)
                                  (Unaudited)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY                                       As of                           As of
                                                                         September 30, 1996          December 31, 1995
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
<S>                                                                            <C>                             <C>       
     Accounts payable                                                          $8,569,000                      $4,444,000
     Interest payable                                                             240,000                         161,000
     Current portion of long-term debt                                                  0                               0
        Total Current Liabilities                                               8,809,000                       4,605,000

LONG-TERM DEBT                                                                 25,137,000                      22,390,000

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
     Preferred stock, ($.01 par value,
        5,000,000 shares authorized; no
        shares issued and outstanding)                                                  0                               0
     Common stock, ($.01 par value,
        40,000,000 shares authorized and
        12,350,255 and 11,504,615 shares
        issued and outstanding, respectively)                                     123,000                         115,000
     Additional paid-in capital                                                23,090,000                      21,155,000
     Retained earnings (deficit)                                             (12,715,000)                    (12,096,000)
        Total Stockholders' Equity                                             10,498,000                       9,174,000






TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY                                    $44,444,000                     $36,169,000

 The accompanying notes to financial statements are an integral part of this statement.

</TABLE>
<PAGE>

                                                


                                  PANACO, INC.

                Statements of Income (Successful Efforts Method)
             For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 1996 and 1995
                                  (Unaudited)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                              1996                    1995
REVENUES
<S>                                                                           <C>                     <C>        
     Oil and natural gas sales                                                $13,257,000             $13,660,000
COSTS AND EXPENSES
     General & administrative                                                     573,000                 442,000
     Depletion, depreciation & amortization                                     4,981,000               6,277,000
     Exploration expenses                                                               0               2,174,000
     Provision for losses and (gains) on
        disposition and write-downs of assets                                     (4,000)                       0
     Lease operating                                                            6,049,000               5,729,000
     Production and ad valorem taxes                                              429,000                 810,000
     West Delta fire loss                                                         500,000                       0
                                                                       -------------------      ------------------
        Total                                                                  12,528,000              15,432,000

NET OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)                                                       729,000             (1,772,000)

OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)
     Interest expense (net)                                                   (1,347,000)               (720,000)

NET INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES                                           (618,000)             (2,492,000)

INCOME TAXES                                                                            0                       0

NET INCOME (LOSS)                                                              ($618,000)            ($2,492,000)

Net income (loss) per share                                                       ($0.05)                 ($0.21)


                   The accompanying notes to financial statements are an integral part of this statement.

</TABLE>
                                                            F-29
<PAGE>
                                  PANACO, INC.
  Statement of Changes in Stockholders' Equity and Retained Earnings (Deficit)
                  For the nine months ended September 30, 1996
                                  (Unaudited)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>



                                                                        Amount ($)
                                                 Number of                                   Additional            Retained
                                                   Common                 Common              Paid-in              Earnings
                                                   Shares                 Stock               Capital             (Deficit)

<S>               <C> <C>                           <C>                      <C>               <C>                 <C>          
Balance, December 31, 1995                          11,504,615               $115,000          $21,155,000         ($12,096,000)

Net income                                                   0                      0                    0             (618,000)

Common shares issued - warrants
exercised and ESOP contribution                        840,746                  8,000            1,935,000                     0


Balance, September 30, 1996                         12,345,361               $123,000          $23,090,000         ($12,714,000)


 The accompanying notes to financial statements are an integral part of this statement.
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

                                  PANACO, INC.
                            Statement of Cash Flows
                        Nine Months Ended September 30,
                                  (Unaudited)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                             1996                    1995
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
<S>                                                                          <C>                   <C>         
     Net income (loss)                                                       ($618,000)            ($2,492,000)
     Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss)
     to net cash provided by operating activities:
        Depletion, depreciation and amortization                              4,824,000               6,052,000
        Exploration expenses                                                          0               2,174,000
        Amortization of loan costs                                              157,000                 225,000
        Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
            Certificates of Deposits - escrow                                   (1,000)                  21,000
            Accounts receivable                                                (49,000)               (110,000)
            Prepaid expenses                                                    106,000               (405,000)
            Other assets                                                              0                  44,000
            Accounts payable                                                  4,231,000                 916,000
            Interest payable                                                     79,000                (34,000)
                       Net cash provided by operating activities              8,729,000               6,391,000

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
        Accounts receivable - sale of Bayou Sorrel                         (11,152,000)                       0
        Sale of oil and gas properties                                       11,158,000                   9,000
        Capital expenditures and acquisitions                              (11,804,000)             (5,396,000)
        Purchase of other property and equipment                               (52,000)                (33,000)
        Increase in restricted deposits                                     (1,886,000)                       0
                       Net cash used by investing activities               (13,736,000)             (5,420,000)

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
        Long-term debt proceeds                                               7,500,000               3,365,000
        Repayment of long-term debt                                         (4,753,000)             (7,000,000)
        Issuance of common stock-exercise of warrants                         1,837,000               2,554,000
        Additional loan costs                                                   (9,000)                       0
            Net cash provided (used) by financing activities                  4,575,000             (1,081,000)

NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH                                               (432,000)               (110,000)

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF YEAR                                1,198,000               1,583,000

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT SEPTEMBER 30,                                     $766,000              $1,473,000

     Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
        Cash paid for nine months ended September 30:
                       Interest                                              $1,180,000                $757,000

     Disclosure of accounting policies:
        1.  For purposes of the statement of cash flows, the Company considers all cash investments
            with original maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents.
        2.  24,220 Common Shares were issued related to the Company's ESOP in a non-cash
            transaction.

                        The accompanying notes to financial statements are an integral part of this statement.
                                                                 F-31
</TABLE>

<PAGE>


                                  PANACO, INC.
                          NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

              For the nine months ended September 30, 1996 and 1995

Note 1. In the  opinion of  management,  the  accompanying  unaudited  financial
statements  contain all  adjustments  necessary to present  fairly the financial
position  as of  September  30,  1996 and  December  31, 1995 and the results of
operations  and changes in  Stockholders'  Equity and cash flows for the periods
ended  September  30,  1996 and 1995.  Most  adjustments  made to the  financial
statements are of a normal,  recurring nature.  Other  adjustments,  if any, are
discussed in later notes.

   
Note 2.  Effective  December  31,  1995,  the  Company  changed  its  method  of
accounting  for oil and gas  operations  from  the full  cost to the  successful
efforts method.  In connection with the change to the successful  efforts method
of accounting,  all prior periods have been restated,  including the nine months
ended  September  30, 1995.  Net income for the nine months ended  September 30,
1995 was  reduced  by  $3,963,000,  or $.36 per share from  previously  reported
amounts.  Management  concluded that the  successful  efforts method will better
enable  investors  and others to  compare  the  Company  to similar  oil and gas
companies, the majority of which follow the successful efforts method.
    

           Under the successful  efforts  method,  lease  acquisition  costs are
capitalized.   Exploratory   drilling   costs  are  also   capitalized   pending
determination  of proved  reserves.  If proved reserves are not discovered,  the
exploratory costs are expensed. All development costs are capitalized. Provision
for depreciation and depletion is determined on a field-by-field basis using the
unit-of-production   method.   The  carrying  amounts  of  proved  and  unproved
properties are reviewed periodically on a  property-by-property  basis, based on
future net cash flows  determined by an independent  engineering  firm,  with an
impairment reserve provided if conditions warrant.

           The Company recognizes its ownership interest in oil and gas sales as
revenue and records revenues on an accrual basis.

           Capital costs of oil and gas properties  include the estimated  costs
to develop proved reserves and the costs of plugging offshore wells and removing
structures.  The capital costs are amortized on the units of production  method,
using the ratio of current  production to the calculated  future production from
the remaining proved oil and gas reserves.

           Reserve  determinations  are  subject  to  revision  due to  inherent
imprecisions  in estimating  reserves and are revised as additional  information
becomes available.

Note 3. The results of operations  for the nine months ended  September 30, 1996
are not indicative of the results to be expected for the full year. On April 24,
1996 the Company  experienced  an explosion  and fire at Tank Battery #3 in West
Delta.  The fields were shut-in  through  October 7th the facilities  were being
repaired  and  rebuilt . No  revenues  for the 67  remaining  days in the second
quarter  and the full  third  quarter of 1996 were  recorded,  while at the same
time, a large part of lease  operating  expenses  associated with West Delta are
fixed costs,  and have stayed at  relatively  the same level as before the fire.
Production  taxes decreased as a result of the lost production from West Delta ,
a large part of which is in  Louisiana  State waters and is subject to severance
taxes.  Interest  expense is also up as a result of the fire due to reduced cash
flows,  coupled with  increased  spending to repair and rebuild Tank Battery #3.
The Company  began  producing  oil and natural gas from the West Delta fields on
October 7th, 1996.

Note 4. The net income per share for the nine months  ended  September  30, 1996
and 1995 has been calculated based on 12,253,382 and 11,649,091 weighted average
shares outstanding,  respectively and 12,345,361 and 11,661,540 weighted average
shares for the three months ended September 30, 1996 and 1995, respectively.

   
Note 5. For purposes of reporting  cash flows,  the Company  considers  all cash
investments with original
    

<PAGE>



maturities  of three  months or less to be cash  equivalents.  "Cash  flows from
operations"  and "Cash  flows from  financing  activities"  do not  include  the
effects of the Company's  contributions to the ESOP, as these  contributions are
made only in shares of stock, and are non-cash transactions.

Note 6. The reserves  presented in the following  table were prepared  solely by
the Company and are  estimates  only and should not be  construed as being exact
amounts.  All  reserves  presented  are  proved  reserves  that are  defined  as
estimated  quantities  which  geological and engineering  data  demonstrate with
reasonable  certainty to be  recoverable  in future years from known  reservoirs
under  existing  economic and operating  conditions.  Sale of  minerals-in-place
reflects  the sale of the Bayou  Sorrel  Field,  effective  September  1,  1996.
Reserves  attributable to the Amoco Acquisition,  closed on October 8th, are not
included.



Proved developed and undeveloped reserves           Oil               Gas
                                                  (Bbls)              (Mcf)

December 31, 1995 reported reserves            1,900,000           46,711,000
Purchase of minerals-in-place                        -0-                  -0-
Extensions and discoveries                           -0-                  -0-
Production                                     (203,000)          (4,590,000)
Sale of minerals-in-place                      (805,000)          (3,102,000)
Revisions of previous estimates                      -0-                  -0-
                                            ------------          ----------
Estimated reserves at September 30, 1996         892,000          39,019,000
                                            ============          ==========

No major  discovery or other favorable or adverse event has caused a significant
change in the estimated  proved  reserves since  September 30, 1996. The Company
does not have proved  reserves  applicable to long-term  supply  agreements with
governments  or  authorities.  All  proved  reserves  are  located in the United
States.

Note 7. The Company's Common Shares are quoted on the National Market of NASDAQ.
The last trade on September 30 was at $5.375 per share.

Note 8. The  Company is party to various  escrow  agreements  which  provide for
monthly deposits into escrow accounts to satisfy future plugging and abandonment
obligations.  The terms of the agreements vary as to deposit amounts, based upon
fixed monthly amounts or percentages of the properties' net income. With respect
to plugging  and  abandonment  operations,  funds are  partially  or  completely
released  upon the  presentation  by the Company to the escrow agent of evidence
that the operation was or is being  conducted in compliance with applicable laws
and regulations.  These escrow amounts are included on the financial  statements
as Restricted Deposits. See "The Company - Plugging and Abandonment Escrows".

   
Note 9. The Company  experienced an explosion and fire on April 24, 1996 at Tank
Battery #3 in West Delta  resulting in the fields being shut-in from April 24th,
until being  returned to production  on October 7, 1996.  The loss of 67 days of
production in the second  quarter and the entire third quarter  resulted in lost
revenues of approximately $6 million. The fire was the principal  contributor to
the losses of $.08 per share for the  second  quarter of 1996 and $.11 per share
for the third quarter.  During the second quarter the Company expensed  $500,000
for its  loss as a  result  of this  explosion.  No  further  losses  have  been
recognized  or are  anticipated.  This  $500,000  amount  included  $225,000  in
deductables under the Company's insurance.

           The Company has spent $8.5  million on Tank  Battery #3  inclusive of
the $500,000 expensed during second quarter and has received  reimbursement from
its insurance  company of $3.9 million,  after  satisfaction  of the $225,000 in
deductibles.  The excess of expenditures  over insurance  reimbursement  will be
capitalized.  No additional expenditures have been made or are anticipated.  The
Company is  considering  filing suits  against the  employers of the persons who
caused the  incidents  for  recovery  of these  costs and its lost  profits.  No
assurance  can be given that the Company will  successfully  recover any amounts
sought in any such suits.
    


<PAGE>



   
Note 10. On October 8,1996,  the Company  completed the acquisition of interests
in thirteen  offshore  blocks  comprising  six fields in the Gulf of Mexico from
Amoco Production Company.  Proved reserves, net to the interests acquired, as of
September 1, 1996,  the effective date of the Amoco  Acquisition,  were1,953,000
barrels of oil and  condensate  and 28.6 Bcf of natural gas, based upon internal
reserve  reports  prepared by the  Company.  The  purchase  price for the assets
acquired  in  this  transaction  was  $40.4  million,  paid by the  issuance  of
2,000,000  Common  Shares  and by  payment  to  Amoco  of $32  million  in cash.
Concurrently  with this transaction the Company entered into a new Bank Facility
with First Union  National Bank of North Carolina and Banque Paribas under which
its  reducing  revolving  loan was  increased  to $40  million,  with an initial
borrowing base (credit limit) of $35 million.  The principal  amount of the loan
is due July 1, 1999.  Interest on the loan is computed at the bank's  prime rate
or at 1 to 1 3/4%  (depending  upon the  percentage of the facility  being used)
over the applicable London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR") on Eurodollar loans.
Eurodollar  loans can be for terms of one, two, three or six months and interest
on such loans is due at the  expiration of the terms of such loans,  but no less
frequently  than every three months.  Beginning April 1, 1997, the interest rate
will increase by an additional .5% at the beginning of each quarter to a maximum
of 3 3/4% over  LIBOR as long as the  Company  has in excess of  $13,500,000  in
Subordinated Notes outstanding, specifically the 1993 Subordinated Notes and the
1996 Tranche B Bridge Loan Subordinated Notes. In addition to that facility, the
Company  borrowed  $17 million  pursuant to the  Tranche A  Convertible  and the
Tranche B Bridge Loan Subordinated Notes,  provided by lenders investing through
Kayne,  Anderson  Investment  Management,  Inc. Both Tranche A  Convertible  and
Tranche B Bridge Loan bear interst at 12% per annum and are due October 8, 2003.
After the expiration of 180 days following the conclusion of this offering,  the
Tranche A Notes are  convertible  into  2,060,606  Common Shares on the basis of
$4.125 per share.  The  Company  may  deliver up to  $2,000,000  in PIK notes in
satisfaction of interest payment obligations.  Should the Tranche B Notes not be
prepaid by August 8, 1997 the interest  rate will  increase  from 12% to 14% per
annum.  The Company may deliver  PIK notes in  satisfaction  of this  additional
interest.

Note 11.   Effective  September 1, 1996, the Company sold its Bayou Sorrel Field
to National Energy Group,  Inc. for $11,000,000,  $9,000,000 in cash and 477,612
shares of  National  Energy  Group,  Inc.  common  stock,  which were  valued at
$2,000,000  on  September  30,  1996.  National  Energy  Group,  Inc.  will also
reimburse the Company for deposits it has made into an escrow  agreement for the
plugging  and  abandonment  obligation.  Through  September  30, this amount was
$152,000.  The Company will also retain a 3% overriding  royalty interest in the
deep rights of the field.  The results of the Bayou Sorrel Field are included in
the Company's Statement of Income only through August 31, 1996.
    

Note 12. At December 31, 1995, the Company had net operating loss carry forwards
for federal  income tax purposes of  $15,765,000  which are  available to offset
future federal taxable income through the year 2010.



<PAGE>



                         PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION

   
           On October 8,1996, the Company completed the acquisition of interests
in thirteen  offshore  blocks  comprising  six fields in the Gulf of Mexico from
Amoco Production Company.  Proved reserves, net to the interests acquired, as of
September 1, 1996 , the effective date of the Amoco Acquisition,  were 1,953,000
barrels of oil and  condensate  and 28.6 Bcf of natural gas, based upon internal
reserve  reports  prepared by the  Company.  The  purchase  price for the assets
acquired  in  this  transaction  was  $40.4  million,  paid by the  issuance  of
2,000,000  Common  Shares  and by  payment  to  Amoco  of $32  million  in cash.
Concurrently  with this transaction the Company entered into a new Bank Facility
with First Union  National Bank of North Carolina and Banque Paribas under which
its  reducing  revolving  loan was  increased  to $40  million,  with an initial
borrowing base (credit limit) of $35 million. In addition to that facility,  the
Company  borrowed  $17 million  pursuant to the  Tranche A  Convertible  and the
Tranche B Bridge Loan Subordinated Notes,  provided by lenders investing through
Kayne, Anderson Investment Management, Inc.

           On July 26, 1995, the Company completed the acquisition of all of the
offshore  oil  and  gas  properties  in the  Gulf  of  Mexico  owned  by  Zapata
Exploration  Company,  the "Zapata  Properties." Proved reserves at December 31,
1994  attributable to the oil and gas interests  acquired,  net to the Company's
interest,  were 308,000 barrels of oil and 27.8 Bcf of natural gas, based upon a
rolling forward of reserve reports of Zapata's  independent  petroleum engineers
as of October 1,  1994.  The  purchase  price for the  Zapata  properties  and a
related  receivable of $174,000 ($84,000 at December 31, 1995) was $2,748,000 in
cash and an  obligation  to pay a  production  payment to Zapata based on future
production. See "Properties - Zapata Properties."

           On November 22, 1996, the Company closed its sale of the Bayou Sorrel
Field  to  National  Energy  Group,  Inc.  for a  sales  price  of $11  million,
consisting  of $9 million in cash and 477,612  shares of National  Energy Group,
Inc.  common  stock,  which were  valued at $2 million as of the  closing  date.
Because the sale was effective  September 1, September  revenues and expenses of
the Bayou Sorrel Field are not inlcuded in the  Statement of Income for the Nine
Months Ended September 30, 1996.
    















<PAGE>

                                  PANACO, INC.
              Pro Forma Combined Statement of Income (Operations)
                  For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 1996
                  (Amounts in thousands except per share data)
                                  (Unaudited)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                                                                       Amoco                  Bayou
                                                                     Properties               Sorrel
                                                                      Pro Forma  PANACO, Inc.Pro Forma   PANACO, Inc.
                                                             Amoco    Adjustments  Pro Forma Adjustments   Pro Forma
                                               PANACO, Inc.Properties  (Note 2)     Combined  (Note 3)      Combined

REVENUES
<S>                                               <C>      <C>              <C>     <C>      <C>            <C>    
      Oil and gas sales                           $13,257  $11,135          $0      $24,392  ($2,010)       $22,382

COSTS AND EXPENSES
      Lease operating                               6,049    3,158         108        9,315     (733)         8,582
      Depreciation, depletion and amortization      4,981        0       5,655       10,636     (888)         9,748
      Exploration expenses                              0        0           0            0         0             0
      Provision for losses and (gains) on
           disposition and write-down of assets       (4)        0           0          (4)         0           (4)
      General and administrative                      573        0           0          573         0           573
      Production and ad valorem taxes                 429        0           0          429     (239)           190
      West Delta fire loss                            500        0           0          500         0           500
           Total                                   12,528    3,158       5,763       21,449   (1,860)        19,589

NET OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)                           729    7,977     (5,763)        2,943     (150)         2,793

OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)
      Interest expense (net)                      (1,347)        0     (1,611)      (2,958)       588       (2,370)

NET INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES               (618)    7,977     (7,374)         (15)       438           423

INCOME TAXES (BENEFIT)                                  0        0           0            0         0             0

NET INCOME (LOSS)                                  ($618)   $7,977    ($7,374)        ($15)      $438          $423

EARNINGS (LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE                  ($0.05)                           ($0.00)                   $0.03

      Weighted average shares outstanding          12,253                2,000       14,253                  14,253


The  accompanying  notes to financial  statements  are an integral  part of this
statement
</TABLE>

<PAGE>


                                  PANACO, Inc.

              Pro Forma Combined Statement of Income (Operations)
                  For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 1995
                  (Amounts in thousands except per share data)
                                  (Unaudited)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                                        Pro Forma       PANACO, Inc.
                                                                       Zapata           Amoco          Adjustments        Pro Forma
                                                   PANACO, Inc.      Properties      Properties         (Note 2)           Combined

REVENUES
<S>                                                  <C>               <C>             <C>                    <C>           <C>    
      Oil and gas sales                              $13,660           $3,623          $9,525                 $0            $26,808

COSTS AND EXPENSES
      Lease operating                                  5,729            1,460           1,906                314              9,409
      Depreciation, depletion and amortization         6,277                0               0              8,179             14,456
      Exploration expenses                             2,174                0               0                  0              2,174
      Provision for losses and (gains) on
           disposition and write-down of assets            0                0               0                  0                  0
      General and administrative                         442                0               0                  0                442
      Production and ad valorem taxes                    810                0               0                  0                810
           Total                                      15,432            1,460           1,906              8,493             27,291

NET OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)                          (1,772)            2,163           7,619            (8,493)              (483)

OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)
      Interest expense (net)                           (720)                0               0            (2,311)            (3,031)

NET INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES                (2,492)            2,163           7,619           (10,804)            (3,514)

INCOME TAXES (BENEFIT)                                     0                0               0                  0                  0

NET INCOME (LOSS)                                   ($2,492)           $2,163          $7,619          ($10,804)           ($3,514)

EARNINGS (LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE                     ($0.21)                                                                ($0.26)

      Weighted average shares outstanding             11,649                                               2,000             13,649

</TABLE>

The  accompanying  notes to financial  statements  are an integral  part of this
statement

<PAGE>










               NOTES TO UNAUDITED PRO FORMA COMBINED STATEMENTS OF
                  INCOME (OPERATIONS) For the nine months ended
                           September 30, 1996 and 1995


1.         Basis of Presentation

   
           The Unaudited Pro Forma Statement of Income (Operations) for the nine
months ended  September  30, 1996 and  1995present  the combined  effects of the
acquisition of the Amoco Properties, which closed on October 8, 1996, the Zapata
Properties,  closed  on July 26,  1995 and the sale of the Bayou  Sorrel  Field,
closed  on  November  22,  1996,  as if  all  of  these  transactions  had  been
consummated on January 1, 1995.

           Because the Bayou  Sorrel  Field was  purchased on December 28, 1995,
there was no activity  included in the Company's  results of operations in 1995,
and therefore, no pro forma elimination adjustments necessary for 1995.

           The results of the Zapata  properties  are included in the  Company's
1995 results of operations  after the closing date, July 26, 1995. The pro forma
adjustments  for the Zapata  properties  are only for the period of January 1 to
July 25,  1995.  There  are no pro  forma  adjustments  in 1996  for the  Zapata
Properties  as the results from these  properties  are included in the Company's
results of operations in 1996.

           Each period  presented  includes  the  issuance of  2,000,000  Common
Shares to Amoco Production Company in connection with the Amoco Acquisition.

            There are also no pro forma  entries for General and  Administrative
expenses because the Company  anticipates no increases in this category based on
the nature of the assets acquired.
    

2.         Amoco and Zapata Properties Pro Forma Adjustments

   
           Additional lease operating  expenses of $108,000 in 1996 and $314,000
in 1995 represent the estimated  additional  insurance costs of owning the Amoco
Properties  and the Zapata  Properties.  These amounts are  estimated  using the
Company's current insurance rates for owning the properties  acquired or similar
properties.

           Additional  depletion and depreciation  expense of $5,629,000 in 1996
and $8,179,000 in 1995 represents the estimated  depletion and  depreciation for
assets acquired in the respective  acquisitions assuming the purchase prices and
proved  reserve  amounts were identical to those that existed at the time of the
actual acquisitions.

           Additional  interest  expense of $2,154,000 in 1996 and $2,311,000 in
1995 represents the increased  borrowings at January 1, 1995. The purchase price
assumed for each  acquisition is the same as at the actual date of  acquisition.
It is  assumed  that  cash on hand at the  beginning  of 1995  was  used for the
acquisitions,  with the  balance  of any cash  required  being  funded  with the
Company's  Bank  Facility and the 1996  Subordinated  Notes,  using the rates in
effect at the time of the acquisition for the Bank Facility and 12% for the 1996
Subordinated  Notes, also the same rate received at the time of the acquisition.
These  assumptions would have required the Company to borrow $32 million for the
cash portion of the Amoco  Acquisition,  $17 million under the 12%  subordinated
Notes and $15  million  under  the  Company's  Bank  Facility,  with an  assumed
interest rate of 7.25%, the actual weighted average rate the Company incurred at
the time of the acquisition.
    

3.         Bayou Sorrel Pro Forma Adjustments

   
           The  adjustments  with  respect to the sale of the Bayou Sorrel Field
represent  the  revenues  and expenses of the Field from January 1 to August 31,
1996.  Interest  expense is reduced to reflect the  elimination of the financing
for the  acquisition,  closed on December  28, 1995.  The  reduction in interest
expense is based on the Company's pro forma  elimination of the debt  associated
with the purchase of the Bayou Sorrel Field.
    


<PAGE>



   
The Company borrowed $10.5 million for the purchase which closed on December 28,
1995,  and had reduced this amount  throughout  1996. The interest rate averaged
approximately  7.5%.  The  purchase  price for the Field was  $10,455,000  which
included a related receivable of $600,000 and a brokers fee of $205,000.

           Although  the sale of the Bayou  Sorrel  field closed on November 22,
1996,  the buyer  assumed all  benefits and  liabilities  of the field after the
effective date of the sale, September 1, 1996.
    



<PAGE>




Report of Independent Public Accountants



To the Board of Directors
PANACO, Inc.


We have audited the  accompanying  Statement  of Revenues  and Direct  Operating
Expenses of the Amoco  Properties  (to be acquired by PANACO,  Inc.) for each of
the three years in the period ended  December 31, 1995.  This  statement and the
notes  thereto  are  the  responsibility  of  PANACO,  Inc.'s  management.   Our
responsibility is to express an opinion on the statement based on our audit.

We conducted our audit in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards.
Those standards  require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable
assurance about whether the Statement of Revenues and Direct Operating  Expenses
is free of material misstatement.  An audit includes examining, on a test basis,
evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the statement.  An audit also
includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made
by  management,   as  well  as  evaluating  the  overall   financial   statement
presentation.  We believe  that our audit  provides a  reasonable  basis for our
opinion.

In our opinion, the Statement of Revenues and Direct Operating Expenses referred
to above  presents  fairly,  in all material  respects,  the revenues and direct
operating  expenses of the Amoco  Properties  for each of the three years in the
period ended December 31, 1995, in conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles.





Arthur Andersen LLP


Kansas City, Missouri
September 6, 1996




<PAGE>




                                AMOCO PROPERTIES

               STATEMENT OF REVENUES AND DIRECT OPERATING EXPENSES

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                                           Year Ended December 31               Nine Months Ended September 30
                                           ----------------------               ------------------------------
                                                                                        (Unaudited)

                                   1995           1994           1993               1996             1995
                                   ----           ----           ----               ----             ----


Revenues:

<S>                            <C>             <C>            <C>               <C>              <C>        
         Gas                   $ 8,769,000     $ 7,346,000    $ 8,459,000       $  7,923,000     $ 6,669,000

         Oil & Condensate        3,759,000       3,789,000      3,620,000          3,212,000       2,856,000
                               ------------    ------------   ------------       ------------     -----------

Total Revenues                 $12,528,000     $11,135,000    $12,079,000       $11,135,000      $ 9,525,000
                               ===========     ===========    ===========       ===========      ===========

Direct Operating Expenses      $ 2,991,000     $ 3,158,000    $ 2,798,000       $  3,158,000     $ 1,906,000
                               ===========     ===========    ===========       ============     ===========

</TABLE>






























                                     See accompanying notes to this statement.


<PAGE>



                                AMOCO PROPERTIES
                     NOTES TO THE STATEMENT OF REVENUES AND
                            DIRECT OPERATING EXPENSES

              FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1995, 1994 AND 1993

Note 1 -  SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The  financial  statements  require the use of estimates,  and when  applicable,
specific information  regarding  significant estimates embodied in the financial
statements have been disclosed.  The Statement of Revenues and Direct  Operating
Expenses was prepared for purposes of complying  with the rules and  regulations
of the Securities  and Exchange  Commission and is not intended to be a complete
presentation  of the  financial  position or results of  operations of the Amoco
Properties.

Acquisition
The Amoco  Properties  are to be acquired by the Company on October 8, 1996 from
Amoco Production  Company  (seller)  pursuant to the purchase and sale agreement
dated  August 26,  1996.  The  properties  to be acquired  are Amoco  Production
Company's existing interests in the following offshore blocks:  East Breaks 160,
East Breaks  161,  High Island (HI) 302, HI 309, HI 310, HI 330, HI 349, HI 474,
HI 489, HI 499, a portion of the HI 475 Block,  West  Cameron  (WC) 613,  and WC
144.

Revenue Recognition
Revenues  are  recorded  on an accrual  basis,  with  volumes  and prices  being
estimated for properties  during periods when actual  production  information is
not available.  Revenues are recognized based on volumes of production taken and
sold by Amoco which is not materially  different from the entitlement method for
the  three  year  period  ending  December  31,  1995.  For each of the  periods
presented,  Amoco sold  substantially all of their production to a related party
at market based prices.

Direct Operating Expenses
Direct operating  expenses include  necessary and ordinary  expenses to maintain
production.  Insurance  expense is not included since sufficient  information is
not available from the Seller.  Depreciation,  depletion and amortization is not
included.  No severance tax expense is included for the Amoco Properties,  since
the production  from federal  offshore waters are not subject to state severance
taxes.

General, Administrative, and Overhead  Expenses
General,  administrative,  and overhead expenses are not presented as sufficient
information is not available from the Seller.

Note 2 -  SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION RELATED TO OIL AND GAS PRODUCING ACTIVITIES
          --------------------------------------------------------------------
          (UNAUDITED)

Quantities of Oil and Gas Reserves
The estimates of proved developed and proved  undeveloped  reserve quantities of
the Amoco Properties at December 31, 1995 are based upon PANACO's computation at
September 1, 1996 from a report of independent petroleum engineers,  retained by
Amoco, and do not purport to reflect  realizable values or fair market values of
the properties'  reserves.  It should be emphasized  that reserve  estimates are
inherently imprecise and accordingly,  these estimates are expected to change as
future information becomes available. These are estimates only and should not be
construed  as exact  amounts.  All  reserves  are located in the United  States.
Reserve  quantities for the Amoco  Properties were not available at December 31,
1992,  1993,  1994,  and 1995, and the balances at those dates were derived from
production activity during 1993, 1994, 1995 and 1996.

Proved  reserves  are  estimated  reserves  of  natural  gas and  crude oil that
geological and engineering  data  demonstrate  with  reasonable  certainty to be
recoverable in future years from known reservoirs under existing


<PAGE>



economic and operating conditions.  Proved developed reserves are those expected
to be recovered through existing wells, equipment, and operating methods.


Proved developed and                OIL (BBLS)             GAS (MCF)
undeveloped reserves

Estimated reserves as of
   December 31, 1992                 2,772,000             45,227,000

Production                            (216,000)            (3,874,000)
                                     ---------            -----------

Estimated reserves as of
   December 31, 1993                 2,556,000             41,353,000

Production                            (236,000)            (4,057,000)
                                      ---------            -----------

Estimated reserves as of
   December 31, 1994                 2,320,000              37,296,000

Production                            (216,000)            (5,704,000)
                                    ------------           ------------

Estimated reserves as of
    December 31,1995                 2,104,000              31,592,000
                                     =========             ===========

Proved developed reserves:
                                     OIL (BBLS)            GAS (MCF)

   December 31, 1993                 2,185,000             35,202,000
                                     =========             ==========

   December 31, 1994                 1,949,000             31,145,000
                                     =========             ==========

   December 31, 1995                 1,733,000             25,441,000
                                     =========             ==========

Standardized Measure of Discounted Future Net Cash Flows
Future cash inflows are computed by applying  September,  1996 prices of oil and
gas  (with  consideration  of  price  changes  only to the  extent  provided  by
contractual  arrangements) to the estimated future  production of proved oil and
gas reserves.  Estimates of future development and production costs are based on
September,  1996 costs and assume continuation of existing economic  conditions.
The  estimated  future  net cash  flows are then  discounted  using a rate of 10
percent per year to reflect the estimated  timing of the future cash flows.  The
standardized  measure of discounted cash flows is the future net cash flows less
the discount at September 1, 1996.














<PAGE>




The accompanying  table reflects the standardized  measure of discounted  future
cash flows  relating to the proved oil and gas reserves of the Amoco  properties
as of the three years ended December 31:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                1995                               1994                               1993
                                                ----                               ----                               ----



<S>                                    <C>                     <C>                       <C>         
Future cash inflows                      $108,399,000            $120,927,000              $132,062,000
Future development
  and production costs                     31,112,000              34,103,000                37,261,000
                                         ------------            ------------            --------------
Future net cash flows                      77,287,000              86,824,000                94,801,000
10% annual discount
  to reflect timing of
  cash flows                               23,045,000              23,045,000                23,045,000
                                        -------------          --------------            --------------
Standardized measure
  before income taxes                    $ 54,242,000            $ 63,779,000             $  71,756,000
                                         ============           =============             =============
</TABLE>


Changes Relating to the Standardized Measure of Discounted Future Net Cash Flows
The  accompanying  table  reflects  the changes in the  standardized  measure of
discounted  future  net  cash  flows  from  the  sales  of oil and  gas,  net of
production  costs  attributable  to  proved  oil and gas  reserves  of the Amoco
properties for each of the three years ended December 31:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                             1995                     1994                   1993
                                             ----                     ----                   ----


<S>                                     <C>                     <C>                      <C>         
Beginning balance                       $ 63,779,000            $ 71,756,000             $ 81,037,000
  Sales of oil and gas,
  net of production
  costs                                    9,537,000               7,977,000                9,281,000
                                       ---------------          --------------           --------------

Ending balance                         $  54,242,000            $ 63,779,000             $ 71,756,000
                                       =============            ============             ============
</TABLE>





<PAGE>




   No  dealer,  salesperson  or other  person  has been  authorized  to give any
information or to make any representations not contained in this Prospectus, and
if given or made, such information or representation  must not be relied upon as
having been authorized by the Company or the  Underwriter.  Neither the delivery
of this Prospectus nor any sale hereunder shall, under any circumstances, create
any  implication  that there has been no change in the  affairs  of the  Company
since the date hereof. This Prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or a
solicitation of an offer to buy any securities to any person in any jurisdiction
in which such offer or solicitation  is not  authorized,  or in which the person
making  such offer or  solicitation  is not  authorized,  or in which the person
making such offer or solicitation is not qualified to do so, or to any person to
whom it is unlawful to make such an offer or solicitation.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                                             TABLE OF CONTENTS

<S>                                                 <C>                              <C>          
Prospectus Summary.............................     2                                8,403,305    
Risk Factors...................................     5                              Common Shares  
Use of Proceeds................................     9                                             
Capitalization.................................    10                                             
Price Range of Common Shares...................    11                                             
Dividend Policy................................    11                                             
Pro Forma Financial Information................    11                            [GRAPHIC OMITTED]
Selected Financial Data........................    18                                             
Management's Discussion and Analysis...........    19                                             
The Company....................................    26                                             
Properties.....................................    36                                             
Management.....................................    44                                             
Principal Shareholders.........................    52                                PROSPECTUS                      
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions     53                                   , 1997                       
Selling Shareholders...........................    54                                                                
Description of Capital Shares and Other                                                                              
     Securities................................    55                                                                
Underwriting...................................    60                                                                
Shares Eligible for Future Sale................    62                                               
Other Matters..................................    63                                               
Legal Matters..................................    63                                               
Experts........................................    64                             Nolan Securities  
Glossary of Selected Oil and Gas Terms.........    65                                Corporation    
Index to Financial Statements..................    F 1                           
                                                                                
                                                                                
</TABLE>
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
   Until ,all dealers  effecting  transactions in the Common Shares,  whether or
not participating in this distribution, may be required to deliver a Prospectus.
This is in addition to the  obligation  of dealers to deliver a Prospectus  when
acting  as  Underwriter   and  with  respect  to  their  unsold   allotments  or
subscriptions.

<PAGE>



                                     PART II

                     INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 13.  Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

         The estimated expenses in connection with the Offering are as set forth
in the following table. All amounts except the SEC registration fee and the NASD
filing fee are estimates.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

<S>                                                                                    <C>           
        SEC Registration Fee                                                           $    16,106.00
        NASD Filing Fee and legal clearance fee                                              5,815.00
        Blue Sky Legal Fees and Filing and Qualification Fees                               11,000.00
        Printing and Engraving Expenses                                                     30,000.00
        Legal Fees and Expenses                                                            200,000.00
        Accounting Fees and Expenses                                                        25,000.00
        Transfer Agent's Fees                                                                2,000.00
        Miscellaneous Expenses (including travel and promotion expenses)                    10,000.00
                                                                                          -----------

             TOTAL                                                                     $   299,921.00
</TABLE>

Item 14.  Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

         Article Twelve of the Certificate of Incorporation of PANACO, INC. (the
"Company")  provides that the Company must  indemnify its officers and directors
to the extent  allowed by the  Delaware  General  Corporation  Law.  Pursuant to
Section 145 of the Delaware General  Corporation Law, the Company  generally has
the power to indemnify  its present and former  directors  and officers  against
expenses and  liabilities  incurred by them in connection with any suit to which
they are, or are  threatened  to be made, a party by reason of their  serving in
those  positions  so long as they  acted  in good  faith  and in a  manner  they
reasonably  believed  to be in, or not  opposed  to, the best  interests  of the
Company,  and with respect to any criminal action,  they had no reasonable cause
to believe their conduct was unlawful.  With respect to suits by or in the right
of the Company, however, indemnification is generally limited to attorney's fees
and other  expenses and is not  available if the person is adjudged to be liable
to the Company unless the court determines that  indemnification is appropriate.
The statute expressly provides that the power to indemnify authorized thereby is
not  exclusive  of any  rights  granted  under any  by-law,  agreement,  vote of
shareholders or disinterest  directors,  or otherwise.  The Company also has the
power to  purchase  and  maintain  insurance  for its  directors  and  officers.
Additionally,  Article Twelve of the Certificate of Incorporation provides that,
in the event that an officer or director files suit against the Company  seeking
indemnification of liabilities or expenses  incurred,  the burden will be on the
Company  to prove  that the  indemnification  would not be  permitted  under the
Delaware General Corporation Law.

         The preceding discussion of the Company's  Certificate of Incorporation
and Section 145 of the Delaware  General  Corporation  Law is not intended to be
exhaustive and is qualified in its entirety by the Certificate of  Incorporation
and Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law.

Item 15.  Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities.

         During  the three  years  preceding  the  filing  of this  Registration
Statement,  the Company sold the following  securities in transactions that were
not registered  under the  Securities Act of 1933, as amended,  in reliance upon
the  exemption  provided by Section 4(2)  thereof and the rules and  regulations
promulgated thereunder.

                                                       II-1

<PAGE>




         1.  Effective  December  31,  1993,  the  Company  concluded  a private
         placement in which it issued promissory notes in an aggregate amount of
         $5,000,000,  the 1993  Subordinated  Notes, and warrants to purchase an
         aggregate of 816,526  Common  Shares to six  investors for an aggregate
         consideration  of $5,000,000.  Each investor  executed a loan agreement
         confirming  that it was an accredited  investor (as defined in Rule 501
         under the Securities  Act) and  containing  other  representations  and
         agreements customary for private placement transactions.

         2. Effective October 8, 1996, the Company concluded a private placement
         in  which  it  issued  promissory  notes  in  an  aggregate  amount  of
         $17,000,000,  the 1996 Tranche A Convertible Subordinated Notes and the
         1996 Tranche B Bridge Loan Subordinated Notes, and warrants to purchase
         an aggregate  of  2,060,606  Common  Shares to seven  investors  for an
         aggregate  consideration of $17,000,000.  Each investor executed a loan
         agreement  confirming that it was an accredited investor (as defined in
         Rule 501 under the Securities Act) and containing other representations
         and agreements customary for private placement transactions.

         3. On October 8, 1996,  the Company issued  2,000,000  Common Shares to
         Amoco Production  Company as part of the purchase price for certain oil
         and gas  properties,  in a private  placement.  The  purchase  and sale
         agreement  confirmed that Amoco is an accredited investor and contained
         the  representations  and  agreements  customary  in private  placement
         transactions.

         4. In the past three years  various  persons and entities have acquired
         Common Shares upon the exercise of options and warrants.  In 1993 seven
         investors  acquired 575,000 Common Shares.  In 1994 eighteen  investors
         acquired  1,719,900 Common Shares.  In 1995 twelve  investors  acquired
         1,255,447  Common Shares.  In each instance the person or entity was an
         officer or former  officer,  director  or former  director,  lenders or
         investment  bankers.  In  each  instance  the  documentation  contained
         appropriate   representations   and   agreements   to   establish   the
         availability of the exemption.

         5. In the first quarter 1996 the six investors,  described in paragraph
         (1) above,  exercised  their  warrants to acquire  the  816,526  Common
         Shares,  which were issued in reliance upon the exemption and the facts
         relied upon above.

Item 16. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.

         (a) Exhibits

     Exhibit
     Number      Description
     1.0*** Underwriting Agreement

     1.1*** Selling Stockholders' Custody Agreement

     1.2*** Selling Stockholders' Power of Attorney

     3.1* Certificate of Incorporation of the Company.

     3.2*  Amendment  to  Certificate  of  Incorporation  of the  Company  dated
November 19, 1991.

     3.3* By-laws of the Company.

     3.4  Amendment  to  Certificate  of  Incorporation  of  the  Company  dated
September  24,  1996 filed as an exhibit to the Amended  Current  Report on Form
8-K/A,  filed with the Commission on November 18, 1996, and incorporated  herein
by this reference.

                                                       II-2

<PAGE>



     4.1* Article Fifth of the  Certificate of  Incorporation  of the Company in
Exhibit 3.1.

     4.2* Form of Certificate of Common Shares par value $.01 per share,  of the
Company.

     4.3 Rights Agreement, dated as of August 3, 1995, between PANACO, Inc., and
American Stock Transfer and Trust Company,  which includes as Exhibit A the Form
of Certificate of Designation of Series A Preferred Stock, Exhibit B the Form of
Rights  Certificate  and Exhibit C the  Summary of Rights to Purchase  Preferred
Stock was filed as Exhibit 1 to the  Registration  Statement on Form 8-A,  filed
with the  Commission  on  August  21,  1995,  and  incorporated  herein  by this
reference.

     5 Form of Opinion of Shughart Thomson & Kilroy, P.C. regarding the legality
of the securities being registered.

     10.1* PANACO, Inc. Long-Term Incentive Plan.

     10.7* Senior Second  Mortgage Term Loan  Agreement as of December 31, 1993,
between PANACO, Inc., and seven lenders represented by Kayne Anderson Investment
Management, Inc.

     10.9  Purchase  and Sale  Agreement,  dated July 12, 1995,  between  Zapata
Exploration  Company,  Zapata  Offshore  Gathering Co., Inc., and PANACO,  Inc.,
filed as an exhibit to the Current  Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission
on August 1, 1995, and incorporated herein by this reference.

     10.11  Assignment/East  Breaks 110,  effective October 1, 1994, from Zapata
Exploration Company to PANACO,  Inc. The Assignment/East  Breaks 109 document is
identical,  filed as an exhibit to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the
Commission on August 1, 1995, and incorporated herein by this reference.

     10.12  Purchase and Sale Agreement  dated November 30, 1995,  between Shell
Western E&P, Inc. and PANACO, Inc., filed as an exhibit to the Current Report on
Form 8-K filed, with the Commission on January 31, 1996, and incorporated herein
by this reference.

     10.13** PANACO, Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Plan & Trust.

     10.14  Purchase and Sale  Agreement,  dated August 26, 1996,  between Amoco
Production  Company and PANACO,  Inc., filed as an exhibit to the Current Report
on Form 8-K,  filed with the  Commission on October 28, 1996,  and  incorporated
herein by this reference.

     10.15 Amended and Restated Credit  Agreement,  dated October 7, 1996, among
First Union National Bank of North Carolina, as agent, and the lenders signatory
thereto,  and PANACO, Inc., filed as an exhibit to the Amended Current Report on
Form 8-K/A,  filed with the  Commission on November 18, 1996,  and  incorporated
herein by this reference.


     10.16 Senior  Subordinated  Mortgage Master Loan Agreement dated October 8,
1996 between PANACO,  Inc. and Offense Group Associates,  L.P., Kayne,  Anderson
Non-Traditional   Investments,   L.P.,  ARBCO  Associates,   L.P.,   Opportunity
Associates,  L.P., Kayne, Anderson Offshore Limited, Foremost Insurance Company,
TOPA  Insurance  Company and EOS  Partners,  L.P. and Offense,  as agent for the
Lenders,  filed as an exhibit to the Amended Current Report on Form 8-K/A, filed
with the  Commission  on November  18,  1996,  and  incorporated  herein by this
reference.

     10.17 Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated November 11, 1996 between National
Energy Group,  Inc. and PANACO,  Inc., filed as an exhibit to the Current Report
on Form 8-K filed with the  Commission  on January 29,  1997,  and  incorporated
herein by this reference.
                                                       II-3

<PAGE>


     10.18***PANACO,  Inc.  Warrant  agreement by and between  PANACO,  Inc. and
Nolan Securities Corporation, dated            , 1997.

     23.1*** Consent of Barrett and Associates.

     23.2 Consent of Ryder Scott Company.

     23.3 Consent of McCune Engineering, P.E.

     23.4  Consent of Shughart  Thomson & Kilroy P.C.  (included in Exhibit 5 to
this Registration Statement.)

     23.5*** Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP.

     24 Power of Attorney (included on signature page).

     27 Financial Data Schedule.

     *Filed with the  Registration  Statement on Form S-4,  Commission  File No.
33-44486,  initially  filed December 13, 1991, and  incorporated  herein by this
reference.
     ** Filed with the Registration  Statement on Form S-1,  Commission file No.
     33-81058,  initially  filed July 1, 1994, and  incorporated  herein by this
     reference.

     ***Filed with this Amendment Number 1.

      All others filed with the original  Registration  Statement dated December
19,  1996 or  incorporated  herein  by  reference  to  prior  filings  with  the
Commission.

     (b)      Financial Statement Schedules

              None.

         All other  statements and schedules for which  provision is made in the
applicable  regulation  of the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  have been
omitted  because  they  are  not  required  under  related  instruction  or  are
inapplicable,  or the  information  is shown  in the  financial  statements  and
related notes.

Item 17. Undertakings.

         Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors,  officers and controlling  persons of
the  registrant  pursuant  to  the  foregoing  provisions,   or  otherwise,  the
registrant  has been advised that in the opinion of the  Securities and Exchange
Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act
and is, therefore,  unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification
against such  liabilities  (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses
incurred or paid by a director,  officer or controlling person of the registrant
in the  successful  defense of any action,  suit or  proceeding)  is asserted by
securities being  registered,  the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its
counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent,  submit to a court
of appropriate  jurisdiction the question whether such  indemnification by it is
against  public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final
adjudication of such issue.

         The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that:

(1) For purposes of determining  any liability under the Securities Act of 1933,
the  information  omitted  from  the  form of  prospectus  filed as part of this
Registration  Statement  in reliance  upon Rule 430A and  contained in a form of
prospectus  filed by the registrant  pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h)
under  the  Securities  Act  shall  be  deemed  to be part of this  Registration
Statement as of the time it was declared effective.

                                                       II-4

<PAGE>




(2) For purposes of determining  any liability under the Securities Act of 1933,
each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed
to be a new Registration  Statement  relating to the securities offered therein,
and the  offering  of such  securities  at that  time  shall be deemed to be the
initial bona fide offering thereof.

                                                    SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the  requirements of the Securities Act, the registrant has
duly caused this  amendment  to the  Registration  Statement to be signed on its
behalf by the  undersigned,  thereunto  duly  authorized,  in the City of Kansas
City, State of Missouri on January 30, 1997.

                                                   PANACO, INC.


                                           By: /s/ H. James Maxwell
                                               H. James Maxwell, President & CEO

         Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act of  1933,  this
Registration  Statement  has  been  signed  by  the  following  persons  in  the
capacities and on the dates indicated.

         We, the undersigned  directors and officers of PANACO, Inc., a Delaware
corporation,  hereby  constitute  and appoint H. James Maxwell and Todd R. Bart,
and  each of them,  the true and  lawful  agents  and  attorneys-in-fact  of the
undersigned   with  full   power  and   authority   in  said   agents   and  the
attorneys-in-fact,  and in any one or more of them, to sign for the  undersigned
and in their  respective  names as directors and officers of the Corporation the
Registration  Statement  of the  Corporation  on forms S-1 to be filed  with the
Securities and Exchange Commission,  Washington,  D.C., under the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended,  and sign any amendment or amendments to such  Registration
Statement,  in the matter of the proposed public offering by the Corporation and
certain  shareholders of the  Corporation,  hereby  ratifying and confirming all
acts taken by such agents and  attorneys-in-fact  or any one of them,  as herein
authorized.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

    Signature                                     Title                                        Date


<S>                                                                                             <C> <C> 
/s/ H. James Maxwell             Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer,            Jan 30, 1997
H. James Maxwell,                President, and Director (principal executive officer)


/s/ Bob F. Mallory               Chief Operating Officer, Executive Vice President,         Jan 30, 1997
Bob F. Mallory                   and Director


/s/ Todd R. Bart                 Chief Financial Officer, Secretary, and                    Jan 30, 1997
Todd R. Bart                     Treasurer


/s/ H. James Maxwell, as agent   Executive Vice President and Director                      Jan 30, 1997
Larry M. Wright

/s/ H. James Maxwell, as agent   Director                                                   Jan 30, 1997
N. Lynn Sieverling

/s/ H. James Maxwell, as agent   Director                                                   Jan 30, 1997
A. Theodore Stautberg, Jr.
</TABLE>

                                                       II-5

<PAGE>

                                  Exhibit 1.0

                                  PANACO, Inc.
                                8,403,305 Shares

                                  Common Stock
                                 $.01 par value
                             Underwriting Agreement

                              [______  ___], 1997



Nolan Securities Corporation as representative


    of the several underwriters named
    on Schedule I hereto
7 Academy Street
Salisbury, Connecticut  06068
Dear Sirs:



     PANACO, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Company), proposes to issue and
sell  6,000,000  shares of its Common Stock,  $.01 par value per share  (Common
Stock),  and certain  stockholders  of the Company  named on Schedule II hereto
(the  Selling   Stockholders)  propose  to  sell  an  aggregate  of  2,403,305
outstanding shares of the Common Stock (the shares to be sold by the Company and
the Selling Stockholders hereinafter referred to as the Best Efforts Shares).

     The Company and the Selling  Stockholders  hereby  confirm their  agreement
with the several  underwriters  named on Schedule I hereto (the  Underwriters)
(of whom you are acting as the representative (the Representative)),  that the
Underwriters  shall act as  exclusive  agent  for the  Company  and the  Selling
Stockholders  to sell, on a best efforts  basis,  up to an aggregate  minimum of
7,247,850  shares (the  Minimum  Number of Best  Efforts  Shares) and up to an
aggregate  maximum of  8,403,305  shares (the  Maximum  Number of Best  Efforts
Shares) of Common Stock.  The Company and the Selling  Stockholders  understand
that the  Underwriters  are acting on a best efforts basis in connection  with
this offering and that the Minimum Number of Best Efforts Shares will be sold on
an all or none basis, such that no Best Efforts Shares will be sold unless all
of the Minimum Number of Best Efforts Shares are sold.

     The  Company  also  proposes  to  grant  to the  Underwriters  the  option,
exercisable at the sole discretion of the  Representative,  to cause the Company
to issue and sell up to 1,260,496
<PAGE>


additional  shares of Common  Stock (the Option  Shares and together  with the
Best Efforts  Shares and the Option Shares are  collectively  referred to as the
Shares).

     The Company has filed with the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  (the
Commission) a registration  statement relating to the Shares. The registration
statement  contains a prospectus to be used in connection  with the offering and
sale of the  Shares.  The  registration  statement,  as  amended  at the time it
becomes  effective,  including the information (if any) deemed to be part of the
registration  statement at the time of effectiveness pursuant to Rule 430A under
the  Securities  Act of 1933, as amended,  and the rules and  regulations of the
Commission   promulgated   pursuant  thereto   (collectively,   the  Act),  is
hereinafter referred to as the Registration Statement.

1.       Representations and Warranties.

     (a)  The  Company  represents  and  warrants  to,  and  agrees  with,  each
Underwriter and each Selling Stockholder that:

     (i)  The  Registration  Statement  has  become  effective;  no  stop  order
suspending the effectiveness of the Registration  Statement is in effect, and no
proceedings for such purpose are pending before or threatened by the Commission.

     (ii)  Each  part of the  Registration  Statement,  when  such  part  became
effective,  complied,  and each  such  part,  as  amended  or  supplemented,  if
applicable,   will  comply,  in  all  material  respects,  with  the  applicable
requirements of the Act; each part of the Registration Statement, when such part
became  effective,  did not and each such part, as amended or  supplemented,  if
applicable, will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state any material fact  required to be stated  therein or necessary in order to
make the statements therein not misleading;  and the Prospectus does not contain
and,  as amended or  supplemented,  if  applicable,  will not contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order
to make the statements  therein,  in the light of the circumstances  under which
they were made, not  misleading;  provided,  however,  that the Company makes no
representations or warranties as to the information contained in or omitted from
the  Registration  Statement or the Prospectus  (or any  supplement  thereto) in
reliance upon and in conformity with (1) information furnished in writing to the
Company by or on behalf of any  Underwriter  through the  Representative  or (2)
information  furnished  in writing to the Company by or on behalf of any Selling
Stockholder,  specifically  for use in connection  with the  preparation  of the
Registration  Statement  or the  Prospectus  (or any  supplement  thereto).  The
Preliminary  Prospectus shall mean any preliminary  prospectus with respect to
the offering of the Shares and any  preliminary  prospectus  with respect to the
offering of the Shares included in the
<PAGE>


Registration  Statement.  The form of prospectus relating to the Shares as first
filed  pursuant  to Rule  424(b)  or, if no filing  pursuant  to Rule  424(b) is
required,  such form of  prospectus  included in the  Registration  Statement is
hereinafter referred to as the Prospectus.

     (iii) The Company has been duly  incorporated  and is validly existing as a
corporation   in  good  standing   under  the  laws  of  its   jurisdiction   of
incorporation,  is duly  qualified to do business  and is in good  standing as a
foreign  corporation  in each  jurisdiction  in which its  ownership or lease of
property or the conduct of its business requires such qualification. The Company
does not have any subsidiaries, other than Atlantic Offshore Insurance, Limited.

     (iv) The  Company  has an  authorized  capitalization  as set  forth in the
Prospectus,  and all of the issued  shares of capital  stock of the Company have
been duly and validly  authorized and issued,  are fully paid and non-assessable
and conform to the description  thereof contained in the Prospectus;  the Shares
to be issued and sold by the Company  pursuant to this  Agreement have been duly
and validly  authorized  and, when issued and  delivered in accordance  with the
terms  of this  Agreement,  will be duly  and  validly  issued,  fully  paid and
non-assessable,  and not subject to any  preemptive  or similar  rights and will
conform to the description  thereof  contained in the Prospectus.  The shares of
Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrant (as defined herein) have been
duly  reserved for issuance and upon  issuance  thereof and payment  therefor as
contemplated by the Warrant  Agreement (as defined herein) such shares of Common
Stock will be duly and validly issued,  fully paid and  non-assessable,  and not
subject to any preemptive or similar rights and will conform to the  description
thereof  contained in the  Prospectus.  No sales of securities have been made by
the Company in  violation  of the  provisions  of the Act,  the  Securities  and
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act) or state securities laws.

     (v) The Company has, and is in compliance  with, all terms and  conditions,
necessary consents, licenses,  authorizations,  approvals, orders, certificates,
and permits  required  of and from,  and has made all  declarations  and filings
with,  all  federal,  state,  local  and  other  governmental  authorities,  all
self-regulatory organizations and all courts and tribunals, domestic or foreign,
to own,  lease,  license  and use its  properties  and assets and to conduct its
business in a manner described in the Prospectus, including, without limitation,
all permits,  licenses or other approvals required under  Environmental Laws (as
hereinafter  defined);  there is no pending or, to the knowledge of the Company,
threatened or imminent action,  suit,  proceeding or investigation,  domestic or
foreign,  that  could  reasonably  be  expected  to  result  in the  revocation,
termination or suspension of any such consent, license, authorization, approval,
order, certificate or permit.

     (vi) The financial statements of the Company, together with the related
<PAGE>


notes and schedules,  filed as part of the Registration Statement or included or
incorporated in the  Prospectus,  have for each relevant period been prepared in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent
basis  throughout  the periods  involved,  except as may  otherwise be indicated
therein or in the notes thereto,  and present fairly the financial  position and
cash flow of the Company as of the dates thereof,  and the results of operations
of the Company for the periods covered thereby.

     (vii)  Each  of  Barrett  and  Associates,  who  have  certified  financial
statements  of the Company and  delivered its report with respect to the audited
consolidated  financial  statements and schedules  included in the  Registration
Statement,  and Arthur  Andersen LLP, who have  delivered  the comfort  letter
referred to in Section 5 hereof,  are independent public accountants as required
by the Act.

     (viii) The  Company  maintains  a system of  internal  accounting  controls
sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (1) transactions are executed in
accordance  with  management's  authorizations;  (2) assets are  safeguarded and
access to assets is permitted only in accordance  with  management's  general or
specific authorization;  (3) the recorded accounting for assets is compared with
the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with
respect  to any  differences;  and  (4)  transactions  are  recorded  to  permit
preparation  of financial  statements  in  conformity  with  generally  accepted
accounting  principles  and to  maintain  asset  accountability  and,  as of the
Closing  Date (as  defined in Section 3 hereof),  the Company  will  continue to
maintain such a system.

     (ix) Since the date of the latest audited financial  statements included in
the Registration Statement and Prospectus, except as disclosed in the Prospectus
(1)there  has not occurred any material  adverse  change,  or, to the Company's
knowledge,  any development  involving a prospective material adverse change, in
or affecting the general affairs, management,  financial position, stockholders'
equity or results of  operations  of the Company or in the  business or proposed
business of the Company;  (2)there  has not  occurred any material  transaction
entered into by the Company other than  transactions  in the ordinary  course of
business; (3)the Company has not incurred any material obligations,  contingent
or  otherwise,  that  are  not  disclosed  in  the  Registration  Statement  and
Prospectus;  (4)there  has  not  occurred  any  change  in  the  capital  stock
short-term debt or long-term debt (except current payments) of the Company;  and
(5)the  Company has not sustained any material  loss or  interference  with its
business  from any  labor  dispute  or court or  governmental  action,  order or
decree.

     (x) The  execution,  delivery  and  performance  of this  Agreement  or the
Warrant  Agreement  by  the  Company,   the  consummation  of  the  transactions
contemplated hereby and the issuance and delivery of the Shares hereunder,  will
not conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the
<PAGE>


terms or  provisions  of, or  constitute  a default  under,  (1) any  indenture,
mortgage,  deed of trust,  loan agreement or result in a required  repurchase of
securities  or payment of debt or other  agreement  or  instrument  to which the
Company  is a party  or by which  the  Company  is bound or to which  any of the
property or assets of the Company is subject, (2) any statute or any order, rule
or regulation of any court or  governmental  agency or body having  jurisdiction
over the Company or any of its  properties or assets,  and (3) any provisions of
the charter or by-laws of the Company.

     (xi) No  consent,  approval,  authorization  or  order  of,  or  filing  or
registration with, any court or governmental  agency or body is required for the
execution,  delivery and performance of this Agreement or the Warrant  Agreement
by  the  Company  or  the  consummation  by  the  Company  of  the  transactions
contemplated  hereby or thereby,  except as may be required  under the Act,  and
except consents,  approvals,  authorizations,  registrations  or  qualifications
under  applicable state securities or Blue Sky laws or the by- laws and rules of
the National Association of Securities Dealers,  Inc. (the NASD) in connection
with the purchase and distribution of the Shares.

     (xii)  Each of this  Agreement  and the  Warrant  Agreement  has been  duly
authorized,  executed and delivered by the Company. The execution,  delivery and
performance by the Company of its  obligations  under each of this Agreement and
the Warrant  Agreement  had been duly and validly  authorized  by all  requisite
corporate  acts of the  Company,  and  each of this  Agreement  and the  Warrant
Agreement  constitutes  a legal,  valid and  binding  agreement  of the  Company
enforceable  against the Company in accordance with their respective  terms. The
Company has full power and authority to authorize,  issue and sell the Shares as
contemplated  by the  Agreement,  and the shares of Common Stock  issuable  upon
exercise of the Warrants as contemplated by the Warrant Agreement, in each case,
free of any preemptive rights.

     (xiii) There are no  contracts,  agreements or  understandings  between the
Company and any person  granting such person the right to require the Company to
file a  registration  statement  under the Act with respect to any securities of
the  Company  owned or to be owned by such  person or to require  the Company to
include  such   securities  in  the  securities   registered   pursuant  to  the
Registration  Statement or in any securities  being  registered  pursuant to any
other  registration  statement  filed by the  Company  under the Act,  except as
disclosed in the Registration Statement.

     (xiv) No material  labor dispute with the employees of the Company  exists,
except as described in the  Prospectus,  or is threatened  or imminent;  and the
Company is not aware of any existing,  threatened or imminent labor  disturbance
by  the  employees  of  any  of  its  principal   suppliers,   manufacturers  or
contractors.

     (xv) The Company is insured by insurers of recognized financial
<PAGE>


responsibility  against such losses and risks and in such amounts as are prudent
and  customary in the business in which it is engaged;  the Company has not been
refused any  insurance  coverage  sought or applied  for; and the Company has no
reason  to  believe  that it will not be able to renew  its  existing  insurance
coverage as and when such coverage  expires or to obtain  similar  coverage from
similar  insurers as may be  necessary  to continue  its business at a cost that
would  not  have a  material  adverse  effect  on the  condition,  financial  or
otherwise, or on the earnings, business, operations or prospects of the Company.

     (xvi) The Company is in  compliance  and has complied  with all  applicable
foreign,  federal,  state  and  local  laws  and  regulations  relating  to  the
protection  of human health and safety,  the  environment  or hazardous or toxic
substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants, including, without limitation,
those  applicable to emissions to the  environment,  waste  management and waste
disposal, any capital or operating  expenditures required for clean-up,  closure
of properties or compliance with  environmental  laws or any permit,  license or
approval,  any related  constraints  on operating  activities  and any potential
liabilities to third parties  (collectively,  the Environmental  Laws).  Under
current law, there are no  circumstances  that would prevent,  interfere with or
materially increase the cost of such compliance in the future.

     (xvii) In the  ordinary  course of its  business,  the  Company  conducts a
periodic review of the effect of Environmental Laws on its business,  operations
and  properties  in the course of which it identifies  and evaluates  associated
costs and liabilities (including,  without limitation,  any capital or operating
expenditures  required for clean-up,  closure of  properties or compliance  with
Environmental Laws or any permit,  license or approval,  any related constraints
on operating activities and any potential  liabilities to third parties). On the
basis of such review,  the Company has reasonably  concluded that  Environmental
Laws, and associated  costs and  liabilities  including  common law,  pending or
threatened against or affecting the Company, do not and if determined  adversely
to the Company,  would not, singly or in the aggregate,  have a material adverse
effect on the condition,  financial or otherwise, or on the earnings,  business,
operations,  or prospects of the Company  (Environmental  Claim),  and, to the
Company's  best  knowledge  under  applicable  law, there are no past or present
actions,  activities,  circumstances,  events or incidents,  including,  without
limitation,  releases of any material into the environment that could reasonably
be expected to form the basis of any  Environmental  Claim  against or affecting
the Company.

     (xviii) The Company  has (i) good and  marketable  title to all its oil and
gas properties,  title investigations  having been carried out by the Company in
accordance  with the customary  practice of the oil and gas industry,  (ii)good
and marketable title to its personal properties  (tangible and intangible),  and
(iii)good and marketable  title to its real  properties,  in each case free and
clear of all liens, charges and encumbrances, except for
<PAGE>


liens  disclosed  in the  Prospectus,  defects in title  that do not  materially
interfere with the Company's use made or proposed to be made of such property by
the Company and the ability to conduct its business as currently conducted or to
utilize  such  properties  and  assets  for their  intended  purposes.  Any real
property  and  buildings  held under  lease by the  Company are held by it under
valid,  subsisting and  enforceable  leases and no default is existing under any
such lease that could result in  termination  of such lease by the lessor or any
other person.
     (xix) There are no legal or governmental proceedings,  pending, imminent or
threatened,  against or affecting the Company or any of its assets or properties
that  are  required  to be  disclosed  in  the  Registration  Statement  or  the
Prospectus and are not so described or any statutes,  regulations,  contracts or
other documents that are required to be described in the Registration  Statement
or the Prospectus that are not described or filed as required.

     (xx) The Company is not (1) in violation of its charter and by-laws, (2) in
default,  and no event has occurred that,  with notice or lapse of time or both,
would  constitute a default,  in the due  performance or observance of any term,
covenant or condition contained in any indenture,  mortgage, deed of trust, loan
agreement or other agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it
is bound or to which any of its  properties or assets is subject,  which default
could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the condition,
financial or otherwise, or on the earnings,  business,  operations, or prospects
of the Company or (3) is in violation of any law, ordinance,  governmental rule,
regulation  or court decree to which it or its property or assets may be subject
or has failed to obtain any  license,  permit,  certificate,  franchise or other
governmental  authorization or permit necessary to the ownership of its property
or to the conduct of its business,  which violation or failure could  reasonably
be expected to have a material  adverse  effect on the  condition,  financial or
otherwise,  or on  the  earnings,  business,  operations,  or  prospects  of the
Company.

     (xxi)  Subject to Section  2(c),  there are no claims for  services  in the
nature  of a  finder's  fee with  respect  to the sale of the  Shares  hereunder
resulting  directly or indirectly  from the acts of the Company or its agents or
affiliates for which the Underwriters may be responsible,  other than the fee to
Triumph Securities Corporation described in the Prospectus.

     (xxii) There are no contracts or other  documents  that are required by the
Act to be described in the  Prospectus or filed as exhibits to the  Registration
Statement that have not been so described or filed and each written  contract to
which the Company is a party and to which  reference  is made in the  Prospectus
has been duly and validly  executed,  is in full force and effect in  accordance
with its respective terms,  and, except as set forth in the Prospectus,  none of
such contracts has been assigned by the Company; and, except as
<PAGE>


set forth in the Prospectus,  the Company knows of no present fact, condition or
act which could prevent compliance with the terms of such contracts,  as amended
to date.  Except  for  amendments  or  modifications  of such  contracts  in the
ordinary  course of business,  the Company has no intention  of  exercising  any
right  which it may have to  cancel  any of its  obligations  under  any of such
contracts,  and has no knowledge  that any other party to any of such  contracts
has any intention not to render full performance  under such contracts.  None of
the provisions of such contracts or documents  violates any existing  applicable
law, rule, regulation,  judgment,  order or decree of any governmental agency or
court having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its assets or businesses.

     (xxiii)  The Company has filed all  foreign,  federal,  state and local tax
returns that are required to be filed by it and has paid all taxes shown on such
returns  and on all  assessments  received  by it to the extent  such taxes have
become due.  All taxes with  respect to which the Company has  obligations  have
been paid or adequate accruals have been made to cover any such unpaid taxes.

     (xxiv) The  Company is not (1) an  investment  company  or an  affiliate
person of, or promoter or principal underwriter for, an entity controlled
by an investment  company as such terms are defined in the Investment  Company
Act of 1940, as amended (the Investment  Act) or (2) a holding  company or a
subsidiary company of a holding company,  or an affiliate thereof, as such
terms are defined in the Public Utility  Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended
(the Public Act).

     (xxv) There are no material  participation  agreements,  production sharing
agreements,  joint  development  agreements,  joint  venture  agreements,  joint
operating  agreements,  farm-out  agreements and other  agreements other than as
described in the  Registration  Statement  relating to the Company's rights with
respect to the  ownership,  lease or  operation of oil and gas  properties,  the
acquisition  of  interests in oil and gas  properties  or the  exploration  for,
development  of or  production  of oil and gas  reserves  thereon,  and all such
agreements  constitute  valid and binding  agreements  of the Company and of the
other parties thereto, enforceable in accordance with their terms.

     (xxvi)  Except as described in the  financial  statements  set forth in the
Registration  Statement,  as of the date  hereof,  (i) all  royalties,  rentals,
deposits and other amounts due on the oil and gas properties of the Company have
been  properly  and timely  paid,  and no proceeds  from the sale or  production
attributable  to the oil and gas  properties of the Company are currently  being
held in suspense by any purchaser  thereof,  except where such amounts due could
not, singly or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the financial
condition or results of  operations  of the Company and (ii) there are no claims
under  take-or-pay  contracts  pursuant to which natural gas purchasers have any
make-up  rights  affecting  the  interest  of the  Company  in its  oil  and gas
properties, except where such claims could not, singly or in the aggregate, have
a material adverse effect on
<PAGE>


the Company's financial condition or results of operations;

     (xxvii)  As  of the  date  hereof,  the  aggregate  undiscounted  monetary
liability of the Company for petroleum  taken or received under any operating or
gas  balancing  and  storage  agreement,  if  any,  relating  to its oil and gas
properties that permits any person to receive any portion of the interest of the
Company in any  petroleum  or to receive  cash or other  payments to balance any
disproportionate  allocation of petroleum  could not, in the  aggregate,  have a
material adverse effect on the financial  conditions or results of operations of
the Company.

     (xxviii) The  information  underlying the estimates of the reserves of the
Company used by the Company, or supplied by the Company to independent petroleum
engineers,  for the  purposes of  preparing  the reserve  reports of the Company
referenced in the  Registration  Statement (the Reserve  Reports),  including,
without limitation, production volumes, sales prices for production, contractual
pricing  provisions  under  oil or gas  sales or  marketing  contracts  or under
hedging arrangements,  costs of operations and development, and working interest
and net revenue  information  relating to the Company's  ownership  interests in
properties,  was true and correct in all material  respects on the dates of such
Reserve Reports;  the estimates of future capital  expenditures and other future
exploration  and  development  costs used by the  Company,  or supplied to Ryder
Scott Company Petroleum  Engineers and McCune  Engineering were prepared in good
faith and with a reasonable  basis;  the  information  used by the  Company,  or
provided to Ryder Scott Company Petroleum  Engineers and McCune  Engineering for
purposes of preparing  the  Reserves  Reports was  prepared in  accordance  with
customary  practices in the oil and gas industry;  Ryder Scott Company Petroleum
Engineers and McCune  Engineering  were,  as of the date of the reserve  reports
prepared  by  them,  and  are,  as of the  date  hereof,  independent  petroleum
engineers with respect to the Company;  other than normal production of reserves
and intervening spot market product price fluctuations,  and except as disclosed
in the  Registration  Statement,  the  Company  is not  aware  of any  facts  or
circumstances  that would result in a materially  adverse change in the reserves
in the  aggregate,  or the  aggregate  present  value of future  net cash  flows
therefrom.

     (xxix) Each certificate  signed by any officer of the Company and delivered
to the  Underwriter  or  counsel  for the  Underwriter  shall be  deemed to be a
representation  and warranty by the Company to the Underwriter as to the matters
covered thereby.

     (xxx) This  Agreement,  when executed and  delivered,  will conform in all
material respects to the description  thereof in the Registration  Statement and
Prospectus.

     (xxxi) Neither the Company, nor any director,  officer, agent, employee or
other  person  associated  with or acting on behalf of the  Company has used any
corporate  funds for any unlawful  contribution,  gift,  entertainment  or other
unlawful expense relating
<PAGE>


to  political  activity;  made any direct or  indirect  unlawful  payment to any
foreign or domestic  governmental  official or employee  from  corporate  funds;
received or retained  any funds in  violation  of any law,  rule or  regulation;
violated or is in violation of any  provision of the Foreign  Corrupt  Practices
Act of 1977; or made any bribe, rebate, payoff,  influence payment,  kickback or
other unlawful payment.

     (xxxii) No transaction  has occurred  between or among the Company and any
of its officers or directors or any of the  stockholders,  if any, holding 5% or
more of the  outstanding  shares  of any  class  of the  Company's  stock or any
affiliate or affiliates of any such officer,  director or  stockholder,  that is
required to be described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and is
not so described.

     (b) Each  Selling  Stockholder  severally  and not jointly  represents  and
warrants to, and agrees with, each Underwriter that:

     (i) Such Selling  Stockholder has full power  (corporate or other) to enter
into  this  Agreement  and  to  sell,  assign,   transfer  and  deliver  to  the
Underwriters  the Best  Efforts  Shares to be sold by such  Selling  Stockholder
hereunder in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

     (ii) Such  Selling  Stockholder  has,  and on the Closing Date such Selling
Stockholder  will have,  good and valid title to the Best  Efforts  Shares to be
sold by such Selling  Stockholder  hereunder,  free and clear of all  interests,
liens,  claims,  encumbrances  and transfer  restrictions  of any kind; and upon
delivery  of such  Shares and payment  therefor  pursuant  hereto good and valid
title to the  Best  Efforts  Shares,  free and  clear of all  interests,  liens,
claims,  encumbrances  and transfer  restrictions  of any kind, will pass to the
purchasers of such Shares.

     (iii)  Such  Selling  Stockholder  has  placed in  custody  under a custody
agreement in the form of Exhibit A hereto (the  Custody  Agreement),  with the
Company,  as custodian  (the  Custodian),  for delivery  under this  Agreement
certificates in negotiable form  representing the Best Efforts Shares to be sold
by such Selling Stockholder hereunder, together with duly completed and executed
stock powers with the  signature  thereon  guaranteed as required by the Custody
Agreement.
     (iv)  Such  Selling  Stockholder  has duly  and  irrevocably  executed  and
delivered  a power of  attorney  in the form of Exhibit B hereto  (the Power of
Attorney) appointing one or more persons, as attorneys-in-fact as designated in
the Power of Attorney, with full power of substitution,  and with full authority
(exercisable  by any one or more of them) to execute and deliver this  Agreement
and to take such other  action as may be necessary or desirable to carry out the
provisions hereof on behalf of such Selling Stockholder.
<PAGE>


        

     (v) This  Agreement,  the Custody  Agreement and the Power of Attorney have
been duly  authorized,  executed and delivered by such Selling  Stockholder  and
constitute valid and binding agreements of such Selling Stockholder, enforceable
in  accordance  with their  respective  terms,  except  that the  enforceability
thereof may be limited by the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
moratorium  and other  similar laws relating to or affecting  creditors'  rights
generally,  by general  equitable  principles  (whether such  enforceability  is
considered  in a proceeding  at law or in equity) and by an implied  covenant of
good faith and fair dealing.

     (vi) No consent,  approval,  authorization or order of, or filing with, any
governmental agency or body or any court is required for the consummation of the
transactions  contemplated by this Agreement, the Custody Agreement or the Power
of  Attorney  in  connection  with  the  sale  of the  Shares  by  such  Selling
Stockholder,  except (1) such as have been  obtained or made under the Act,  the
Exchange Act and the rules and  regulations  of the Commission  thereunder,  (2)
such as may be required  under the state  securities or blue sky laws or foreign
securities laws in connection with the purchase and  distribution of the Shares,
and (3)  such  as may be  required  under  any  agreement,  indenture  or  other
instrument to which such Selling Stockholder is a party or by which such Selling
Stockholder is bound or to which any of the properties of assets of such Selling
Stockholder  are  subject,  or  any  statute,  law,  rule,  regulation,  ruling,
judgment,  injunction, order or decree applicable to such Selling Stockholder or
to any properties or assets of such Selling Stockholder.

     (vii) The  execution,  delivery  and  performance  of this  Agreement,  the
Custody  Agreement  and the Power of  Attorney  and the sale of the Shares to be
sold by such  Selling  Stockholder  hereunder  will not  result  in a breach  or
violation of any of the terms or  provisions  of, or  constitute a default under
(A) any agreement or instrument to which such Selling  Stockholder is a party or
by which such Selling  Stockholder is bound or to which any of the properties of
such Selling Stockholder are subject, which breach or violation could reasonably
be expected to materially affect the ability of such Selling Stockholder to sell
the Shares  pursuant to the terms hereof or to  otherwise  comply with the terms
hereof or of any related documents,  or (B) any statute,  or any order, rule or,
regulation of any court or governmental  agency or body having jurisdiction over
such Selling Stockholder or any of his, her or its properties.

     (viii) Such Selling  Stockholder has not taken and will not take,  directly
or indirectly, any action which is designed to or which has constituted or which
might  reasonably  be  expected  to  cause or  result  in the  stabilization  or
manipulation  of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale
or resale of the Shares in  contravention  of the rules and  regulations  of the
Commission.

<PAGE>


     (ix) The sale by such Selling  Stockholder of Best Efforts Shares  pursuant
to this  Agreement is not  prompted by any adverse  information  concerning  the
Company that is not set forth in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus.

     (x) To the extent that statements or omissions, if any, in the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement  thereto are made in
reliance  upon and in  conformity  with  written  information  furnished  to the
Company by or on behalf of such Selling  Stockholder  expressly for use therein,
the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and any amendments and supplements
thereto,  upon effectiveness or filing with the Commission,  as the case may be,
did not and will not contain any untrue  statement of a material fact or omit to
state any material fact  required to be stated  therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading.

2.       Offering and Sale.

     (a)  Subject  to  the  terms  and   conditions   and  in  reliance  on  the
representations  and  warranties  herein set forth,  the Company and the Selling
Stockholders  hereby appoint the Underwriters as their exclusive agents to offer
and sell the Best Efforts Shares,  on a best efforts,  minimum-  maximum basis
for the period  referred to in Section 2(f),  and the  Underwriters  accept such
appointment  and agree to use their best efforts to sell the Best Efforts Shares
for the Company and the Selling  Stockholders,  without a firm commitment by the
Underwriters to purchase any Shares.  Each Selling  Stockholder  agrees to offer
and sell that number of Best  Efforts  Shares set forth  opposite  such  Selling
Stockholder's name on Schedule II hereto.


     (b) The Underwriters will use their best efforts to find purchasers for the
Stock as follows:

     (i) If at least the Minimum  Number of Best Efforts Shares are not sold and
paid for under the terms hereof  within a period of 60 days  following  the date
hereof,  which  period may be extended by mutual  consent of the Company and the
Underwriters  for an  additional 30 days,  this  Agreement  shall  automatically
terminate.

     (ii) If more than the Minimum  Number of Best  Efforts  Shares are sold and
paid for during the periods indicated in (b)(i) herein,  then as to such shares,
as funds are received by the  Underwriter  from the sale thereof,  they shall be
held in the manner described in Section 3 herein,  until each check has cleared;
after such  clearance,  the Company  shall cause the  issuance  and  delivery of
definitive  stock  certificates  in  accordance  with  the  instructions  of the
Underwriters.  Upon each such  delivery the net proceeds  (offering  prices less
Underwriters'   commission  and  non-accountable  expense  allowance)  shall  be
immediately forwarded to the Company by the Underwriters.

<PAGE>


     (c) If less  than  the  Maximum  Number  of Best  Efforts  Shares  are sold
pursuant to this  offering,  the number of Best Efforts Shares that will be sold
by each of the Company and each Selling  Stockholder will be reduced pro rata in
the proportion  that the total number of Best Efforts Shares proposed to be sold
by the Company to such Selling  Stockholder  bears to the Maximum Number of Best
Efforts Shares.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the following entities:  Offense
Group Associates,  L.P.; Opportunity Associates,  L.P.; Arbco Associates,  L.P.;
Kayne, Anderson Non- Traditional Investments,  L.P.; Evanston Insurance Company;
and Nobel Insurance  Company may allocate among  themselves any reduction in the
total number of Best Efforts Shares to be sold by such entities.

     (d) As soon after the Registration Statement and this Agreement have become
effective, each Underwriter shall offer and sell for the Company and the Selling
Stockholders  that  number  of Best  Efforts  Shares  set  forth  opposite  such
Underwriter's name on Schedule I hereto on the terms and conditions set forth in
the Prospectus, as the same may be amended from time to time. The price at which
the Underwriters  shall sell the Best Efforts Shares to the public, as agent for
the Company and the Selling  Stockholders,  shall be $[ ] per Share (the Public
Offering Price).

     Subject to the terms and conditions and in reliance on the  representations
and  warranties  herein set forth,  the Company  hereby grants the option to the
Underwriters to require the Company to offer and sell up to 1,260,496 additional
shares of Common Stock (the Option  Shares) at the Public  Offering  Price per
share.  Said option may be exercised only to cover over-  allotments in the sale
of the Best Efforts Shares by the Underwriters.  Said option may be exercised in
whole or in part at any time (but not more than  once) on or before the 45th day
after the date of the  Prospectus  upon  written  or  telegraphic  notice by the
Representative  to the Company setting forth the number of shares of such Option
Shares as to which the several  Underwriters  are  exercising the option and the
settlement date. Delivery of certificates for the shares of Option Shares by the
Company,  and  payment  therefor  to the  Company,  shall be made as provided in
Section 3 hereof.  The number of shares of the Option  Shares to be offered  and
sold by each  Underwriter  shall be the same  percentage  of the total number of
shares of the Option Shares to be purchased by the several  Underwriters as such
Underwriter  is  purchasing  of  the  Best  Efforts  Shares,   subject  to  such
adjustments  as the  Representative  in its  absolute  discretion  shall make to
eliminate any fractional shares.


     (e) Upon the  closing of the sale of any of the Shares,  the Company  shall
pay the  Underwriters  an  amount  equal to  seven  percent  (7%) of the  Public
Offering  Price for each Share  sold.  The  Underwriters  shall remit to Triumph
Securities Corporation (Triumph) one percent (1%) of the Public Offering Price
for each Share sold. The Representative  hereby acknowledges  receipt of $20,000
from the Company as an advance against certain expenses.

     (f) The appointment of the Underwriters as agent shall be exclusive and not
subject to termination by the Company or the Selling  Stockholders  for a period
of 60 days

<PAGE>



after  the  Effective  Date.  Upon  expiration  of the  foregoing  period,  this
Agreement shall remain in effect,  unless the Company thereafter  terminates the
Underwriters  appointment,  which it may do at any time after  such  expiration,
upon written notice given to the Underwriters as provided herein.

     (g) Subject to the Company's prior approval, the Underwriter shall have the
right to engage the  services of  Co-Underwriter(s)  with regard to the offering
contemplated  hereby pursuant to a separate written agreement.  The Underwriters
may appoint  dealers (the Selected  Dealers) that are members in good standing
of the  NASD to  offer  and  sell  the  Shares  and,  in  connection  with  such
appointment,  may allow  concessions  to such  Selected  Dealers from the public
offering  price of the  Shares  in such  amount as the  Representative  may deem
appropriate.

3.       Delivery and Payment.

     Payment for the Best Efforts Shares shall be made by the purchasers thereof
by wire transfer in New York Clearing House funds,  prior to 10:00 a.m. New York
City time,  on [] [ ], 1997 to Pershing & Company  (Pershing),  1 Pershing
Square,  Jersey City, NJ 07773,  on behalf of the  Representative.  The time and
date of such  payment are  hereinafter  referred to as the  Closing  Date.  Upon
receipt of the purchase  price for the Best Efforts  Shares on the Closing Date,
Pershing,  on behalf of the  Representative,  shall  pay to the  Company  or the
Selling Stockholders,  as the case may be, by wire transfer in New York Clearing
House funds,  an amount equal to the Public  Offering Price for each Share sold,
less 7% of such amount.

     Payment  for the Option  Shares,  if any,  shall be made by the  purchasers
thereof by wire  transfer in New York  Clearing  House funds,  to  Pershing,  on
behalf of the  Representative,  prior to 10:00 a.m. New York City time,  on such
date  (which may be the Closing  Date but shall in no event be earlier  than the
Closing  Date nor later  than 10  business  days  after the giving of the notice
hereinafter  referred to) as shall be  designated  in a written  notice from the
Representative  to  the  Company  of  its   determination,   on  behalf  of  the
Underwriters,  to purchase a number, specified in said notice, of Option Shares,
or such other date, in any event not later than []  [], 1997, as shall
be designated in writing by the Representative. The time and date referred to in
this  paragraph are  hereinafter  referred to as the Option  Closing  Date.  The
notice of the determination to exercise the option to purchase Option Shares and
of the  Option  Closing  Date may be given at any time  within 45 days after the
date of this Agreement.

     Certificates  for the Shares shall be in definitive  form and registered in
such names and in such  denominations as the Representative may request not less
than two full  business  days prior to the  Closing  Date or the Option  Closing
Date. The certificates  evidencing the Shares to be sold by the Company shall be
delivered to the  Representative on the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date,
as the case may be, for the  respective  accounts of the  several  Underwriters,
with any transfer taxes payable in connection with the transfer of the Shares to
the Underwriters duly paid, against payment of the purchase price therefor.  The
Company agrees to have the Shares available
<PAGE>


for inspection,  checking and packaging by the  Representative  in New York, New
York,  not later than 1:00 p.m.  New York City time on the business day prior to
the Closing Date.

     The  Company  represents  that on the Closing  Date and the Option  Closing
Date,  if any, the  representations  and  warranties  herein  contained  and the
statements contained in all certificates delivered at such closings shall in all
respects be true and correct.

     The Selling Stockholders represent,  severally and not jointly, that on the
Closing  Date  the  representations  and  warranties  herein  contained  and the
statements contained in all certificates  delivered at such closing shall in all
respects be true and correct.

4.       Covenants and Agreements.

     (a) The Company covenants and agrees with the Underwriters and each Selling
Stockholder that:


     (i)  After  the  date  hereof,  the  Company  will not file at any time any
amendment to the Registration  Statement or supplement to the Prospectus  unless
the  Company  has   furnished  to  the   Representative   and  counsel  for  the
Representative  a copy for  review  prior to  filing  and will not file any such
proposed amendment or supplement to which the Representative  reasonably object.
The Company  will  promptly  advise the  Representative  and the counsel for the
Underwriter,  and will confirm such advice in writing, (A) when any amendment to
the Registration  Statement shall have become  effective,  (B) of any request by
the Commission for any amendment or supplement of the Registration  Statement or
the  Prospectus or for any  additional  information,  (C) of the issuance by the
Commission of any stop order  suspending the  effectiveness  of the Registration
Statement or the  institution  or threatening of any proceeding for that purpose
and (D) of the receipt by the Company of any  notification  with  respect to the
refusal to qualify or to the suspension of the  qualification  of the Shares for
sale in any  jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for
such  purpose.  The Company will use its best efforts to prevent the issuance of
any such stop order and, if issued, to obtain as soon as possible the withdrawal
thereof.

     (ii) If,  during the period after the first date of the public  offering of
the Shares,  as in the  opinion of  Underwriters'  counsel,  the  Prospectus  is
required by law to be  delivered  in  connection  with sales of the Shares,  any
event shall occur or  condition  exist as a result of which it is  necessary  to
amend or supplement the Prospectus in order to make the statements  therein,  in
light of the circumstances when the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser,  not
misleading, or if, in the opinion of the Underwriters,  it is necessary to amend
or supplement  the  Prospectus to comply with the law, the Company will prepare,
file with the Commission and furnish,  at its own expense,  to the  Underwriters
and to the Selected  Dealers  (whose names and addresses the  Underwriters  will
furnish to the Company) and to
<PAGE>


     other  dealers  upon  request,  either  amendments  or  supplements  to the
Prospectus,  so  that  the  statements  in  the  Prospectus  as  so  amended  or
supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances  when the Prospectus is
delivered to a purchaser be misleading or so that the Prospectus,  as amended or
supplemented, will comply with applicable law.

     (iii) During the period of five years from the Effective  Date, the Company
will deliver to the  Representative  a copy of each annual report of the Company
and will deliver to the  Representative (1) within 45 days after the end of each
of the Company's first three fiscal quarters,  a balance sheet of the Company as
at the end of such quarterly period, together with a statement of its income and
a  statement  of changes  in its cash flow for such  period,  all in  reasonable
detail,  signed by its principal financial or accounting officer,  (2) within 90
days after the end of each fiscal year, a balance sheet of the Company as at the
end of such fiscal year,  together  with a statement of its income and statement
of cash flow for such fiscal year, such balance sheet and statement of cash flow
for such  fiscal  year to be in  reasonable  detail and to be  accompanied  by a
certificate  or report of  independent  public  accounts (who may be the regular
accountants  for the  Company,  (3) as soon as  available  a copy of every other
report (financial or other) mailed to stockholders, and (4) as soon as available
a copy of every non-confidential  report and financial statement furnished to or
filed  with  the  Commission  or  with  any  securities   exchange  pursuant  to
requirements  by or agreement  with such exchange or Commission  pursuant to the
Exchange  Act or  any of the  regulations  of  the  Commission  thereunder.  The
financial  statements  referred to in (2) shall also be  furnished to all of the
stockholders  of the Company as soon as practicable  after the 110 days referred
to therein.

     (iv) As soon as practicable,  the Company will make generally  available to
its  security  holders  and to  the  Representative  an  earnings  statement  or
statements of the Company which will satisfy the  provisions of Section 11(a) of
the Act and Rule 158 under the Act.

     (v) The  Company  will  furnish to the  Representative  and counsel for the
Underwriters,  without  charge,  one signed copy of the  Registration  Statement
(including  exhibits  thereto)  and to  each  other  Underwriter  a copy  of the
Registration  Statement (without exhibits thereto) and, so long as delivery of a
prospectus  by an  Underwriter  or dealer may be  required  by the Act,  as many
copies of the Prospectus  and each  Preliminary  Prospectus and any  supplements
thereto as the Representative may reasonably request.

     (vi) The Company shall,  regardless of whether the Offering is consummated,
be responsible  for and pay all  reasonable  expenses  directly and  necessarily
incurred in connection with the Offering, including, without limitation: (a) the
fees,  costs and expenses of the Company's  accountants  and attorneys;  (b) the
costs of preparing,  delivering and filing with the Commission the  Registration
Statement,  Preliminary and Final Prospectuses,  Exhibits and documents relating
thereto and all amendments and
<PAGE>


     supplements  thereto; and the costs of delivering all such documents to the
Underwriters;   (c)  the  costs  of  preparing   and   delivering   certificates
representing  the Shares;  (d) the costs and expenses,  including legal fees, of
registering  or qualifying the Shares for offer and sale under the securities or
Blue Sky laws of the various  states in which  Underwriters  intend to offer and
sell the  Shares;  (e) NASD  filing  and other  fees,  if any;  (f) the fees and
expenses of the Transfer Agent and Registrar of the Company's  Common Stock; (g)
the  reasonable  fees and expenses of  Underwriters'  legal counsel  incurred in
connection  with the  Offering;  (h) the costs of  qualifying  the Shares on the
Nasdaq  National  Market;  and (i) any other  usual and  customary  expenses  in
connection  with the  foregoing,  including  all fees and  expenses  as and when
billed of Blue Sky counsel for the Underwriters.

     (vii) The  Company  will  arrange for the  qualification  of the Shares for
offer and sale under the laws of such jurisdictions within the United States and
its  territories  as the  Representative  may  designate  and will maintain such
qualifications in effect so long as required for the distribution of the Shares.
The  Company  will  pay  all  expenses  (including  fees  and  disbursements  of
Underwriters'  counsel) in connection with such  qualification and in connection
with any review of the offering of the Shares by the NASD.

     (viii) The Company  will not,  for a period of one (1) year  following  the
Date of this Agreement, without the prior written consent of the Representative,
offer,  sell  or  contract  to  sell,  or  otherwise  dispose  of,  directly  or
indirectly, any shares of Common Stock or options or other rights to acquire, or
any securities  convertible  into, or exchangeable  for, shares of Common Stock,
other than pursuant to (A) the terms of employee benefit and compensation  plans
as in  effect  at the  date of this  Agreement,  (B) any  options,  warrants  or
convertible  securities  outstanding at the date of this  Agreement,  or (C) the
terms of an applicable acquisition agreement pursuant to which the Company would
pay, in whole or in part, for the purchase of oil and gas properties or stock of
another entity engaged principally in the oil and gas business by issuing shares
of Common Stock.  Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  the Company may issue Common
Stock to persons or  entities  which  execute a lock-up  agreement,  in form and
substance  satisfactory to the  Representative,  pursuant to which any party who
purchases  from the Company or otherwise  receives any shares of Common Stock or
options or other  rights to acquire,  or any  securities  convertible  into,  or
exchangeable  for, shares of Common Stock from the Company agrees not to sell or
contract to sell, or otherwise  dispose of, directly or indirectly,  such shares
of Common  Stock or  options  or other  rights  to  acquire,  or any  securities
convertible  into, or exchangeable  for, shares of Common Stock, for a period of
one hundred-eighty days from the date such shares are purchased from the Company
or otherwise received by such party.

     (ix) Upon the Closing Date, the Company and the Representative  shall enter
into a  warrant  agreement  in the  form  of  Exhibit  C  hereto  (the  Warrant
Agreement)
<PAGE>


pursuant to which the Company  shall grant to the  Representative  warrants (the
Warrants) to purchase shares of Common Stock having a value equal to the value
of 10% of the Shares sold in the Offering.

     (x) The Company will apply the net  proceeds  from the Offering and sale of
the Shares in the manner set forth in the  Prospectus  under the heading Use of
Proceeds.

     (xi) The Company  will not at any time,  directly or  indirectly,  take any
action intended,  or which might reasonably be expected,  to cause or result in,
or which will constitute, stabilization of the price of the Shares to facilitate
the sale or resale of any of the Shares.

     (xii)  The  Company  will  comply  with  all  of  the   provisions  of  any
undertakings contained in the Registration Statement and Prospectus.

     (b) Each of the Selling Stockholders,  severally and not jointly, covenants
and agrees with the Underwriters that:


     (i) Such  Selling  Stockholder  will  cooperate  to the  extent  reasonably
necessary to cause the Registration  Statement or any  post-effective  amendment
thereto to become effective at the earliest time reasonably practicable.

     (ii) Such Selling  Stockholder will not, for a period of one hundred eighty
(180) days  after the date  hereof,  without  the prior  written  consent of the
Representative,  offer,  sell or  contract  to sell,  or  otherwise  dispose (or
announce any offer, sale, pledge,  offer of sale, contract of sale, grant of any
option to purchase or other sale or disposition) of, directly or indirectly, any
shares of the Common Stock or options or other rights to acquire,  or securities
convertible into, or exchangeable for, shares of Common Stock.

     (iii) The Shares to be sold by such Selling  Stockholder  hereunder,  which
are  represented  by  the   certificates   held  in  custody  for  such  Selling
Stockholder,  are subject to the interest of the Underwriters.  The arrangements
made  by  such  Selling   Stockholder  for  such  custody  are  to  that  extent
irrevocable, and the obligations of such Selling Stockholder hereunder shall not
be terminated by any act of such Selling Stockholder, by operation of law or the
occurrence  of  any  other  event  (including   without  limitation  the  death,
disability or incapacity of such Selling Stockholder).

     (iv) Such Selling  Stockholder will pay all taxes, if any, on the transfer,
or sale of, Shares to be sold by such Selling Stockholder.

<PAGE>


        
     (v) Such Selling  Stockholder  will use  reasonable  efforts to cause to be
done or  performed  all things  required to be done or performed or caused to be
done or performed by the Selling Stockholder to satisfy all conditions precedent
to the  delivery of Shares to be sold by such  Selling  Stockholder  pursuant to
this Agreement.

     (vi) Such Selling  Stockholder will not take,  directly or indirectly,  any
action designed to, or that would  reasonably be expected to, cause or result in
stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Common Stock to facilitate the
sale or resale of the Shares.

     (vii) Such Selling Stockholder will promptly advise the Underwriters of any
change of  information  relating  to such  Selling  Stockholder  that causes any
statement  made with  respect to the Selling  Stockholders  in the  Registration
Statement  or the  Prospectus  (as then amended or  supplemented,  if amended or
supplemented)  to be untrue in any  material  respect  or that  would  cause the
Registration  Statement or the Prospectus (as then amended or  supplemented,  if
amended or supplemented) to omit to state a material fact or a fact necessary to
be stated therein in order to make the statements  therein not misleading in any
material  respect,  or of the necessity to amend or supplement the  Registration
Statement  or the  Prospectus  (as then amended or  supplemented,  if amended or
supplemented) in order to comply with the Act or any other law.

5.       Conditions to the Obligations of the Underwriters.

     The several  obligations of the Underwriters  hereunder shall be subject to
the accuracy of the  representations  and  warranties on the part of each of the
Company and the Selling Stockholders contained herein as of the date hereof, the
Closing  Date and any  settlement  date  pursuant  to  Section 3 hereof,  to the
accuracy of the statements of the Company made in any  certificates  pursuant to
the  provisions  hereof,  to the  performance  by the  Company  and the  Selling
Stockholders  of their  respective  obligations  hereunder  and to the following
additional conditions:

     (a) The  Registration  Statement shall have become effective not later than
the  date  hereof  and  no  stop  order  suspending  the  effectiveness  of  the
Registration  Statement,  or any part  thereof,  shall  have been  issued and no
proceedings  for that purpose  shall have been  instituted  or  threatened;  any
request  for  additional  information  on  the  part  of the  Commission  (to be
contained in the  Registration  Statement or Prospectus or otherwise) shall have
been  complied  with to the  satisfaction  of the  Commission;  and  neither the
Registration  Statement  nor the  Prospectus  nor any  amendment  or  supplement
thereto  shall have been filed to which  counsel to the  Underwriter  shall have
objected in writing or had not given its consent.  In  addition,  the NASD shall
have  indicated  that  it has no  objection  to  the  underwriting  arrangements
pertaining to the sale of the Shares by the Underwriter and no action shall have
been taken by the Commission or the NASD the effect of
<PAGE>


which would make it  improper,  at any time prior to the Closing  Date,  for any
member  firm of the NASD to  execute  transactions  (as  principal  or as agent)
contemplated  by this  Agreement,  and no proceedings  for the purpose of taking
such action shall have been  instituted or shall be pending,  or, to the best of
the  Underwriter's  or the Company's  knowledge,  shall be  contemplated  by the
Commission or the NASD.  The Company  represents  at the date hereof,  and shall
represent as of the Closing Date,  that it has no knowledge that any such action
is in fact contemplated by the Commission or the NASD.


     (b) The Underwriter shall not have disclosed in writing to the Company that
the  Registration  Statement  or the  Prospectus  or any  amendment  thereof  or
supplement  thereto  contains an untrue statement or a fact that, in the opinion
of counsel for the Underwriter,  is material,  or omits to state a fact that, in
the opinion of such counsel, is material and is required to be stated herein, or
is necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.

     (c) Between the date of the last audited financial  statements  included in
the  Registration  Statement and the Prospectus and the Closing Date,  except as
disclosed in the  Prospectus,  the Company shall not have  sustained any loss on
account of fire,  explosion,  flood,  accident,  calamity or any other cause, of
such  character as  materially  adversely  affects its  business or  properties,
considered  as an  entire  entity,  whether  or not  such  loss  is  covered  by
insurance.
     (d)  Subsequent to the execution and delivery of the Agreement and prior to
the Closing Date, the Underwriters shall have located purchasers ready,  willing
and able to purchase all of the Best Efforts Shares.

     (e) The Company shall have furnished to the  Representative  the opinion of
Shughart Thompson & Kilroy,  P.C., counsel for the Company and H. James Maxwell,
dated the Closing Date, to the effect that:

     (i) The Company  has been duly  incorporated  and is validly  existing as a
corporation  in  good  standing  under  the  laws  of  the  jurisdiction  of its
incorporation,  with full corporate power and authority to own, operate or lease
its  properties  and  conduct  its  business as  described  in the  Registration
Statement and the Prospectus,  and is duly qualified to do business as a foreign
corporation  and is in good standing  under the laws of each  jurisdiction  that
requires such qualification;

     (ii) Neither the issue and sale of the Shares,  nor the consummation of any
other of the  transactions  contemplated  herein,  the Custody  Agreement or the
Power of  Attorney,  nor the  fulfillment  of the terms  hereof or thereof  will
conflict with,  result in a breach of, or constitute a default under the charter
or by-laws of the Company or the terms of any  indenture  or other  agreement or
instrument known to such counsel and to which the
<PAGE>


Company or H. James Maxwell is a party or bound, or result in a violation of any
statute  or  regulation,  or any order or  decree  known to such  counsel  to be
applicable  to the Company or H. James  Maxwell of any court,  regulatory  body,
administrative  agency,  governmental  body or arbitrator,  domestic or foreign,
having jurisdiction over the Company;

     (iii) All consents, approvals,  authorizations,  registrations,  filings or
qualification  of or with any  court or  governmental  body or  agency,  whether
domestic or foreign,  required for the execution and delivery by the Company of,
the performance by the Company of its obligation  under, and the consummation by
the  Company of the  transactions  contemplated  by,  this  Agreement  have been
obtained or made and are in full force and effect,  except as may be required by
state  securities or Blue Sky laws in connection  with the offer and sale of the
Shares;

     (iv) The  authorized  capital  stock of the  Company  conforms  as to legal
matters to the description thereof contained in the Prospectus;  the outstanding
shares of Common Stock to be sold by the Selling  Stockholders  pursuant to, and
as contemplated  in, this Agreement  regardless of whether any securities  which
were  exchanged  therefor  were duly and validly  authorized  have been duly and
validly authorized and issued and are fully paid and  nonassessable;  the Shares
to be issued and sold by the Company  pursuant to this  Agreement have been duly
and validly authorized,  and, when issued and delivered to and paid for, will be
fully paid and nonassessable and the issuance of such Shares will not be subject
to any preemptive or similar right; the holders of outstanding shares of capital
stock of the Company are not entitled to preemptive or other rights to subscribe
for the Shares;  and upon delivery to the purchasers of the Shares to be sold by
H. James Maxwell pursuant to this Agreement against payment therefor as provided
herein and therein,  the purchasers  will receive valid and marketable  title to
such Shares,  free and clear of all liens,  claims,  security interests or other
encumbrances;

     (v) To the best  knowledge of such counsel  after due inquiry,  there is no
pending  or  threatened   action,   suit  or  proceeding  before  any  court  or
governmental  agency,  authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company
required to be disclosed in the  Registration  Statement  that is not adequately
disclosed in the Prospectus, and there is no contract or other document required
to be described in the Registration  Statement or Prospectus,  or to be filed as
an exhibit, which is not described or filed as required;

     (vi) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the
Company  and on behalf of H. James  Maxwell  and is a legal,  valid and  binding
agreement of the Company and H. James Maxwell;

     (vii) the Company is not (1) an  investment  company  or an  affiliate,
person  of,  or  promoter,   or  principal   underwriter  for,  an  entity
controlled  by an  investment  company,  as  such  terms  are  defined  in the
Investment Act or (2) a holding
<PAGE>


company or a subsidiary  company of a holding  company,  or an  affiliate
thereof as such terms are defined in the Public Act;

     (viii) The Warrants to be issued to the  Underwriter  will be, when issued,
duly and validly  authorized  and  executed  by the Company and will  constitute
valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with its
terms,  and the Company  will have duly  authorized,  reserved and set aside the
shares of its Common  Stock  issuable  upon  exercise of the  Warrants  and such
stock, when issued and paid for upon exercise of the Warrants,  will be duly and
validly issued, fully-paid and non-assessable;

     (ix) Nothing has come to such  counsel's  attention that the Company (i) is
not in compliance with any and all applicable  Environmental  Laws, (ii) has not
received all permits,  licenses or other approvals required of the Company under
applicable  Environmental  Laws to  conduct  its  business,  and (iii) is not in
compliance  with all  terms  and  conditions  of any  such  permit,  license  or
approval;
     (x) To the best of such  counsel's  knowledge,  there are no  contracts  or
other  documents  that are required by the Act to be described in the Prospectus
or  filed  as  exhibits  to the  Registration  Statement  that  have not been so
described or filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement;

     (xi) To the best knowledge of such counsel after due inquiry, no holders of
securities  of the Company have rights to the  registration  of such  securities
under,  or by reason of the  filing of, the  Registration  Statement,  except as
disclosed in the Registration Statement and Prospectus;

     (xii)  The  statements  contained  in the  Prospectus  under  the  captions
Regulation   Descriptions  of  Capital  Shares  and  other  SecuritiesCertain
Anti-takeover  Provisions and Legal  Proceedings in each case insofar as such
statements  constitute summaries of the legal matters or proceedings referred to
therein,  fairly present the  information  called for with respect to such legal
matters and proceedings and fairly summarize the matters therein described;

     (xiii) The  Registration  Statement has become effective under the Act; any
required  filing of the  Prospectus or any supplement  thereto  pursuant to Rule
424(b) has been made in the manner and within the time  period  required by Rule
424(b);  to the best  knowledge of such counsel,  no stop order  suspending  the
effectiveness of the Registration  Statement has been issued and, no proceedings
for that purpose have been instituted or threatened; the Registration Statement,
the  Prospectus  (and  any  supplements   thereto)  (other  than  the  financial
statements and other financial and statistical  information contained therein as
to which such counsel need express no opinion) comply as to form in all material
respects with the applicable requirements of the Act and the rules thereunder;
<PAGE>


     (xiv) Such counsel believes that the Registration Statement, as of the time
it became effective,  did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or
omit to state any material  fact  required to be stated  therein or necessary to
make the  statements  therein not  misleading;  such counsel  believes  that the
Prospectus (and any supplements  thereto),  as of the date thereof and as of the
Closing Date, did not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state a material fact necessary to make the statements  therein, in light of the
circumstances  under  which  they were  made,  not  misleading  (other  than the
financial  statements,  financial  schedules and other financial and statistical
information  contained  therein as to which such  counsel  need not  express any
view).

     (f) The Company shall have furnished to the  Representative  the opinion of
counsel  for each of the  Selling  Stockholders  (other  than H. James  Maxwell)
acceptable to the Representative, dated the Closing Date, to the effect that:


     (i)  Such  Selling  Stockholder  has been  duly  organized  and is  validly
existing as a corporation or other entity in good standing under the laws of the
jurisdiction of its  organization,  with full power (corporate or otherwise) and
authority  to execute and deliver  this  Agreement  and perform its  obligations
hereunder and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby;

     (ii) Neither the sale of the Shares,  nor the  consummation of any other of
the  transactions  contemplated  herein,  the Custody  Agreement or the Power of
Attorney, nor the fulfillment of the terms hereof or thereof will conflict with,
result in a breach of, or  constitute a default  under the  charter,  by-laws or
other  organizational  documents of such Selling Stockholder or the terms of any
indenture or other  agreement or  instrument  known to such counsel and to which
such Selling  Stockholder  is a party or bound,  or result in a violation of any
statute  or  regulation,  or any order or  decree  known to such  counsel  to be
applicable  to  such  Selling   Stockholder  of  any  court,   regulatory  body,
administrative  agency,  governmental  body or arbitrator,  domestic or foreign,
having  jurisdiction  over such  Selling  Stockholder,  in each case which could
materially  adversely effect the ability of such Selling  Stockholder to perform
its obligations hereunder;

     (iii)  Upon  delivery  to the  Underwriter  of the Shares to be sold by the
Selling  Stockholders  pursuant to this Agreement  against  payment  therefor as
provided  herein,  the  purchasers  will  receive  good and valid  title to such
Shares,  free and  clear  of all  liens,  claims,  security  interests  or other
encumbrances other than claims arising out of actions of the Underwriter;

     (iv) This  Agreement  has been duly  authorized,  executed and delivered by
each Selling  Stockholder  and is a valid and binding  agreement of such Selling
Stockholders;

<PAGE>


     (g) The  Underwriters  shall have  received from  Cadwalader,  Wickersham &
Taft, counsel for the Underwriters,  such opinion or opinions, dated the Closing
Date,  with  respect to the issuance  and sale of the Shares,  the  Registration
Statement,  the Prospectus and other related matters as the  Representative  may
reasonably  require,  and the Company shall have  furnished to such counsel such
documents  as they may  reasonably  request for the purpose of enabling  them to
pass upon such matters.


     (h) The Company shall have furnished to the Representative a certificate of
the Company, signed by the Chairman of the Board and President and the principal
financial or accounting  officer of the Company,  dated the Closing Date, to the
effect that the  signatories of such  certificate  have  carefully  examined the
Registration  Statement,  the  Prospectus,  any supplement to the Prospectus and
this Agreement and that:

     (i) The representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement are
true and correct in all material respects on and as of the Closing Date with the
same effect as if made on the Closing Date and the Company has complied with all
the covenants and the agreements and satisfied all the conditions on its part to
be performed or satisfied at or prior to the Closing Date;

     (ii) The  Registration  Statement  has become  effective  and no stop order
suspending the  effectiveness of the Registration  Statement or any part thereof
has been issued and no proceedings  for that purpose have been instituted or, to
the Company's knowledge, threatened;

     (iii) Since the date of the most recent  financial  statements  included in
the  Prospectuses,  there has been no material  adverse  change in the condition
(financial or other),  earnings,  business or properties of the Company, whether
or not arising from  transactions in the ordinary course of business,  except as
set forth in or contemplated in the Prospectuses.

     Such certificate shall also cover such other matters as the  Representative
may reasonably request.

     (i) Arthur Andersen LLP shall have furnished to the  Representative and the
Selling  Stockholders a letter or letters,  dated respectively as of the date of
this Agreement and as of the Closing Date, in form and substance satisfactory to
the Representative,  confirming that they are independent accountants within the
meaning of the Act and the Exchange Act:

     (i) On the basis of a reading of the latest unaudited financial  statements
made available by the Company; their limited review in accordance with standards
established by the American Institute
<PAGE>


     of  Certified  Public   Accountants  of  the  unaudited  interim  financial
information as indicated in their report thereon; carrying out certain specified
procedures  (but  not an  examination  in  accordance  with  generally  accepted
auditing  standards) that would not  necessarily  reveal matters of significance
with respect to the comments set forth in such letter;  a reading of the minutes
of  the  meetings  of  the  stockholders,  directors  and  executive  and  audit
committees of the Company; and inquiries of certain officials of the Company who
have  responsibility  for financial and accounting  matters of the Company as to
transactions and events subsequent to September 30, 1996;

     (1)...............The  September 30, 1996 and September 30, 1995  unaudited
financial statements included or incorporated in the Registration  Statement and
the  Prospectus  comply  in  form  in  all  material  respects  with  applicable
accounting  requirements  of the Act and the Exchange Act and with the published
rules and  regulations  of the Commission  with respect to financial  statements
included or  incorporated  in quarterly  reports on Form 10-Q under the Exchange
Act; and said unaudited  financial  statements are in conformity  with generally
accepted accounting principles applied on a basis substantially  consistent with
that  of the  audited  financial  statements  incorporated  in the  Registration
Statement and the Prospectus; or

     (2) With  respect to the period  subsequent  to the date of the most recent
financial  statements,  audited or unaudited,  incorporated in the Prospectuses,
there were no changes,  at a  specified  date not more than five  business  days
prior to the date of the letter,  in the debt of the Company or capital stock of
the Company or decreases in the  stockholders  equity of the Company as compared
with  the  amounts  shown  on  the  most  recent   consolidated   balance  sheet
incorporated in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, or for the period
from  the date of the  most  recent  financial  statements  incorporated  in the
Prospectus to such specified date there were no decreases,  as compared with the
corresponding  period in the preceding  year, in total  revenues,  income before
income taxes or net income of the Company,  except in all  instances for changes
or  decreases  set  forth in such  letter,  in which  case the  letter  shall be
accompanied  by an  explanation  by the Company as to the  significance  thereof
unless said explanation is not deemed necessary by the Representatives; and

     (ii) They have performed certain other specified  procedures as a result of
which they  determined that certain  information of an accounting,  financial or
statistical  nature (which is limited to  accounting,  financial or  statistical
information  derived  from the general  accounting  records of the  Company) set
forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as of and for the periods
ending September 30, 1996 and September 30, 1995,  including the information set
forth under the captions Prospectus Summary, Risk Factors, Capitalization,
Pro Forma Financial  Information,  Selected  Financial  Data,  Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial  Condition and Results of Operations, The
Company   Properties,   Management,   Certain  Relationships  and  Related
Transactions  and  Description of Capital Shares and Other  Securities in the
Prospectus agrees with the accounting records of the Company, excluding any
<PAGE>


questions of legal interpretation.

     (iii)  Such   letters   shall   also  cover  such  other   matters  as  the
Representative shall reasonably request.

     References to the Prospectus in this paragraph (h) include any  supplements
thereto at the date of the letter.

     (j)  The  lock-up   agreement  between  the  Representative  and  certain
Stockholders,  officers  and  directors  of the  Company  relating  to sales and
certain  other  dispositions  of shares of Common  Stock of the  Company  or any
securities  convertible  with or  exercisable  or  exchangeable  for such Common
Stock,  which have been  delivered to the  Representative  on or before the date
hereof and shall be in full force and effect on the Closing Date.


     (k) Prior to the Closing  Date,  the Company  shall have  furnished  to the
Representative  such  further  information,  certificates  and  documents as the
Representative may reasonably request.

     (l) The Shares shall be qualified in such states and  jurisdictions  as the
Representative may reasonably  request and each such  qualification  shall be in
effect  and not  subject to any stop order or other  proceeding  on the  Closing
Date.
     (m)  Since the  respective  dates as of which  information  is given in the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus,  there shall not have been a material
adverse  change  in  the  general  affairs,   business  prospects,   properties,
management,  conditions (financial or otherwise) or results of operations of the
Company,  whether or not arising from  transactions  in the  ordinary  course of
business,  in each  case  other  than as set  forth  in or  contemplated  by the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus.

     (n) Each of the  representations  and  warranties of the Company  contained
herein  shall be true and correct in all  material  respects at the Closing Date
and all covenants and agreements contained herein to be performed by the Company
shall have been duly performed, fulfilled or complied with.

     (o)  The  Company  shall  have   furnished  to  the   Representative   such
certificates,  in  addition  to  those  specifically  mentioned  herein,  as the
Representative   may  have  reasonably   requested,   as  to  the  accuracy  and
completeness  at the Closing Date of the  representations  and warranties of the
Company or as to the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder.

<PAGE>


If any of the  conditions  specified  in this  Section  5 shall  not  have  been
fulfilled in all material respects when and as provided in this Agreement, or if
any of the  opinions  and  certificates  mentioned  above or  elsewhere  in this
Agreement shall not be in all material respects reasonably  satisfactory in form
and substance to the  Representative  and their counsel,  this Agreement and all
obligations  of the  Underwriters  hereunder  may be canceled at, or at any time
prior to, the Closing Date by the  Representative.  Notice of such  cancellation
shall be given to the  Company  and to the  Custodian  on behalf of the  Selling
Stockholders  in writing or by telephone or facsimile with the  confirmation  in
writing.

6.       Reimbursement of Underwriters' Expenses.

     If the sale of the Shares  provided for herein is not  consummated  because
any  condition to the  obligations  of the  Underwriters  set forth in Section 5
hereof is not satisfied, because of any termination pursuant to Section 8 hereof
or because of any  refusal,  inability  or failure on the part of the Company or
any  Selling  Stockholder  to perform  any  agreement  herein or comply with any
provision  hereof other than by reason of a default by any of the  Underwriters,
the  Company  will  reimburse  the  Underwriters  severally  upon demand for all
reasonable  out-of-pocket  expenses (including reasonable fees and disbursements
of  counsel)  that  shall  have been  incurred  by them in  connection  with the
proposed  purchase and sale of the Shares.  Without limiting the foregoing,  the
Underwriters  agree to provide to the Company  reasonable  documentation  of the
out-of-pocket expenses described above.

7.       Indemnification and Contribution.

     (a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each  Underwriter and
the Selling Stockholders,  the directors, officers, employees and agents of each
Underwriter and each person who controls any  Underwriter  within the meaning of
either the Act or the Exchange Act and the Selling  Stockholders against any and
all losses, claims,  damages or liabilities,  joint or several, to which they or
any of them may become  subject under the Act, the Exchange Act or other Federal
or state  statutory law or  regulation,  at common law or otherwise,  insofar as
such losses,  claims,  damages or  liabilities  (or actions in respect  thereof)
arise out of or are based upon any untrue  statement or alleged untrue statement
of a material fact contained in the  Registration  Statement or in any amendment
thereof, or in the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, or in any amendment
thereof or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or
alleged  omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein
or  necessary  to make the  statements  therein  not  misleading,  and agrees to
reimburse  each such  indemnified  party,  as  incurred,  for any legal or other
expenses  reasonably  incurred  by  them in  connection  with  investigating  or
defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided,  however,
that the Company will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such
loss, claim,  damage or liability arises out of or is based upon any such untrue
statement  or alleged  untrue  statement  or omission or alleged  omission  made
therein in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to
the Company by or on behalf of any Underwriter through the
<PAGE>


Representative specifically for inclusion therein. This indemnity agreement will
be in addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have.

     (b) Each Selling Stockholder severally agrees, jointly and not severally in
proportion  to the  number  of shares  of  Common  Stock to be sold by them,  to
indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, the directors, officers, employees
and agents of each  Underwriter  and each person who  controls  any  Underwriter
within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act, and the Company,  each
of its directors, each of its officers who signs the Registration Statement, and
each person who controls the Company within the meaning of either the Act or the
Exchange Act, to the same extent as the foregoing  indemnity from the Company to
each  Underwriter,  but only to the extent such untrue  statement or omission is
made  therein  in  reliance  upon and in  conformity  with  written  information
furnished  to the  Company or the  Underwriter  by or on behalf of such  Selling
Stockholder specifically for use in the preparation of the documents referred to
in the foregoing indemnity.  This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any
liability which any Selling Stockholder may otherwise have.

     (c) The  Company and the  Underwriters  acknowledge  that Amoco  Production
Company (APC),  a Selling  Stockholder,  has not supplied any information with
respect to the  transaction  between the  Company  and the  Selling  Stockholder
designated  as the Amoco  Transaction  in the  Registration  Statement and the
Prospectus.  No  indemnity  is given by APC  pursuant to this  Section 7(c) with
respect to untrue statements or omissions in respect thereof. All statements and
omissions with respect to such  transaction  were supplied and determined by the
Company.

     (d) Each Underwriter  agrees,  severally and jointly, to indemnify and hold
harmless the Company, each of its directors,  each of its officers who signs the
Registration Statement,  each person who controls the Company within the meaning
of either the Act or the Exchange Act, and each Selling  Stockholder to the same
extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company and the Selling  Stockholders
to the Underwriters,  but only with reference to written information relating to
the Underwriters  furnished to the Company by the Underwriters  specifically for
inclusion  in  the  documents  referred  to in  the  foregoing  indemnity.  This
indemnity  agreement will be in addition to any liability  which the underwriter
may otherwise have. The Company and each Selling  Stockholder  acknowledge  that
the  statements  set forth in the last paragraph of the cover page and under the
heading  Underwriting  in the  Prospectus  and in the  Preliminary  Prospectus
constitute  the only  information  furnished  in  writing by or on behalf of the
Underwriter  for inclusion in the Prospectus or in the  Preliminary  Prospectus,
and you, as the Representative, confirm that such statements are correct.

     (e) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified  party under this Section 7 of
notice of the  commencement  of any action,  such  indemnified  party will, if a
claim in respect
<PAGE>


     thereof is to be made against the indemnifying  party under this Section 7,
notify the indemnifying  party in writing of the commencement  thereof;  but the
failure  so to  notify  the  indemnifying  party  (i) will not  relieve  it from
liability  under paragraph (a), (b) or (c) above unless and to the extent it did
not otherwise learn of such action and such failure results in the forfeiture by
the indemnifying  party of substantial rights and defenses and (ii) will not, in
any  event,   relieve  the  indemnifying  party  from  any  obligations  to  any
indemnified  party  other  than  the  indemnification   obligation  provided  in
paragraph  (a), (b) or (c) above.  The  indemnifying  party shall be entitled to
appoint counsel of the indemnifying  party's choice at the indemnifying  party's
expense  to   represent   the   indemnified   party  in  any  action  for  which
indemnification  is  sought  (in which  case the  indemnifying  party  shall not
thereafter  be  responsible  for the fees and expenses of any  separate  counsel
retained  by the  indemnified  party or  parties  except  as set  forth  below);
provided,  however,  that such counsel shall be  satisfactory to the indemnified
party.  Notwithstanding the indemnifying  party's election to appoint counsel to
represent the indemnified party in any action,  the indemnified party shall have
the  right  to  employ  separate  counsel  (including  local  counsel),  and the
indemnifying  party shall bear the reasonable  fees,  costs and expenses of such
separate counsel if (i) the use of counsel chosen by the  indemnifying  party to
represent  the  indemnified  party would present such counsel with a conflict of
interest,  (ii) the actual or potential  defendants  in, or targets of, any such
action include both the  indemnified  party and the  indemnifying  party and the
indemnified  party  shall  have  reasonably  concluded  that  there may be legal
defenses  available to it and/or other  indemnified  parties which are different
from or  additional  to those  available to the  indemnifying  party,  (iii) the
indemnifying  party  shall  not  have  employed  counsel   satisfactory  to  the
indemnified  party to represent the  indemnified  party within a reasonable time
after notice of the  institution of such action or (iv) the  indemnifying  party
shall authorize the indemnified  party to employ separate counsel at the expense
of the  indemnifying  party. An indemnifying  party will not,  without the prior
written consent of the indemnified  parties,  settle or compromise or consent to
the entry of any  judgment  with  respect to any  pending or  threatened  claim,
action,  suit or proceeding in respect of which  indemnification or contribution
may be sought  hereunder  (whether or not the indemnified  parties are actual or
potential parties to such claim or action) unless such settlement, compromise or
consent  includes an unconditional  release of each  indemnified  party from all
liability arising out of such claim, action, suit or proceeding.

     (f) In the event that the indemnity  provided in paragraph  (a), (b) or (c)
of  this  Section  7 is  unavailable  to or  insufficient  to hold  harmless  an
indemnified  party for any reason,  the Company and the Underwriters  agree that
the  Underwriters  and the Company shall  contribute  to the  aggregate  losses,
claims,  damages and liabilities  (including legal or other expenses  reasonably
incurred in connection  with  investigating  or defending  same)  (collectively,
Losses) to which the Company,  one or more of the Selling Stockholders and the
Underwriters  may be subject in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the
relative  benefits  received by the Company and the Selling  Stockholders on the
one hand and by the  Underwriters  on the other  hand from the  offering  of the
Shares; provided, however, that in no case shall the Underwriters be responsible
for any amount in excess of the underwriting  discount  applicable to the Shares
offered  hereunder.  If the  allocation  provided by the  immediately  preceding
sentence is unavailable for any
<PAGE>


     reason,   the  Company  and  the  Underwriters  shall  contribute  in  such
proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but also
the relative fault of the Company and the Selling  Stockholders  on the one hand
and the  Underwriters  on the other hand in  connection  with the  statements or
omissions which resulted in such Losses as well as any other relevant  equitable
considerations. Benefits received by the Company and by the Selling Stockholders
shall be deemed to be equal to the total net proceeds from the offering  (before
deducting  expenses)  received  by each of them,  and  benefits  received by the
Underwriters shall be deemed to be equal to the total underwriting discounts and
commissions,  in each  case as set forth on the  cover  page of the  Prospectus.
Relative  fault shall be determined  by reference to whether any alleged  untrue
statement  or  omission  relates to  information  provided by the  Company,  the
Selling Stockholders or the Underwriters.  The Company, the Selling Stockholders
and  the  Underwriters  agree  that  it  would  not be  just  and  equitable  if
contribution  were  determined  by pro rata  allocation  or any other  method of
allocation which does not take account of the equitable  considerations referred
to above. Notwithstanding the provisions of this paragraph (e), no person guilty
of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act)
shall be  entitled  to  contribution  from any person who was not guilty of such
fraudulent  misrepresentation.  For  purposes of this Section 7, each person who
controls the  Underwriters  within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange
Act and each director officer,  employee or agent of the Underwriters shall have
the same  rights  to  contribution  as the  Underwriters,  and each  person  who
controls the Company  within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange  Act,
each officer of the Company who shall have signed the Registration Statement and
each director of the Company shall have the same rights to  contribution  as the
Company,  subject in each case to the  applicable  terms and  provisions of this
paragraph (e).

8.       Termination.

     This Agreement  shall be subject to termination in the absolute  discretion
of the  Representative,  by notice  given to the  Company and the  Custodian  on
behalf of the  Selling  Stockholders  prior to  delivery  of and payment for the
Shares,  if prior to such time (i) trading in the  Company's  Common Stock shall
have been suspended by the Commission or the Nasdaq National Market,  or trading
in securities  generally on the Nasdaq National Market shall have been suspended
or limited or minimum prices shall have been established on such exchange,  (ii)
a banking  moratorium  shall  have been  declared  either by Federal or New York
State  authorities,  (iii) there shall have  occurred  any  outbreak or material
escalation of hostilities or other calamity or crisis the effect of which on the
financial markets of the United States is such as to make it, in the judgment of
the Representative,  impracticable to market the Shares, or (iv) any injunction,
stay  or  other  judicial  order  is  granted,  or  any  action,   claim,  suit,
investigation  or  proceeding  is  pending  or  threatened,  which  would have a
material adverse effect on the Company or the use of proceeds of the offering of
the shares for the purposes set forth in the Prospectus.

9.       Costs and Expenses.

<PAGE>


     As  between  the  Company  and the  Underwriters,  except  as  specifically
provided in Section  7(e),  the Company  will pay all costs,  expenses  and fees
incident to the  performance  of the  obligations of the Company and the Selling
Stockholder under this Agreement,  except that each of the Selling  Stockholders
will  pay the  selling  commissions  related  to the  Shares  to be sold by such
Selling  Stockholder  as  indicated  on  Schedule  II hereto,  and if any of the
Selling  Stockholders  engages special legal counsel to represent him, her or it
in connection with the offering,  the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be
borne by the Company.  Any transfer  taxes  imposed on the sale of the Shares to
the  several  Underwriters  will  be  paid  by the  Company  and by the  Selling
Stockholders  pro rata based on the relative  number of Shares being sold in the
offering.

10.      Representations and Indemnities to Survive.

     The respective  agreements,  representations,  warranties,  indemnities and
other statements of the Company or its officers, of the Selling Stockholders and
of the  Underwriters set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement will remain
in full force and effect,  regardless of any investigation  made by or on behalf
of  any  Underwriter  or the  Company  or any  of  the  officers,  directors  or
controlling persons referred to in Section 7 hereof or any Selling  Stockholder,
and will  survive  delivery of and payment for the  Shares.  The  provisions  of
Sections 6 and 7 hereof shall survive the  termination or  cancellation  of this
Agreement.

11.      Notices.

     All  communications  hereunder  will be in writing  and  effective  only on
receipt,  and,  if sent to the  Representative,  will be  mailed,  delivered  or
telegraphed  and  confirmed to them,  care of Nolan  Securities  Corporation,  7
Academy Street,  Salisbury,  Connecticut 06068, or if sent to the Company or any
Selling Stockholder,  will be mailed,  delivered or telegraphed and confirmed to
it at PANACO, Inc. PANACO Building, 1050 West Blue Ridge Boulevard, Kansas City,
Missouri  64145-1216,  attention of H. James Maxwell,  Esq., President and Chief
Executive Officer.

12.      Successors.

     This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties
hereto and their  respective  successors  and the  officers  and  directors  and
controlling  persons  referred to in Section 7 hereof,  and no other person will
have any right or obligation hereunder.

13.      Applicable Law.

     This  Agreement  will be governed by and construed in  accordance  with the
laws of the State of New York.



<PAGE>


     If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement,
please  sign and return to us the  enclosed  duplicate  hereof,  whereupon  this
letter  and your  acceptance  shall  represent  a  binding  agreement  among the
Company, each Selling Stockholder and the Underwriters.

                                      Very truly yours,

                                      PANACO, Inc.
                                      By:
 

                                               Name:
                                               H. James Maxwell
                                               Title:
                                               President and Chief Executive
                                                Officer
                                      The Selling Stockholders


                                      named on Schedule II hereto
                                      H. JAMES MAXWELL

                                      By:
 


                                      OFFENSE GROUP ASSOCIATES LIMITED

                                      By:
 


                                               Attorney-in-Fact ________________
                                      OPPORTUNITY ASSOCIATES, L.P.

                                      By:
 


                                               Attorney-in-Fact ________________
                                      ARBCO ASSOCIATES, L.P.

                                      By:
 


                                               Attorney-in-Fact ________________
                                      KAYNE, ANDERSON NON-TRADITIONAL
                                      INVESTMENTS, L.P.

                                      By:
 


                                               Attorney-in-Fact ________________
                                      EVANSTON INSURANCE COMPANY

                                      By:
 


                                               Attorney-in-Fact ________________
                                      NOBEL INSURANCE COMPANY

                                      By:
 


                                               Attorney-in-Fact ________________
                                      AMOCO PRODUCTION COMPANY

                                      By:
 


                                               Attorney-in-Fact ________________
The foregoing Agreement is hereby
confirmed and accepted as of the date
first above written.
Nolan Securities Corporation, acting

on behalf of the several underwriters
named on Schedule I hereto



         By:
                    Name:           Terence M. Nolan
                       Title:          President

<PAGE>


                 





                                                    SCHEDULE I
                                                   Underwriters


                                          Number of Best Efforts

Underwriter                               Shares to be Sold

Nolan Securities Corporation                             [         ]










<PAGE>

                                                    SCHEDULE II


Name of

Selling Stockholder                                    Number of Shares

H. James Maxwell                                       30,000
 
Offense Group Associates, L.P.                         70,000
 
Opportunity Associates, L.P.                           40,826
 
Arbco Associates, L.P.                                 70,000
 
Kayne, Anderson Non-Traditional
Investments, L.P.
                                                       70,000
Evanston Insurance Company                             81,653
 
Nobel Insurance Company                                40,826
 
Amoco Production Company                               2,000,000
 
         Total                                         2,403,305
 


<PAGE>




Exhibit 1.1

                                  PANACO, Inc.
                     Common Stock, par value $.01 per share

                     SELLING STOCKHOLDERS' CUSTODY AGREEMENT


                            ______________, ___, 1997


Nolan Securities Corporation
7 Academy Street
Salisbury, CT  06086
Gentlemen:

     There  are  delivered  to  you  as  custodian  herewith  (i)  one  or  more
certificates  (the  Certificates),  in negotiable form,  representing not less
than that number of shares (the  Shares)  of common  stock,  without par value
(the Common Stock), of PANACO,  Inc., a Delaware  corporation (the Company),
set forth  next to the  undersigned's  name on  Schedule I annexed  hereto  (the
Seller  Shares),  and (ii) stock powers (the Stock Powers)  undated but duly
executed in blank by the undersigned  with respect to the Seller Shares and with
the signatures  thereon duly  guaranteed by a commercial bank or a broker-dealer
which is a member of the National  Association of Securities  Dealers,  Inc. The
Certificates  are  to be  held  by you  as  custodian  for  the  account  of the
undersigned  and are to be disposed of by you in  accordance  with this  Custody
Agreement.

     Prior  to the  execution  and  delivery  of  this  Custody  Agreement,  the
undersigned  has  executed  a  Power  of  Attorney  (the  Power  of  Attorney)
authorizing the attorneys-in-fact named therein (the Attorneys-in-Fact) or any
of them,  to act on his,  her or its behalf in  connection  with the sale of the
number of shares of Common Stock indicated on the annexed  Schedule I to be sold
by the  undersigned and for that purpose to, inter alia, (i) execute and deliver
this  Custody  Agreement  and (ii) enter  into the  Underwriting  Agreement  (as
defined  in the Power of  Attorney).  Unless  otherwise  defined  herein,  terms
defined in the Power of Attorney are used herein with their defined meanings.

     You are  authorized  and  directed to hold the  Certificates  and the Stock
Powers in your  custody,  and (i) to cause the number of Seller Shares which are
to be sold by the  undersigned  pursuant  to the  Underwriting  Agreement  to be
transferred on the books of the Company into such names as the Attorneys-in-Fact
shall have instructed you (it being  understood that such names will be provided
to the Attorneys-in-Fact by the Underwriters named in the Underwriting Agreement
(the  Underwriters)),  (ii) to cause to be issued,  against  surrender  of the
Certificates representing
<PAGE>


such Shares, new certificates for such Shares of Common Stock registered in such
names in such denominations as the  Attorneys-in-Fact  shall have instructed you
(it being  understood  that such names and  denominations  will be proved to the
Attorneys-in-Fact by the Underwriters), (iii) to purchase all stock transfer tax
stamps  necessary,  if any, in  connection  with the transfer of such Shares and
upon  the  instructions  of the  Attorneys-in-Fact,  (iv) to  deliver  such  new
certificates to the Representatives for the accounts of the several Underwriters
pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, (v) to give receipt for such payment and
to  deposit  the same to your  account as  Custodian,  and (vi) as  promptly  as
practicable after each Closing Date (as defined in the Underwriting  Agreement),
to remit,  by check or wire  transfer  to an account  specified  by the  Selling
Stockholders or, if not so specified, as specified by the Attorneys-in-Fact, the
undersigned's  proportionate  share of the proceeds in the  Custodian's  account
after deduction of any expenses as provided herein. The  Attorneys-in-Fact  will
notify you, at least two full  business  days prior to each Closing Date, of the
names and  denominations in which the new certificates are to be issued pursuant
to this paragraph (provided the  Attorneys-in-Fact  have received such names and
denominations from the Underwriters).

     On or promptly after each Closing Date,  the Custodian  shall return to the
undersigned   at  the  address   specified  by  the   undersigned   certificates
representing the number of Shares of Common Stock, if any,  deposited  herewith,
which are in excess of the  number  of  Seller  Shares  sold by the  undersigned
pursuant to the Underwriting  Agreement, as instructed by the Attorneys-in-Fact.
Any new certificates  representing  such excess number of Shares of Common Stock
shall be in the name of the undersigned and bear such  restrictive  legends,  if
any, that were borne by the Certificates representing the Common Stock delivered
herewith.
     The  authority   granted  and  conferred   hereby  is  subject  to  and  in
consideration of the interests of the Company,  the Underwriters and the Selling
Stockholders.  Accordingly, the Certificates deposited herewith and this Custody
Agreement and your authority  hereunder are subject to said interests,  and this
Custody   Agreement  and  your  authority   hereunder  are  irrevocable  by  the
undersigned  and shall not be terminated or affected by any act of the signatory
or by operation of law,  whether by the death,  disability  or incapacity or the
liquidation or dissolution of the undersigned, or by the occurrence of any other
event or events (including,  without limitation, the termination of any trust or
estate  for  which  the  undersigned  acts as a  fiduciary),  and,  if after the
execution  hereof any such event or events shall occur before the  completion of
the  transactions  contemplated by the  Underwriting  Agreement and this Custody
Agreement,  you are  nevertheless  authorized  and  directed  to deal  with  the
Certificates and Stock Powers  deposited  hereunder in accordance with the terms
and conditions  hereof, as if such event or events had not occurred,  regardless
of whether or not you shall have received notice thereof.

     Notwithstanding  the foregoing,  in the event that the Power of Attorney is
terminated  pursuant to its terms  prior to the  Closing  Date in respect of the
Seller Shares,  the Custodian  shall promptly  return the  Certificates  and the
Stock  Powers  directly  to the  undersigned  at the  address  specified  by the
undersigned.
<PAGE>


     Until  payment of the  purchase  price for the Shares of Common Stock to be
sold by the undersigned pursuant to the Underwriting  Agreement has been made in
the amount and form  provided in the  Underwriting  Agreement,  the  undersigned
shall  remain  the  owner of the  Shares  of  Common  Stock  represented  by the
Certificates deposited herewith and shall have the right to vote such Shares and
to receive all dividends and distributions thereon (if any).

     You shall be entitled to act and rely upon any statement,  request,  notice
or  instructions  with  regard  to this  Custody  Agreement  given to you by the
Attorneys-in-Fact  except as may be inconsistent  with the express terms of this
Agreement.
     It is  understood  that you assume no  responsibility  or  liability to any
person or undertake to take any action other than as set forth  herein,  and the
undersigned agrees,  severally and not jointly, to indemnify you and to hold you
harmless with respect to anything  done by you in good faith in accordance  with
the foregoing  instructions and agrees that you may consult with counsel of your
own choice (who may be counsel for the Company and the Selling Stockholders) and
that you shall  have full and  complete  authorization  and  protection  for any
action taken or suffered by you hereunder in good faith and in  accordance  with
the opinion of such counsel.

     The undersigned represents, warrants and agrees, severally and not jointly,
that he, she or it has full right, power,  capacity and authority to execute and
deliver  this  Custody  Agreement,  the Power of Attorney  and the  Underwriting
Agreement,  and to sell the Shares to be sold pursuant to this Custody Agreement
and the  Underwriting  Agreement,  and,  upon  delivery of the Seller Shares and
payment therefor pursuant to this Agreement and the Underwriting Agreement, good
and valid title to such Shares, free and clear of any security interest,  claim,
lien or other  encumbrance,  will pass to the purchaser of such Shares under the
Underwriting Agreement.

     This  Custody  Agreement  is for the benefit of, and may be relied upon by,
the Company and its counsel,  the Underwriters and their agents and counsel, the
Selling  Stockholders  and  their  counsel,  and  the  Custodian.  This  Custody
Agreement is binding upon the  undersigned,  the  Custodian  and the Company and
their respective  successors and assigns.  Nothing in this Custody  Agreement is
intended  or shall  be  construed  to give any  person  other  than the  persons
mentioned in the preceding two sentences any legal or equitable  rights,  remedy
or  claim  under  or in  respect  of this  Custody  Agreement  or any  provision
contained herein.

     This Custody  Agreement  shall be governed by and  construed in  accordance
with the laws of the State of New  York,  without  regard  to the  choice of law
provisions thereof.

     The  undersigned  will provide you with such evidence of the  undersigned's
authority as you may reasonably request.
<PAGE>


     Please  acknowledge  your  acceptance of the duties of custodian under this
Custody  Agreement  and receipt of the  Certificates  and related  stock  powers
deposited  herewith by executing and returning to the  undersigned  the enclosed
copy of this Custody  Agreement  with the  Acknowledgment  and Receipt set forth
below completed and executed.
                                         Very truly yours,

                                         H. JAMES MAXWELL

                                         ___________________________________

                                         H. James Maxwell



                                         OFFENSE GROUP ASSOCIATES LIMITED

                                         By:
                                         ___________________________________

                                                  Name:

                                                  Title:
                                         OPPORTUNITY ASSOCIATES, L.P.

                                         By:
                                         ____________________________________

                                                  Name:

                                                  Title
                                         ARBCO ASSOCIATES, L.P.

                                         By:
                                         ____________________________________

                                                  Name:

                                                  Title
                                         KAYNE, ANDERSON NON-TRADITIONAL
                                         INVESTMENTS, L.P.

                                         By:

<PAGE>


                                         ____________________________________

                                                  Name:

                                                  Title
                                         EVANSTON INSURANCE COMPANY

                                         By:
                                         ____________________________________

                                                  Name:

                                                  Title
                                         NOBEL INSURANCE COMPANY

                                         By:
                                         ____________________________________

                                                  Name:

                                                  Title
                                         AMOCO PRODUCTION COMPANY

                                         By:
                                         ____________________________________

                                                  Name:

                                                  Title
Acknowledged and received as

of the date first written above:

NOLAN SECURITIES CORPORATION

By:_______________________________

     Terence M. Nolan

     President



<PAGE>






                              Schedule I to Selling
                         Stockholders' Custody Agreement


                                  Name of                    Number

                            Selling Stockholder              of Shares

H. James Maxwell                                             30,000
 
Offense Group Associates, L.P.                               70,000
 
Opportunity Associates, L.P.                                 40,826
 
Arbco Associates, L.P.                                       70,000
 
Kayne, Anderson Non-Traditional
Investments, L.P.
                                                             70,000

Evanston Insurance Company                                   81,653
 
Nobel Insurance Company                                      40,826
 
Amoco Production Company                                     2,000,000
 


<PAGE>


Total                                                        2,403,305
 
Exhibit 1.2

                                  PANACO, INC.
                    Common Stock, par value, $.01 per share
                    SELLING STOCKHOLDER'S POWER OF ATTORNEY



                               _________ __, 1997



     H. James Maxwell
     Todd R. Bart
     c/o PANACO, Inc.
     1050 West Blue Ridge Boulevard
     PANACO Building
     Kansas City, MO  64145
Gentlemen:

     1. Introduction. The undersigned (sometimes referred to below as a Selling
Stockholder)  understands  that  PANACO,  Inc.,  a  Delaware  corporation  (the
Company), has filed a registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-18233 )
(as  amended  from  time  to  time,  the  Registration  Statement)  under  the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Act),  in connection with the proposed
sale by the Company and the  stockholders of the Company set forth on Schedule I
hereto (collectively,  the Selling  Stockholders) of an aggregate of 8,403,305
shares of the common stock, par value $.01 (the Common Stock). The Company and
the Selling  Stockholders  have  entered  into an  underwriting  agreement  (the
Underwriting Agreement) with Nolan Securities Corporation as representative of
the several  underwriters named therein (the  Underwriters)  pursuant to which
the  Underwriters  have been appointed as the exclusive agent of the Company and
the Selling Stockholders to offer and sell the shares on a best efforts, all or
none  basis.  The  shares of Common  Stock  that the  Company  and the  Selling
Stockholders  will offer and sell,  through the  Underwriters,  are collectively
referred to as the Shares.

     The  undersigned  desires  to offer  and sell to the  public,  through  the
Underwriters,  that number of Shares (the Seller Shares) as are set forth next
to the name of the undersigned in Schedule I hereto.

     2. Appointment.  In connection with the foregoing,  the undersigned  hereby
makes,  constitutes  and appoints  each of H. James Maxwell and Todd R. Bart, or
any one of them or their successors,  with full power of substitution,  the true
and lawful  attorneys-in-fact  of the undersigned  (said persons,  or any one of
them   or   their   successors,   being   hereinafter   referred   to   as   the
Attorneys-in-Fact),  each one of them with full  power and  authority,  in the
name and on behalf of
<PAGE>


     the  undersigned,  to do and  perform the  following  as fully as could the
undersigned if personally present and acting:

     (a) To execute and deliver a Custody  Agreement,  in substantially the form
attached  hereto as Exhibit A (the Custody  Agreement),  pursuant to which (i)
one or more stock  certificates  representing  the Seller  Shares and (ii) stock
powers  (undated and in blank) with  respect to such Seller  Shares are being or
will be delivered  to, and  deposited  with,  the  Custodian  (as defined in the
Custody Agreement).

     (b) To sell to the  Underwriters  the Seller Shares at a purchase price per
share (not to be less than $5.00 per share), net of the applicable  underwriting
discount  but  before  deduction  of any  other  offering  expenses  and at such
underwriting  discount  (not to  exceed  7% of the  price per share at which the
Shares are offered to the public) as the Attorneys-in- Fact, or any one of them,
in his, her or their sole  discretion  determine  pursuant to and as provided in
the Underwriting  Agreement  referred to below; it being understood that if, for
any reason, the net purchase price per share is less than $5.00 per share, or if
the underwriting  discount exceeds 7% of the price per share to the public,  the
Attorneys-in-  Fact,  or  any  one of  them,  will  consult  with  each  Selling
Stockholder and, unless such Selling Stockholder consents to such lower price or
higher underwriting discount, his, hers or its Seller Shares will not be sold in
the offering.

     (c) For the  purpose of  effecting  such sale,  to execute  and  deliver an
Underwriting Agreement (the Underwriting Agreement), in substantially the form
of the draft  thereof  included  as Exhibit 1.1 to the  Registration  Statement,
among the Company, the Selling Stockholders and the Underwriters.

     (d) To take for the undersigned all steps deemed  necessary or advisable by
the  Attorneys-in-Fact  in connection with the registration of the Seller Shares
under the Act, including, without limitation,  filing the Registration Statement
and any amendment  thereto,  requesting  acceleration  of  effectiveness  of the
Registration Statement and such other steps as the Attorneys-in-Fact may in his,
her or their sole discretion deem necessary or advisable.

     (e) To make,  acknowledge,  verify  and file on behalf  of the  undersigned
applications,  consents  to service of process  and such other  undertakings  or
reports  as  may be  required  by  law  with  state  commissioners  or  officers
administering  state  securities  laws, and to take any other action required to
facilitate  the  qualification  of the  Seller  Shares  under  the  blue  sky or
securities laws of the jurisdictions in which the Shares are to be offered.

     (f)  To  give  such  orders  and  instructions  to  the  Underwriters,  the
Custodian,  the Company or to the transfer  agent for the Common  Stock,  as the
case may be, with respect to (i) the transfer on the books of the Company of the
certificates representing the Seller
<PAGE>

Shares  (including the name in which the new  certificates  are to be issued and
the  denominations   thereof  consistent  with  information   delivered  to  the
Attorney-in-Fact  by the Underwriters),  (ii) the delivery to or for the account
of the Representative of the certificate or certificates representing the Seller
Shares  to be  sold  on  each  Closing  Date  (as  defined  in the  Underwriting
Agreement)  against  receipt by the  Custodian of the purchase  price  therefor,
(iii) the payment of any costs and expenses payable by the undersigned  pursuant
to the terms of the Underwriting Agreement (which are not otherwise agreed to be
paid by the Company,  if any),  including without limitation any transfer taxes,
(iv) the remittance to the  undersigned  of the net proceeds less  expenses,  if
any,  from the sale of the Seller  Shares,  and (v) the  delivery  to or for the
account of the  undersigned of a certificate or  certificates  representing  the
number of the Seller Shares that are not sold to the Underwriters.

     (g) To accept and acknowledge receipt of any and all documents delivered or
deliverable to the undersigned as a Selling Stockholder, and acknowledge receipt
of any and all checks, drafts or funds payable to the undersigned as a result of
the sale of Seller Shares pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement.

     3. Irrevocable Power; Termination. This Power of Attorney and all authority
conferred  hereby are granted and conferred  subject to and in  consideration of
the interests and for the benefit of the Underwriters,  the Selling Stockholders
and the Company, and in consideration of those interests, and for the purpose of
completing the transactions  contemplated by the Underwriting Agreement and this
Power of Attorney,  this Power of Attorney is an agency coupled with an interest
and all  authority  conferred  hereby  shall be  irrevocable  and  shall  not be
terminated by any act of the undersigned or by operation of law,  whether by the
death,  disability or incapacity of the undersigned (if a natural person) or the
liquidation or dissolution of the undersigned (if other than a natural  person),
or  by  the  occurrence  of  any  other  event  or  events  (including,  without
limitation,  the  termination  of any trust or estate for which the  undersigned
acts  as a  fiduciary).  If the  undersigned  should  die,  become  disabled  or
incapacitated  or be  liquidated  or  dissolved,  or if any other  such event or
events shall occur before the completion of the transactions contemplated by the
Underwriting Agreement and this Power of Attorney,  the Attorneys-in-Fact  shall
nevertheless be authorized and directed to complete all such  transactions as if
such death,  disability,  incapacity,  liquidation  or dissolution or such other
event or events had not occurred and regardless of notice thereof.

     Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  if the  Closing  Date (as  defined in the
Underwriting  Agreement)  shall not have occurred  prior to March 31, 1997 or if
the Underwriting  Agreement is earlier  terminated  pursuant to its terms, then,
from and after such  date,  the  undersigned  shall have the power to revoke all
authority hereby conferred by giving written notice to the Attorneys-in-Fact and
the Custodian that this Power of Attorney has been terminated, subject, however,
to all lawful  action taken by any or all of the  Attorneys-in-Fact  pursuant to
this Power of Attorney prior to the actual receipt of such notice.

     4. Ratification;  Several Actions.  Each  Attorney-in-Fact  shall have full
power to make 
<PAGE>


     and substitute any other person as Attorney-in-Fact in his or her place and
stead,   and  the  undersigned   hereby  ratifies  and  confirms  all  that  the
Attorneys-in-Fact  or such substitute or substitutes  shall do by virtue of this
Power of Attorney.  All actions hereunder may be taken by any one of the persons
named herein as Attorneys-in-Fact or their respective substitutes.  In the event
of  the   death  or   incapacity   of  any   Attorney-in-Fact,   the   remaining
Attorneys-in-Fact    shall   appoint   a   substitute    therefor.    The   term
Attorneys-in-Fact  as used herein shall include their respective  substitutes.
Upon substitution of any other person as Attorney-in-Fact, prompt notice of such
substitution shall be given to the undersigned.

     5.  Representations  and  Warranties.  The  undersigned,  severally and not
jointly, hereby represents, warrants and agrees that:

     (a) This Power of Attorney has been duly authorized, executed and delivered
by the undersigned having full right, power, capacity and authority to do so.

     (b) The  undersigned  has carefully  reviewed the form of the  Underwriting
Agreement,  and the undersigned represents and warrants that each representation
and warranty contained in Section l(b) of the Underwriting Agreement is true and
correct as to the undersigned in all material respects and will also be true and
correct in all material  respects as of each  Closing  Date.  In  addition,  the
undersigned agrees to perform its obligations under the Underwriting  Agreement,
Custody Agreement, Power of Attorney and Lock-up Agreement.

     (c) The undersigned has carefully  reviewed the Registration  Statement and
will  carefully  review each  amendment  thereto upon  receipt  thereof from the
Company, and the undersigned hereby represents and warrants that the information
relating  to the  undersigned  which is set forth  therein  is, and will on each
Closing Date be, true, correct and complete in all material respects.
                  
     (d)  Except  for KA  Associates,  Inc.,  which is a member of the  National
Association  of Securities  Dealers,  Inc., and which is an affiliate of each of
Offense  Group  Associates   Limited,   Opportunity   Associates,   L.P.,  Arbco
Associates, L.P., and Kayne, Anderson Non-Traditional Investments, L.P., neither
the undersigned nor, to the best of the undersigned's  knowledge,  any associate
of the undersigned is affiliated with any member of the National  Association of
Securities  Dealers,  Inc.  or any firm  directly or  indirectly  engaged in the
securities  business  as a broker or dealer,  as (i) an  employee  acting in any
capacity  including  that of an officer  or  registered  representative,  (ii) a
director or partner, or (iii) an equity investor or debt investor.  (Investments
in publicly held  corporations  which in turn have  investments  in firms in the
securities  business need not be disclosed or included if the  investment in the
publicly held  corporation  is of the same class of security as is publicly held
and does not exceed 5% of such class.)

     (e) The  undersigned  has not  distributed  and  will  not  distribute  any
prospectus
<PAGE>


or other  offering  material in  connection  with the  offering  and sale of the
Shares,  and the  undersigned has not purchased and will not purchase any shares
of Common Stock or otherwise  engage in  stabilization  or other  activities  in
violation of the  Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and the rules and
regulations  of Commission  thereunder  in  connection  with the offering of the
Shares.

     6. Authorization to Use Information.  The undersigned hereby authorizes the
Attorneys-in-Fact to furnish the information concerning the undersigned which is
set forth in this Power of Attorney to the Commission,  to the Underwriters,  to
the other  Selling  Stockholders,  to the  National  Association  of  Securities
Dealers,  Inc., to the Nasdaq Stock  Market,  Inc. and to the Company for use by
them in connection  with the offering of the Shares and the  preparation  of the
Registration  Statement and the Prospectus  included  therein.  The  undersigned
represents  and  warrants,  severally  and  not  jointly,  to the  Company,  the
Underwriters  and their  respective  counsel that such  information  is true and
correct, and agrees to notify the Attorneys-in-Fact  immediately if there is any
change  in  any  of  such  information  prior  to  the  effective  date  of  the
Registration Statement.  You and all of such persons and firms may consider that
there has been no such change unless advised to the contrary in writing.

     7.  Reliance;  Indemnification.  Each  Attorney-in-Fact  may act  upon  any
instrument or other  writing  believed by him, her or it to be genuine and to be
signed or presented or caused to be sent by the proper person.  The  undersigned
hereby,   agrees,   severally  and  not  jointly,  to  indemnify  and  hold  the
Attorneys-in-Fact free and harmless from and against any and all costs, damages,
judgments,  reasonable  attorneys' fees and disbursements,  reasonable expenses,
losses or  liabilities  of any kind or nature  which the  Attorneys-in-Fact  may
incur  or  sustain  as a  result  of any  action  taken  by them  in good  faith
hereunder.

     8. Compensation.  It is understood that the  Attorneys-in-Fact  shall serve
entirely  without  compensation,  except as expressly  provided in the foregoing
Section 7.

     9.  Governing  Law. This Power of Attorney  shall  constitute an instrument
under seal and be governed by and construed in  accordance  with the Laws of the
State of New York, without regard to the choice of law provisions thereof.

     10.  Ratification.  The  undersigned  hereby ratifies and confirms all that
each or all of the  aforesaid  Attorneys-in-Fact  shall  do by  virtue  of these
presents.

                                Very truly yours,



                                H. JAMES MAXWELL

                                ____________________________________________

<PAGE>


                                H. James Maxwell



                                OFFENSE GROUP ASSOCIATES LIMITED

                                By:      ___________________________________

                                         Name:

                                         Title:
                                OPPORTUNITY ASSOCIATES, L.P.

                                By:       ____________________________________

                                         Name:

                                         Title
                                ARBCO ASSOCIATES, L.P.

                                By:       ____________________________________

                                         Name:

                                         Title
                                KAYNE, ANDERSON NON-TRADITIONAL
                                INVESTMENTS, L.P.

                                By:       ____________________________________

                                         Name:

                                         Title
                                EVANSTON INSURANCE COMPANY

                                By:       ____________________________________

                                         Name:

                                         Title
                                NOBEL INSURANCE COMPANY

                                By:       ____________________________________

<PAGE>


                                         Name:

                                         Title
                                AMOCO PRODUCTION COMPANY

                                By:       ____________________________________

                                         Name:

                                         Title




<PAGE>



                         Schedule I to Power of Attorney

                                  Name of                    Number

                            Selling Stockholder              of Shares

H. James Maxwell                                             30,000
 
Offense Group Associates, L.P.                               70,000
 
Opportunity Associates, L.P.                                 40,826
 
Arbco Associates, L.P.                                       70,000
 
Kayne, Anderson Non-Traditional
Investments, L.P.
                                                             70,000

Evanston Insurance Company                                   81,653
 
Nobel Insurance Company                                      40,826
 
Amoco Production Company                                     2,000,000
 
Total                                                        2,403,305
 


                                                      -8-

<PAGE>

Exhibit 10.18

                         PANACO, INC. WARRANT AGREEMENT
                         dated as of _________ __, 1997

                                 by and between

                                  PANACO, INC.


                                      and

                          NOLAN SECURITIES CORPORATION






<PAGE>





TABLE OF CONTENTS

RECITALS.



Section 1.           Form of Warrant............................................

    Section 2....... Registration
 ....................

    Section 3....... Transfer and Exchanges
 ....................

    Section 4....... Exercise of the Warrant
 ....................

    Section 5....... Adjustment to Exercise Price and Number
                     of Shares of Common Stock
 ....................

    Section 6....... Payment of Taxes
 ....................

    Section 7....... Mutilated or Missing Warrant Certificate
 ....................

    Section 8....... Reservation of Common Stock
 ....................

    Section 9....... Piggyback Registration
 ....................

    Section 10...... Piggyback Registration Procedures
 ....................

    Section 11......  Piggyback Registration Expenses
 ....................

    Section 12...... Fractional Interests
 ....................

    Section 13...... Notices to Warrantholders
 ....................

    Section 14...... Successors
 ....................

    Section 15...... Indemnification
 ....................

    Section 16...... Delaware Contract
 ....................

    Section 17...... Benefits of this Warrant Agreement
 ....................

    Section 18...... Counterparts and Amendments
 ....................








<PAGE>








WARRANT AGREEMENT dated as of ___________ __, 1997 between PANACO, INC., a
Delaware corporation (the Company), and NOLAN SECURITIES CORPORATION a
Connecticut corporation, and its designees, transferees or assigns, (Nolan).


     WHEREAS,  the Company  proposes to issue to Nolan a warrant (the Warrant)
to purchase an aggregate of up to 726,050 shares of its common stock,  par value
$.01 per share (Common Stock).


     NOW, THEREFORE,  in consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements
herein set forth, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

     Section  1.  Form of  WarrantSection  1. Form of  Warrant.  The text of the
certificate  evidencing the Warrant (the Warrant Certificate) and of the forms
of  elections  to exercise the Warrant  shall be  substantially  as set forth in
Exhibit A attached hereto.  Until 5:00 p.m., New York time, on ________ __, 1999
(Expiration  Date), the Warrant shall entitle the registered holder thereof to
purchase  shares of Common Stock at any time, and from time to time, in whole or
in part, at a purchase price of $ [public  offering price] per share,  except as
provided for adjustment  herein,  during the period from the date the Warrant is
issued until the Expiration Date. The Warrant  Certificate  shall be executed on
behalf of the Company by the President or Vice  President of the Company,  under
its  corporate  seal  attested by the  Secretary or  Assistant  Secretary of the
Company.

     The  Warrant  Certificate  shall be dated as of the date of issuance of the
Warrant evidenced thereby either upon initial issuance or upon transfer.

     Section 2. RegistrationSection 2. Registration.  The Company shall maintain
books for the registration and registration of transfer of the Warrant. Upon the
initial  issuance of the  Warrant,  the  Company  shall issue to Nolan a Warrant
Certificate  to  purchase  ten  percent  (10%) of the total  number of shares of
Common  Stock sold by the  Company in the  proposed  public  offering  of Common
Stock,  commencing on ______ __, 1997, up to a total of 726,050 shares of Common
Stock, and will register the Warrant in Nolan's name.

     Section 3. Transfer and  ExchangesSection  3. Transfer and  Exchanges.  The
Company  shall  register the  transfer,  from time to time,  of the  outstanding
Warrant or any portion thereof to designees,  transferees or assignees of Nolan,
upon the books to be  maintained  by the  Company for that  purpose  pursuant to
Section 2 of this  Warrant  Agreement,  upon  surrender  of the related  Warrant
Certificate  properly  endorsed  for  transfer  or  accompanied  by  appropriate
instructions for transfer. Upon
                                                  -1-






<PAGE>








each such transfer,  a new Warrant Certificate shall be issued to the transferee
and the surrendered Warrant  Certificate shall be canceled by the Company.  Upon
any such  transfers,  the terms of this Agreement shall apply to each respective
transferee by virtue of such transfer, and the term Warrant shall apply to the
Warrant or any portion thereof.

     The  Warrant  Certificate  may be  exchanged  at the  option of the  holder
thereof, when surrendered at the principal office of the Company in Kansas City,
Missouri,  for another Warrant  Certificate or Certificates  representing in the
aggregate the right to purchase a like number of shares.

     Section 4. Exercise of the WarrantSection 4. Exercise of the Warrant.

     A. Subject to the  provisions of this Warrant  Agreement,  each  registered
holder of the Warrant shall have the right to purchase from the Company (and the
Company  shall  issue  and sell to each  such  registered  holder)  prior to the
Expiration  Date  fully  paid and  nonassessable  shares  of Common  Stock  upon
surrender to the Company at its principal office in Kansas City, Missouri of the
related  Warrant  Certificate,  with the form of election  to  exercise  annexed
thereto  duly  completed  and  executed,  and upon payment to the Company of the
applicable Warrant Price. Payment of the Warrant Price may be made in cash or by
certified  check. In addition to the foregoing  methods of payment in respect of
the exercise of the Warrant,  the exercise price of the Warrant may also be paid
by delivery to the Company or its  designated  agent of an executed  irrevocable
Warrant exercise form together with irrevocable  instructions to a broker-dealer
or  underwriter  in form and  substance  satisfactory  to the  Company to sell a
sufficient  portion of the shares of Common  Stock  underlying  the  Warrant and
deliver the sale  proceeds  directly  to the Company in payment of the  exercise
price. The Warrant may be exercised only for full shares of Common Stock.

     B. Subject to Section 6 of this Warrant  Agreement,  upon such surrender of
the  Warrant for  exercise  (accompanied  by payment of the  Warrant  Price upon
exercise),  the Company shall issue and deliver with all reasonable  dispatch to
or upon the written order of the  registered  holder of such Warrant and in such
name or names as such  registered  holder may designate,  a certificate  for the
number of full shares of Common  Stock so  purchased  upon the  exercise of such
Warrant.  Such certificate shall be deemed to have been issued and any person so
designated to be named therein shall be deemed to have become a holder of record
of such shares as of the date of the due surrender of such  Warrant.  The rights
of purchase represented by any Warrant Certificate shall be exercisable,  at the
election of each registered  holder thereof,  either as an entirety or from time
to time for part of the shares of Common Stock which such holder may be entitled
to receive upon exercise of the Warrant evidenced thereby and, in the event that
any Warrant Certificate is surrendered for exercise of less than the full amount
of the Warrant to purchase Common Stock  represented  thereby,  the Company will
issue and deliver a new Warrant
                                                  -2-





<PAGE>







Certificate to such registered  holder for the remaining  portion of the Warrant
represented by the Warrant Certificate so surrendered.

     C. Nolan will not, for a period of 180 days from the date  hereof,  without
the prior written  consent of the Company,  offer,  sell or contract to sell, or
otherwise dispose (or announce any offer, sale, pledge,  offer of sale, contract
of sale,  grant of any  option to  purchase  or other sale or  disposition)  of,
directly or indirectly, any shares of the Common Stock issuable upon exercise of
the Warrants or options or other rights to acquire,  or  securities  convertible
into,  or  exchangeable  for, such shares of Common  Stock;  provided  Nolan may
transfer  Warrants  to  other  member  firms  of  the  National  Association  of
Securities Dealers, Inc. which are participants in the offering of the Company's
Common Stock in connection  herewith,  provided  further such  transferees  also
agree to be bound by the provisions of this Section 4C.

     Section  5.  Adjustment  to  Exercise  Price and Number of Shares of Common
Stock

     A. The exercise  price and the number of shares of Common Stock  underlying
the Warrant shall be subject to adjustment  from time to time as hereinafter set
forth:
     1. Stock  Dividends - Split-Ups.  If after the date  hereof,  the number of
outstanding  shares of Common Stock is increased by a stock dividend  payable in
shares of Common  Stock or by a  sub-division  or a split-up of shares of Common
Stock or other similar event, then, on the effective day thereof,  the number of
shares of Common Stock issuable on exercise of the Warrant shall be increased in
proportion to such increase in outstanding shares.

     2.  Aggregation  of  Shares.  If  after  the date  hereof,  the  number  of
outstanding shares of Common Stock is decreased by a consolidation,  combination
or  reclassification  of shares of Common Stock or other similar event, then, on
the  effective  date thereof,  the number of shares of Common Stock  issuable on
exercise of the Warrant  shall be decreased in  proportion  to such  decrease in
outstanding shares.
     3.  Adjustments  in Exercise  Price.  Whenever  the number of the shares of
Common Stock upon the exercise of this Warrant is adjusted,  as provided in this
Section  5A, the  exercise  price shall be  adjusted  (to the  nearest  cent) by
multiplying  such  exercise  price  immediately  prior to such  adjustment  by a
fraction (x) the  numerator of which shall be the number of the shares of Common
Stock  purchasable upon the exercise of this Warrant  immediately  prior to such
adjustment and (y) the denominator of which shall be the number of the shares of
Common Stock so purchasable immediately thereafter.

     4. Reorganizations, etc. If after the date hereof, any capital
                                                  -3-





<PAGE>







reorganization  or  reclassification  of the Common Stock of the Company  (other
than covered by  paragraphs 1 and 2 above),  or  consolidation  or merger of the
Company with another corporation, or the sale of all or substantially all of its
assets to another  corporation or other similar event shall be effected then, as
a condition of such reorganization, reclassification,  consolidation, merger, or
sale,  lawful,  fair and adequate  provision  shall be made whereby  Nolan shall
thereafter  have the right to purchase and receive,  upon the basis and upon the
terms and conditions specified in the Warrant and in lieu of the Common Stock of
the Company immediately theretofore purchasable and receivable upon the exercise
of the rights represented thereby, such shares of stock,  securities,  or assets
as may be issuable or payable  with  respect to or in exchange for the number of
shares of Common  Stock of the  Company  equal to the number of shares of Common
Stock of the Company immediately theretofore purchasable and receivable upon the
exercise of the rights  represented  by the  Warrant,  had such  reorganization,
reclassification,  consolidation,  merger,  or sale not taken  place and in such
event,  adequate  and  appropriate  provision  shall be made with respect to the
rights and interests of Nolan to the end that the provisions hereof  (including,
without limitation,  provisions for adjustments of the exercise price and of the
number of shares of Common Stock  purchasable  upon the exercise of the Warrant)
shall  thereafter  be  applicable,  as  nearly as may be, to any share of stock,
securities,  or assets  thereafter  deliverable  upon the exercise  hereof.  The
Company shall not effect any such consolidation,  merger, or sale unless,  prior
to the  consummation  thereof,  the  successor  corporation  (if other  than the
Company)  resulting  from  such  consolidation  or  merger,  or the  corporation
purchasing  such  assets,  shall  assume,  by written  instrument  executed  and
delivered to Nolan, its obligation to deliver such shares of stock,  securities,
or assets which,  in  accordance  with the  foregoing  provisions,  Nolan may be
entitled to purchase.

     5.  Changes in  Warrant.  The  Warrant  need not be changed  because of any
change  pursuant to this Section,  and the Warrant  issued after such change may
state the same  exercise  price and the same number of warrants as are initially
issued pursuant to this Warrant Agreement.

     B. Substitute Warrant. In case of any consolidation of the Company with, or
merger of the Company with, or merger of the Company into,  another  corporation
(other  than  a   consolidation   or  merger   which  does  not  result  in  any
reclassification  or change of the  outstanding  Common Stock),  the corporation
formed by such  consolidation  or merger  shall  execute  and deliver to Nolan a
supplemental  Warrant providing that the holder of each Warrant then outstanding
or to be outstanding shall have the right thereafter (until the Expiration Date)
to  receive,  upon  exercise of such  Warrant,  the kind and amount of shares of
stock and other  securities and property  receivable upon such  consolidation or
merger,  by a holder of the number of shares of Common  Stock of the Company for
which  such  Warrant  might  have  been  exercised  immediately  prior  to  such
consolidation, merger, sale or transfer. Such supplemental Warrant shall provide
for  adjustments  which shall be identical to the  adjustments  provided in this
Section
                                                  -4-





<PAGE>







     5. The above  provision of this Section shall similarly apply to successive
consolidations or mergers.

     Section 6. Payment of  TaxesSection  6. Payment of Taxes.  The Company will
pay any documentary  stamp taxes  attributable to the initial issuance of shares
of Common Stock  issuable upon the exercise of the Warrant;  provided,  however,
that the  Company  shall not be  required  to pay any tax or taxes  which may be
payable in respect of any  registration  of  transfer  involved  in the issue or
delivery  of any  certificates  for shares of Common  Stock in a name other than
that of the registered holder of the Warrant in respect of which such shares are
issued,  and in such case the Company  shall not be required to issue or deliver
any  certificate  for  shares of Common  Stock or any  Warrant  until the person
requesting  the same  has  paid to the  Company  the  amount  of such tax or has
established to the Company's satisfaction that such tax has been paid.

     Section 7. Mutilated or Missing Warrant  CertificateSection 7. Mutilated or
Missing Warrant Certificate. In case the Warrant Certificate shall be mutilated,
lost,  stolen or destroyed,  the Company shall issue and deliver in exchange and
substitution for and upon cancellation of the mutilated Warrant Certificate,  or
in  lieu of the  substitution  for  the  Warrant  Certificate  lost,  stolen  or
destroyed,  a new  Warrant  Certificate  evidencing  a like  number of shares of
Common Stock,  but only upon receipt of evidence  satisfactory to the Company of
such loss,  theft or destruction of such Warrant  Certificate and indemnity,  if
requested,  also  satisfactory  to the Company.  Applicants for such  substitute
Warrant Certificate shall also comply with such other reasonable regulations and
pay such other reasonable charges as the Company may prescribe.

     Section 8.  Reservation  of Common  StockSection  8.  Reservation of Common
Stock.  The Company shall at all times keep reserved,  out of the authorized and
unissued  shares of Common Stock,  a number of shares  sufficient to provide for
the  exercise of the Warrant,  and the  Transfer  Agent for the Common Stock and
every  subsequent  transfer  agent for any shares of the Company's  Common Stock
issuable upon the exercise of the Warrant are hereby irrevocably  authorized and
directed at all times to reserve such number of authorized  and unissued  shares
as shall be requisite  for such purpose.  The Company  agrees that all shares of
Common  Stock  issued  upon  exercise  of the  Warrant  shall be, at the time of
delivery of the  certificates  for such shares,  validly issued and outstanding,
fully  paid  and  nonassessable.  A  Warrant  Certificate  surrendered  upon the
exercise  of the Warrant  shall be  canceled  by the  Company and such  canceled
Warrant Certificate shall constitute sufficient evidence of the number of shares
of Company  Common Stock which have been issued upon the exercise of the Warrant
evidenced thereby.

     Section 9. Piggyback RegistrationSection 9. Piggyback Registration.

     A.  Whenever the Company  proposes at any time  following  the date of this
Warrant  Agreement  until  __________  ___,  1999, to register any of its Common
Stock under the
                                                  -5-





<PAGE>







Securities  Act of 1933,  as  amended,  (the  Securities  Act)  (a  Piggyback
Registration)  (other than pursuant to Form S-8 or any successor  form) and the
registration  form to be used may be used for the  registration  of Common Stock
issued or issuable by way of exercise of the Warrant (Registrable Securities),
the Company  will give prompt  written  notice to all holders of the Warrant and
Registrable Securities of its intention to effect such a registration,  and will
include in such  registration  all Registrable  Securities with respect to which
the Company has received written  requests for inclusion  therein within 30 days
after the date the Company's notice is received by such holders.

     B. The  Registration  Expenses of the holders of Registrable  Securities as
defined in Section 11 of this Warrant  Agreement  will be paid by the Company in
the Piggyback Registration.

     C. If the Piggyback Registration is an underwritten primary registration on
behalf of the Company, and the managing  underwriters advise the Company that in
their  opinion  the  number  of  securities  requested  to be  included  in such
registration  exceeds the number which can be sold in an orderly  manner in such
offering within a price range reasonably  acceptable to the Company, the Company
will include in such registration (a) first, the securities the Company proposes
to sell, (b) second, the Registrable Securities requested to be included therein
and any other  securities  requested  to be  included  therein by other  holders
entitled to request inclusion of their securities in such registration, pro rata
among the holders of such  Registrable  Securities  and other  securities on the
basis of the number of Registrable  Securities  requested to be included therein
and any other  securities  requested  to be  included  therein by other  holders
entitled to request inclusion of their securities in such registration,  subject
to the prior rights of the holders of the warrants  originally  issued to Kayne,
Anderson  Investment  Management,  Inc. or any of their affiliates or purchasers
therefrom of securities issued by the Company,  and (c) third,  other securities
requested to be included in such registration.

     D. If the Piggyback  Registration is an underwritten secondary registration
on  behalf  of  holders  of  the  Company's   Common  Stock,  and  the  managing
underwriters  advise the Company that in their  opinion the number of securities
requested  to be included in such  registration  exceeds the number which can be
sold in an  orderly  manner in such  offering  within a price  range  reasonably
acceptable to the holders initially  requesting such  registration,  the Company
will include in such  registration  (a) first,  the  securities  requested to be
included  therein  by the  holders  requesting  such  registration,  and (b) the
Registrable Securities and any other securities requested to be included in such
registration by other holders entitled to request  inclusion of their securities
in such registration, pro rata among the holders of such securities on the basis
of the number of Registrable Securities requested to be included therein and any
other  securities  requested to be included therein by other holders entitled to
request inclusion of their securities in such registration, subject to the prior
rights of the holders of the warrants originally

                                                  -6-





<PAGE>







issued to Kayne, Anderson Investment Management, Inc. or any of their affiliates
or purchasers therefrom of securities issued by the Company.

     Section  10.  Piggyback   Registration   ProceduresSection   10.  Piggyback
Registration  Procedures.  Whenever the holders of Registrable  Securities  have
requested  that  any  Registrable  Securities  be  registered  pursuant  to this
Agreement,  the  Company  will use its  reasonable  best  efforts  to effect the
registration and the sale of such Registrable  Securities in accordance with the
intended method of disposition thereof, and pursuant thereto the Company will as
expeditiously as possible:

     6.  prepare  and  file  with  the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  a
registration  statement with respect to such Registrable  Securities and use its
reasonable best efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective
(provided  that before  filing a  registration  statement or  prospectus  or any
amendments or  supplements  thereto,  the Company will furnish to the holders of
the Registrable  Securities covered by such registration statement copies of all
such documents proposed to be filed);

     7.  prepare  and file with the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  such
amendments  and  supplements to such  registration  statement and the prospectus
used in  connection  therewith  as may be  necessary  to keep such  registration
statement  effective  for a period of not less than 180 days and comply with the
provisions  of  the  Securities  Act  with  respect  to the  disposition  of all
securities  covered  by  such  registration  statement  during  such  period  in
accordance with the intended  methods of disposition by the sellers set forth in
such registration statement;

     8. furnish to each seller of Registrable  Securities  such number of copies
of such  registration  statement,  each  amendment and supplement  thereto,  the
prospectus included in such registration  statement  (including each preliminary
prospectus)  and such other  documents as such seller may reasonably  request in
order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable  Securities owned by such
seller;

     9. use its best efforts to register or qualify such Registrable  Securities
under such other securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as any seller
reasonably  requests  and do any and all  other  acts and  things  which  may be
reasonably  necessary  or  advisable  to enable  such seller to  consummate  the
disposition in such  jurisdictions  of the Registrable  Securities owned by such
seller (provided that the Company will not be required to (i) qualify  generally
to do business in any  jurisdiction  where it would not otherwise be required to
qualify,  (ii)  subject  itself to  taxation in any such  jurisdiction  or (iii)
consent to general service of process in any such jurisdiction);

     10. promptly notify each seller of such Registrable Securities, at any
                                                  -7-






<PAGE>








time when a prospectus  relating  thereto is required to be delivered  under the
Securities  Act,  of the  happening  of any  event  as a  result  of  which  the
prospectus included in such registration  statement contains an untrue statement
of a material fact or omits any fact  necessary to make the  statements  therein
not misleading, and, at the request of any such seller, the Company will prepare
a supplement or amendment to such prospectus so that, as thereafter delivered to
the purchasers of such Registrable Securities,  such prospectus will not contain
an untrue  statement of a material  fact or omit to state any fact  necessary to
make the statements therein not misleading.
     11.  use  its  best  reasonable  efforts  to  cause  all  such  Registrable
Securities  to be listed on each  securities  exchange  or on the  NASDAQ  Stock
Market on which Common Stock issued by the Company are then listed and;

     12.  provide  a  transfer  agent  and  registrar  for all such  Registrable
Securities not later than the effective date of such registration statement;

     13. enter into such customary agreements (including underwriting agreements
in customary  form) and take all such other actions as the holders of a majority
of the Registrable Securities being sold or the underwriters, if any, reasonably
request in order to expedite or facilitate the  disposition of such  Registrable
Securities;

     14.  subject  to  obtaining  a  confidentiality   agreement  in  reasonably
acceptable  form,  make  available for  inspection by any seller of  Registrable
Securities,  any underwriter  participating in any disposition  pursuant to such
registration  statement and any attorney,  accountant or other agent retained by
such seller or underwriter, all financial and other records, pertinent corporate
documents  and  properties  of the Company,  and cause the  Company's  officers,
directors,  employees,  independent  accountants  and  attorneys  to supply  all
information  reasonably  requested  by any such seller,  underwriter,  attorney,
accountant or agent in connection with such registration statement;

     15. comply with all applicable  rules and regulations of the Securities and
Exchange  Commission,  and make  available to its security  holders,  as soon as
reasonably practicable, an earnings statement covering the period of at least 12
months beginning with the first day of the Company's first full calendar quarter
after the effective date of the registration statement, which earnings statement
will satisfy the  provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158
thereunder;

     16. permit any holder of Registrable  Securities which holder,  in its sole
exclusive judgment, might be deemed to be an underwriter or a controlling person
of the Company,  to  participate  in the  preparation  of such  registration  or
comparable  statement and to require the insertion  therein of material relating
to such holder, furnished to the Company in
                                                  -8-





<PAGE>







writing,  which in the reasonable judgment of such holder and its counsel should
be included; and
     17.  in the  event  of  the  issuance  of any  stop  order  suspending  the
effectiveness  of a  registration  statement,  or of  any  order  suspending  or
preventing the use of any related  prospectus or suspending the qualification of
any  Common  Stock  included  in  such  registration  statement  or  sale in any
jurisdiction,  the Company  will use its  reasonable  best  efforts  promptly to
obtain the withdrawal of such order.

     Section  11.  Piggyback   Registration   ExpensesSection   11.   _Piggyback
Registration  Expenses. All expenses incident to the Company's performance of or
compliance with this Agreement, including all registration and filing fees, fees
and expenses of compliance with securities or blue sky laws,  printing expenses,
messenger and delivery  expenses,  and fees and disbursements of counsel for the
Company  and  its  independent   certified  public   accountants,   underwriters
(excluding  discounts and commissions) and other persons retained by the Company
(all such expenses being herein called Registration Expenses), will be paid by
the Company.

     Section 12.  Fractional  Interests.Section  12.  Fractional  Interests  The
Company  shall not be required to issue  fractions  of shares of Common Stock on
the  exercise  of the  Warrant  and the  Company  will pay the cash value of any
fractions otherwise issuable.

     Section 13. Notices to Warrantholders.Section 13. Notices to Warrantholders

     A. Right to Receive Notice. Nothing herein shall be construed as conferring
upon  Nolan,  as a holder of the  Warrant,  the right to vote or  consent  or to
receive  notice as a  stockholder  for the  election of  directors  or any other
matter, or as having any rights whatsoever as a stockholder of the Company.  If,
however,  at any time prior to the  expiration of the Warrant or its exercise in
full, any of the events described in Section 13B below shall occur, then, in the
event of one or more of said events,  the Company  shall give written  notice of
such event at least 15 days prior to the date fixed as a record date or the date
of closing the transfer books for the determination of the stockholders entitled
to  such  dividend,  distribution,  conversion  or  exchange  of  securities  or
subscription  rights,  or  entitled  to  vote  on  such  proposed   dissolution,
liquidation,  winding up or sale.  Such notice shall specify such record date or
the closing of the transfer books, as the case may be.

     B.  Events  Requiring  Notice.  The  Company  shall be required to give the
notice  described in this Section 13 upon one or more of the  following  events:
(i) if the  Company  shall take a record of the  holders of its shares of Common
Stock for the purpose of  entitling  them to receive a dividend or  distribution
payable  otherwise  than in cash,  or a cash  dividend or  distribution  payable
otherwise  than  out of  retained  earnings,  as  indicated  by  the  accounting
treatment of such dividend or distribution on the books of the Company,  or (ii)
the Company shall
                                                  -9-





<PAGE>







offer to all the holders of its Common  Stock any  additional  shares of capital
stock of the Company or securities  convertible  into or exchangeable for shares
of capital  stock of the Company,  or any option,  right or warrant to subscribe
therefor, or (iii) a dissolution,  liquidation or winding up of the Company or a
sale of all or substantially  all of its property,  assets and business shall be
proposed.

     C. Notice of Change in Exercise Price. The Company shall, promptly after an
event  requiring a change in the  exercise  price  pursuant to Section 5 hereof,
send notice to Nolan of such event and change (Price Notice). The Price Notice
shall describe the event causing the change and the method of  calculating  same
and shall be certified as being true and accurate by the Company's President and
Chief Financial Officer.

     D.  Transmittal  of Notices.  All  notices,  requests,  consents  and other
communications  under this  Warrant  shall be in writing  and shall be deemed to
have been duly made when hand  delivered,  or mailed by express  mail or private
courier service: (i) if to Nolan, to the following addresses:

                                    Nolan Securities Corporation

                                    7 Academy Street
                                    Salisbury, CT  06068

     or as subsequently  updated on the books of the Company,  or (ii) if to the
Company,  to the  following  address or such other  address as the  Company  may
designate by notice to the Holder:
                                    PANACO, Inc.

                                    1050 West Blue Ridge Blvd.
                                    PANACO Building
                                    Kansas City, MO 64115-1216
                                    Attn:  Corporate Secretary

     Section  14.  Successors.Section  14.  Successors  All  the  covenants  and
provisions  of this  Warrant  Agreement  by or for the benefit of the Company or
Nolan shall bind and inure to the  benefit of their  respective  successors  and
assigns hereunder.

     Section 15. Indemnification.Section 15. Indemnification The Company and its
successors  and assigns shall  indemnify  Nolan and its officers,  directors and
stockholders  with respect to the Registrable  Securities to be sold pursuant to
any registration  statement or prospectus hereunder and each person, if any, who
controls Nolan within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section
20(a) of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934,  as  amended  (Exchange  Act)
against all
                                                  -10-





<PAGE>







loss, claim, damage,  expense or liability (including all reasonable  attorneys'
fees and other  expenses  reasonably  incurred in  investigating,  preparing  or
defending  against any claim) to which any of them may become  subject under the
Securities  Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise,  arising from such  registration
statement or prospectus.  Nolan, its successors and assigns,  and each holder of
Registrable  Securities (on a severally and not jointly basis),  shall indemnify
the Company,  its officers and directors  and each person,  if any, who controls
the Company  within the meaning of Section 15 of the  Securities  Act or Section
20(a) of the  Exchange  Act,  against  all  loss,  claim,  damage,  expenses  or
liability   (including  all  reasonable   attorneys'  fees  and  other  expenses
reasonably incurred in investigating,  preparing or defending against any claim)
to which they may become subject under the  Securities  Act, the Exchange Act or
otherwise,  arising from information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of
such  respective  holders,  or their  successors  or assigns,  in  writing,  for
specific inclusion in such registration statement or prospectus.

     Section 16. Delaware  ContractSection  16. Delaware Contract.  This Warrant
Agreement  and each Warrant  issued  hereunder  shall be deemed to be a contract
made  under  the laws of the State of  Delaware  and for all  purposes  shall be
construed in accordance with the internal laws of said State.

     Section 17. Benefits of this Warrant  AgreementSection 17. Benefits of this
Warrant Agreement.  Nothing in this Warrant Agreement shall be construed to give
to any  person or  corporation  other  than the  Company,  Nolan and each  other
registered  holder of Warrants  any legal or  equitable  right,  remedy or claim
under this Warrant  Agreement;  but this Warrant Agreement shall be for the sole
and exclusive benefit of the Company,  Nolan and each other registered holder of
Warrants.

     Section  18.  Counterparts  and   AmendmentsSection  18.  Counterparts  and
Amendments.  This  Agreement may be executed in separate  counterparts,  each of
which shall be deemed an original,  but all of which together  shall  constitute
one and the same  instrument.  No amendment or  modification  of this  Agreement
shall be of any force or effect  unless in writing and signed by all the parties
thereto.





                                                  -11-





<PAGE>







     IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  the parties hereto have caused this Warrant  Agreement
to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written. 
                    PANACO, INC.

                     By:  _______________________________________



                             Name:             H. James Maxwell
                             Title:   Chief Executive Officer and President
                     NOLAN SECURITIES CORPORATION



                     By:  ________________________________



                             Name:             Terence M. Nolan
                             Title:   President



                                                  -12-





<PAGE>





                                    EXHIBIT A

              VOID AFTER 5:00 P.M. NEW YORK TIME, [_____ __, 1999]
                          NOLAN SECURITIES CORPORATION


               WARRANT TO PURCHASE _______ SHARES OF COMMON STOCK


                                  PANACO, INC.
              INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE
                  WARRANT CERTIFICATE REPRESENTING A WARRANT TO
                     PURCHASE COMMON STOCK, $.01 PAR VALUE,
     AT $[public offering price] PER SHARE UNTIL 5:00 P.M. NEW YORK TIME ON
                             __________ ___, 1999.


     This  certifies  that,  for  value  received,   PANACO,  INC.,  a  Delaware
corporation (the Company),  upon the surrender of this Warrant  Certificate to
the Company as provided in the Warrant  Agreement  dated as of  __________  ___,
1997 (as amended,  supplemented  or modified  from time to time,  (the  Warrant
Agreement)  between  the  Company  and  NOLAN  SECURITIES  CORPORATION,  or its
designees,  transferees,  or  assigns,  provided,  and  only  if,  this  Warrant
Certificate  shall be so surrendered on or prior to 5:00 P.M., New York time, on
__________  ___, 1999 being referred to herein as the  Expiration  Date,  will
sell and deliver, or cause to be sold and delivered to

                          NOLAN SECURITIES CORPORATION

     its designees, transferees, or assigns, subject to the terms and conditions
herein set forth,  a  certificate  for fully  paid and  nonassessable  shares of
common stock,  par value $.01 per share,  of the Company  (Common  Stock) upon
payment of the Warrant  Price,  as defined  below,  for the Warrant  represented
hereby which is then  exercised.  The warrant  price  payable on the exercise of
each  Warrant  (referred  to herein as the  Warrant  Price)  shall be $[public
offering  price] per share of Common Stock  subject to adjustment as provided in
the Warrant Agreement until 5:00 P.M. New York time on _________ ___, 1999.






                                                  A-13


<PAGE>





     This Warrant and the shares of common stock issuable upon exercise have not
been registered  pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,  and may be
offered or sold only if registered  under such Act or if an exemption  therefrom
is available.




                                                  A-14


<PAGE>





     As provided in the Warrant  Agreement,  the Warrant Price is payable,  upon
the  exercise  of the  Warrant,  either  in cash or by  certified  check,  or as
otherwise  provided therein.  In the event that less than the full amount of the
Warrant to purchase  Common Stock  represented  by this Warrant  Certificate  is
exercised, a new Warrant Certificate for the remaining portion will be issued on
such surrender.

     Upon the exercise of the Warrant  represented by this Warrant  Certificate,
the  accompanying  form of election to purchase  must be duly  executed.  In any
case, the accompanying  instructions for the registration and delivery of Common
Stock must be filled in.

     This  Warrant  Certificate  is issued  under,  and the Warrant  represented
hereby is  subject  to,  the  terms  and  provisions  contained  in the  Warrant
Agreement,  to all the terms and  provisions of which the  registered  holder of
this Warrant  Certificate,  by acceptance hereof,  assents.  Reference is hereby
made to said Warrant  Agreement for a more complete  statement of the rights and
limitations  of  rights of the  registered  holder  hereof  and the  rights  and
obligations of the Company  thereunder.  Copies of said Warrant Agreement are on
file at the principal office of the Company in Kansas City, Missouri.

     No  fractional  shares  will be issued  upon the  exercise  of the  Warrant
represented by this Warrant  Certificate and the Company will pay the cash value
of any fractions otherwise issuable.

     This Warrant  Certificate is  transferable  at the principal  office of the
Company in Kansas City,  Missouri,  by the registered holder hereof in person or
by attorney duly authorized in writing but only in the manner and subject to the
terms and provisions  contained in the Warrant Agreement,  and upon surrender of
this Warrant  Certificate.  Upon any such  transfer,  a new Warrant  Certificate
representing  in the  aggregate a like number of shares of Common  Stock will be
issued to the transferee in exchange for this Warrant Certificate.

     This Warrant  Certificate,  when surrendered at the principal office of the
Company  in Kansas  City,  Missouri,  by the  registered  holder in person or by
attorney duly authorized in writing, may be replaced,  in the manner and subject
to the  limitations  provided  in the  Warrant  Agreement,  by  another  Warrant
Certificate  representing  in the  aggregate  a like  number of shares of Common
Stock.

     The holder of this Warrant  Certificate shall not be entitled to any of the
rights of a stockholder of the Company prior to the exercise hereof.


                                                  A-15


<PAGE>





     IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  PANACO, Inc. has caused this Warrant Certificate to be
duly executed and delivered by its Chief Executive Officer and President and its
corporate seal to be impressed hereon and attested by its Secretary.
                                    PANACO, INC.


                                    By:__________________________________



                                      Name:  H. James Maxwell



                                      Title:    Chief Executive Officer and
                                    President



                                    ATTEST:





                                    By:____________________________________
                                      Name:
                                      Title:   Secretary



                                                  A-16


<PAGE>





                              ELECTION TO EXERCISE
To:      PANACO, Inc.:

     The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise the within Warrant to
purchase  ____________  shares of Company  Common Stock provided for therein and
tenders  herewith  payment  of the  Warrant  Price in full  either by payment of
$__________ in cash or by certified check. In addition to the foregoing  methods
of payment in respect of the exercise of the Warrant,  the exercise price of the
Warrant may also be paid by delivery to the Company or its  designated  agent of
an  executed   irrevocable  Warrant  exercise  form  together  with  irrevocable
instructions to broker-dealer or underwriter in form and substance  satisfactory
to the  Company  to sell a  sufficient  portion  of the  shares of Common  Stock
underlying the Warrant and deliver the sale proceeds  directly to the Company in
payment of the exercise price.  The undersigned  requests that  certificates for
such shares shall be issued in the name of:

         _______________________________________________

                           (Please Print)

         _______________________________________________

                  /IDENTIFYING OR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER/

         /_________/_________/_________

and be delivered to _____________________________________

                                    (Name)

at ____________________________________________________

   (Street Address)            (City)       (State)         (Zip Code)

     and, if said number of shares shall not be all the shares purchasable under
the  Warrant  represented  by  this  Warrant  Certificate,  that  a new  Warrant
Certificate  for the remaining  portion of the Warrant be registered in the name
of, and delivered to, the undersigned at the address stated below;

Name of Warrantholder:________________________________

       (Please Print)

Address:_____________________________________________

                           (Street)

____________________________________________________




<PAGE>





(City)               (State)                     (Zip Code)

Dated:_______________________

Signature:____________________________________________

     Note: The above signature must correspond with the name as written upon the
face of this Warrant  Certificate  in every  particular  without  alteration  or
enlargement or any change whatever.






<PAGE>


                                   ASSIGNMENT

     FOR VALUE RECEIVED  ___________________ hereby sells, assigns and transfers
unto ____________________ the within Warrant, together with all right, title and
interest  therein,   and  does  hereby   irrevocably   constitute  and  appoint:
__________________________  attorney,  to transfer  said Warrant on the books of
the within named Corporation, with full power of substitution in the premises.

Dated:___________________________

Signature:_______________________________________


     Note: The above signature must correspond with the name as written upon the
face of this Warrant  Certificate  in every  particular  without  alteration  or
enlargement or any change whatever.

         Signature Guaranteed:


________________________________________________




<PAGE>







                    CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS


      As independent public  accountants,  Barrett & Associates  consents to the
use of our reports and to all  references to our firm included in or made a part
of this  Registration  Statement  on Form  S-1  filed  with the  Securities  and
Exchange  Commission  by  PANACO,  Inc.  under the  Securities  Act of 1933,  as
amended, including any references to our firm as experts.





                                                            BARRETT & ASSOCIATES



Overland Park, Kansas
January 29, 1996


                                                   Exhibit 23.1

<PAGE>












                    CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS



         As independent public accountants,  we hereby consent to the use of our
report  (and all  references  to our  Firm)  included  in or made a part of this
Registration Statement on Form S-1.



                                                             ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP



Kansas City, Missouri
January 29, 1996
WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.

<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE>                     5
<CIK>                         882074                        
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-END>                                   SEP-30-1996                              
<CASH>                                         766,000
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                               15,587,000
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                          0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                            16,712,000
<PP&E>                                      98,015,000
<DEPRECIATION>                             (77,526,000)    
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              44,444,000
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                        8,809,000
<BONDS>                                              0
                                0
                                          0
<COMMON>                                       123,000
<OTHER-SE>                                  23,090,000
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                44,444,000
<SALES>                                     13,257,000
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                            13,257,000
<CGS>                                                0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                               12,528,000
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                          (1,347,000)   
<INCOME-PRETAX>                               (618,000)
<INCOME-TAX>                                         0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                           (618,000)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                  (618,000)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     (.05)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     (.05) 
        



</TABLE>


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