Brigham Provides Q3 1999 Operational Update and Announces Quarterly Production Growth.

AUSTIN, Texas--(Business Wire)--Oct. 26, 1999--

Brigham Exploration Company (Nasdaq:BEXP) today provided its quarterly overview of operational activity for the three month period ending Sept. 30, 1999.

Brigham intends to release its financial results for the third quarter 1999 on Tuesday, Nov. 2.

Brigham spud 7 gross and 3.0 net wells during the third quarter of 1999, representing an average working interest of 43%. Of these wells, the Company has completed 3 gross (1.1 net) wells, plugged 2 gross (0.9 net) wells and is currently drilling the remaining 2 gross (1.0 net) wells. Since the end of the third quarter, Brigham has spud two additional wells in its Gulf Coast province in which the Company has 34% and 56% working interests. As a result, the Company currently has four wells drilling, in which Brigham retains a 48% average working interest.

During the first nine months of 1999, Brigham spud 18 gross (6.4 net) wells, the majority of which were concentrated in Brigham's 3-D projects in its Anadarko Basin and Gulf Coast core exploration provinces. Year-to-date, the Company's aggregate drilling completion rates are 69% on a gross basis and 67% on a net basis.

Brigham estimates its average net daily production volumes during the third quarter were approximately 18.5 million cubic feet of equivalent natural gas (MMcfe), which represents an 8% increase from second quarter volumes despite reduced levels of drilling activity during the first half of 1999 and the Company's late June 1999 divestment of properties that were producing approximately 3 net MMcfe per day. Adjusting for the property divestitures, Brigham's estimated net production volumes increased 30% from the second to the third quarter of 1999.

Anadarko Basin Operations

Brigham is currently testing its third consecutive Morrow natural gas discovery in its Ellis County, Okla. 3-D projects. The Company's two prior discovery wells are currently producing a combined 3.5 MMcfe per day, or 1.5 MMcfe per day net to Brigham's revenue interest. Brigham owns a 56% working interest and operates the new well, which is expected to begin producing to sales from two Morrow zones at an estimated rate of 3 MMcfe per day by mid-to-late November. The Company has identified six additional potential Morrow locations in the area, two of which are planned to spud in the next 30 days.

In Dewey County, Okla., Brigham is currently participating (37% working interest) in the drilling of an 11,100 foot Hunton test. This prospect is an updip extension to a previous Brigham discovery that is currently producing 3.3 MMcf of natural gas per day and has been on production for over a year. The well is currently drilling at approximately 10,200 feet, and is expected to reach total depth in approximately two weeks.

During the fourth quarter 1999, Brigham plans to participate in the drilling of a potentially significant exploratory prospect in western Oklahoma. The Company retains an 18% working interest in this exploration well that targets a large 3-D defined Springer-aged feature that Brigham estimates has gross unrisked reserve potential of over 100 Bcfe at an approximate depth of 13,000 feet. Success from this first well would likely establish numerous development drilling opportunities in which Brigham retains higher working interest positions. The exploratory well is expected to spud in mid-November.

Gulf Coast Operations

During the third quarter, Brigham added a second completion to its Brazoria County, Texas discovery well drilled in the first quarter 1999. The two Frio pay sands were identified by the Company utilizing 3-D seismic amplitude attributes ("bright spots") and amplitude versus offset ("AVO") analysis, which, under the right circumstances, can provide direct indications of the presence of hydrocarbons. This Brigham-operated discovery well has been producing to sales from both zones since late July 1999, and is currently producing at a combined rate of 6 MMcfe per day, or 3.8 MMcfe per day net to Brigham's revenue interest. In addition, the Company has recently spud another well in this project area that will test several Frio bright spots with positive AVO attributes. Brigham retains a 56% working interest in this well, which is currently drilling at a depth of 5,400 feet and is expected to reach the target objectives by early December. Brigham owns leases on eleven additional prospects in the immediate area, and the Company plans to spud one additional well in this project in the fourth quarter.

Brigham has an apparent discovery in a Cook Mountain bright spot prospect with positive AVO attributes in its Esperson Dome Project in Liberty County, Texas. The Company operates the 3-D interpretation in this project, where it retains a 12% working interest back-in after project payout, which increases to 20% at certain investment return thresholds. Based on Brigham's 3-D interpretation and the associated drilling success achieved to date, production in the Esperson Dome Project has increased from 3.4 MMcfe per day to 15.6 MMcfe per day.

Depending on the activity level and success of the ongoing drilling program, the Company currently expects to back in sometime during the next 12 to 24 months. In addition to its reversionary interest, Brigham acquired a 12.5% working interest in the newest apparent discovery well, which encountered 79 feet of potential net pay at approximately 9,500 feet and is currently being completed. Depending upon successful completion and production, this apparent discovery could set up several offset drilling locations in this project.

In Matagorda County, Texas, Brigham is currently operating the drilling of a Frio well, where the Company retains a 60% working interest. This exploratory well will test a relatively large 3-D bright spot prospect with positive AVO attributes that is located within three miles of a recently discovered smaller Frio bright spot feature. Three wells in this analogous Frio bright spot have produced an average of 34 MMcfe per day per well during their first year of production and have produced a cumulative 36 Bcfe to date.

The Brigham-operated well is currently drilling at approximately 12,400 feet and should reach its target objectives at approximately 14,000 feet by early November. Brigham has identified over 30 bright spot prospects in its approximately 350 square miles of recently processed 3-D seismic data in this area, and the Company currently owns leases on over 14 of these prospects. Operators in this area have recently drilled eight Frio bright spot discoveries in nine attempts, most of which achieved sustained production rates of 10 MMcfe to 40 MMcfe per day. Brigham plans to spud one to three additional wells in this area in the fourth quarter.

Brigham recently spud a development location offsetting its late 1998 Palmer State No. 1 discovery in its Diablo Project in Brooks County, Texas. The Company retains a 34% working interest in the Palmer State No. 2, which is currently drilling at a depth of approximately 8,940 feet and should test the target Vicksburg sands at a depth of approximately 11,500 feet in mid-November. The associated structure covers over 800 acres, which could require four to eight wells to fully develop potential gross reserves of over 50 Bcfe.

Management Comment

Bud Brigham, the Company's Chairman, CEO and President, stated, "We've enjoyed a successful drilling program thus far in 1999, although the spudding of several of our high potential wells was delayed somewhat due to drilling rig delays. Fortunately, we've secured these rigs primarily on the basis of cost-competitive turnkey drilling contracts, which mitigates the risk of significant cost overruns.

"Given the quality of the prospects currently drilling, additional prospects planned to spud in the fourth quarter, and our large inventory of high quality drilling locations for future years, we believe our Company is poised to achieve substantial growth in reserves, production and cash flow."

About Brigham Exploration

Brigham Exploration Company (www.bexp3d.com) is an independent exploration and production company that applies 3-D seismic imaging and other advanced technologies to systematically explore and develop onshore domestic natural gas and oil provinces.

Forward-Looking Statements Disclosure

Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters discussed in this news release are forward-looking statements that are based upon current expectations. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward looking statements include risks inherent in exploratory drilling activities, the timing and extent of changes in commodity prices, unforeseen engineering and mechanical or technological difficulties in drilling wells, availability of drilling rigs, land issues, federal and state regulatory developments and other risks more fully described in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.