Core Labs' Focus On Reservoir Optimization.

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 22, 1998--David M. Demshur, president and CEO of Core Laboratories, and CFO Richard L. Bergmark presented the Company's strategy to focus on offering services to optimize hydrocarbon production at today's Dain Rauscher Wessels' 1998 Energy Conference.

The Company discussed the value of reservoir description data and its application to production enhancement. On average an oilfield will produce only 30 to 35 percent of its original reserves. Core Lab data sets characterizing the petrophysical properties of the reservoir rocks and phase behavior relationships of the reservoir fluids can be used to enhance the recovery by 5 to 10 percent. In a 300 million barrel field enhanced recovery techniques can yield an additional 20 to 30 million barrels. These incremental barrels often have a cost basis of only half the cost of finding and developing new barrels.

Core Laboratories showed examples of how its proprietary technology was used for increasing the efficiency of field floods, reducing the effects of formation damage and maximizing the results of wellbore stimulation programs. The Company plans to expand its range of production enhancement technologies through internal development and the continued acquisitions of complementary businesses. Core is also focusing on integrating several technologies that will enable oil and gas production to be monitored throughout the producing life of the field.

Demshur highlighted technology associated with Core's recent acquisition of Owen Oil Tools of Fort Worth. Several slides detailed the advantages of using StimGun(TM) to perforate and complete wells. StimGun(TM) uses a solid rocket-fuel propellant to produce superior perforations with very minimal damage to the producing formation. Core plans to increase StimGun(TM) production and make it available around the world in 1998.

Core Laboratories N.V. (NYSE:CLB) is a leading provider of proprietary and patented reservoir description, production enhancement and reservoir management services. The Company has over 70 offices in more than 50 countries and is located in every major oil-producing province in the world. In addition, Core Laboratories manufactures and sells petroleum reservoir rock and fluid analysis instrumentation and other integrated systems. The Dutch company has executive offices at 5295 Hollister Road in Houston, Texas (77040) and additional information is available from Richard L. Bergmark at 713/329-7403 or 713/939-8295 (fax). The Company's outlook is subject to various important cautionary factors as more fully described in the Company's 1997 Form 10-K filed 31 March, 1998, and in other securities filings.

StimGun(TM) is a trademark of Marathon Oil Company.