Layne Christensen Announces Signing of Definitive Agreement with Colt Natural Gas, LLC and Colt Pipeline, LLC to Develop a Coalbed Methane Project in the Cherokee Basin In Kansas.

Business Editors

MISSION WOODS, Kan.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 19, 2003

Layne Christensen Company (Nasdaq:LAYN) announced today that it has reached a definitive agreement with Colt Natural Gas, LLC ("CNG") to develop a Coalbed Methane ("CBM") project in the Cherokee Basin in Kansas.

Layne Christensen ("Layne") will drill to earn a 75% working interest in approximately 30,000 acres and be the project operator. As part of the agreement, Layne will have an option to purchase the existing 36 miles of Colt Pipeline, LLC pipeline and existing CNG CBM wells in the area of mutual interest ("AMI"). CNG along with its parent company, Colt Energy, Inc., operates 600 wells within the Cherokee and Forest City basins and bring CNG extensive operating and development expertise to the venture.

Colin B. Kinley, President of Layne Energy, stated: "Our working interest in the Colt AMI is an excellent strategic fit with our previously announced CBM project with GLNA & Associates. We currently have drilled 29 wells on that 35,000-acre project which adjoins the Colt acreage. The Colt and GLNA projects will allow us to leverage infrastructure and to build on the economies of scale. Further to the south, and still within the Cherokee Basin, we are in the early stage of development in the Osage CBM project with our partners Presco, Inc. and Mission Gas. A fourth project in the Cherokee Basin is currently being explored and developed by Layne which will add to our growing portfolio within midcontinent CBM properties."

Layne continues to raise the bar for CBM development. The Company has recently built a custom designed set of fracturing, acidizing and wireline equipment specifically for CBM wells at its facility in Calgary, Canada. Layne and its strategic alliance partner Mohajir Engineering are able to generate significant operating leverage on CBM projects. The combination allows Layne to provide experienced geologic and engineering analysis, as well as the ability to core, drill, frac, complete and operate the CBM wells in which it is involved. This ability in CBM exploration and development, including the utilization of enhanced drilling, completion and production techniques will enable Layne and its partners to achieve low finding and development costs and increase per-well production. This has proved to be an attractive inducement for CBM producers and as a result Layne is being offered a continual flow of high-quality CBM projects to review.

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Exchange Act of 1934. Such statements are based on current expectations and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including, but not limited to, prevailing prices for various metals and unanticipated slowdowns in the Company's major markets. Should one or more of these underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those currently estimated. These statements are made as of the date of this release, and the Company assumes no obligation to update such forward-looking statements or to update the reasons why actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements.

Layne Christensen Company provides sophisticated services and related products for the water, mineral, construction and energy markets.

FRB/Weber Shandwick Worldwide serves as financial relations counsel to this company, is acting on the company's behalf in issuing this bulletin and receiving compensation therefor. The information contained herein is furnished for information purposes only and is not to be construed as an offer to buy or sell securities.