Tetra Technologies, Inc. Announces Start-Up of Sodium Bromide Facility.

THE WOODLANDS, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 26, 1998--TETRA Technologies, Inc. ("TETRA")(NYSE:TTI) announced today the successful start-up of the second phase of its new joint venture production facility in Ludington, Mich. The production facility is jointly owned by TETRA and The Dow Chemical Company ("Dow")(NYSE:DOW) and is designed to manufacture purified bromine and bromine derivative products. Operations under the initial phase of the venture commenced in January of this year with the successful start-up of calcium bromide production. In the second phase, the facility is producing sodium bromide solution from the co-product bromine produced by Dow's calcium/magnesium chemicals operations in Ludington.

The TETRA-Dow venture was formed in early 1997 to exploit the Dow bromine resource. Under the terms of the joint venture, TETRA purchases 100 percent of the bromine and derivatives produced at the Ludington facility. Annual design capacities of 20 million pounds of bromine or 35 million pounds of calcium bromide or 45 million pounds of sodium bromide have been verified in actual production runs at the facility.

"We are very pleased to have completed the start-up of the sodium bromide facility in accordance with our time and cost targets," said John Hockstra, Dow's general manager for Cal/Mag Products. "This extension of production capabilities should allow the plant to operate near peak levels under changing market conditions," said Hockstra.

Allen T. McInnes, TETRA's chief executive officer, stated, "The addition of sodium bromide to TETRA's product offerings will allow us to extend our presence in both oilfield completion fluids and water treatment chemicals. We especially look forward to participating in the growth of sodium bromide as it displaces chlorine-based biocides for water treatment."

TETRA is a specialty inorganic chemical company selling products, process technologies and services to targeted industries, especially oil and gas, agriculture and the environmental market.

This press release includes certain statements that are deemed to be forward-looking statements. These statements are based on certain assumptions and analyses made by the Company in light of its experience and its perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors it believes are appropriate in the circumstances. Such statements are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performances and that actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Some of the factors that could affect actual results are described in the section titled "Business Risks" contained in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997.

    CONTACT: TETRA Technologies, Inc., The Woodlands
              Geoffrey M. Hertel, 281/367-1983
              281/364-4306 (Fax)
              http://www.tetratec.com