NAPS Napster Group Plc

RNS No 5103c
AVIVA PETROLEUM INC.
15th May 1998

                    AVIVA UPDATE ON GARNET MERGER PROPOSAL
                                       
Aviva  Petroleum Inc. ("AVP") on April 16, 1998 signed a letter of  intent  to
merge  with Garnet Resources Corporation (OTC BB: "GARN"), pursuant  to  which
Garnet's $15 million of subordinated debentures will be canceled and its  bank
debt,  along  with  Aviva's existing bank debt, will be refinanced  through  a
proposed  $15  million  credit facility that the  Company  has  requested  ING
Capital  to provide.  In addition to refinancing the existing bank debt,  this
proposed  new credit facility is expected to supplement the Company's  working
capital  and, to the extent not funded by cash flow from operations, fund  the
Company's remaining estimated capital expenditures for 1998.

The  two  companies  are  currently finalizing documentation  of  the  merger,
including completion of negotiations, execution and delivery of the definitive
Agreement   and   Plan  of  Merger,  Debenture  Purchase  Agreement,   Limited
Partnership  Interest Purchase Agreement and the proposed new credit  facility
with  ING  Capital.   Approval by shareholders of both  Aviva  and  Garnet  is
required  to  consummate the merger, and a Proxy Statement is expected  to  be
filed soon with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

While  it  is  expected  that  the merger will be completed  substantially  as
planned,  there  are  no assurances that this will be the  case.   Should  the
parties  be  unable  to complete the merger, then, in the absence  of  another
business transaction or debt restructuring, Garnet may have to seek bankruptcy
protection  or pursue other alternatives, any of which could have  a  material
adverse effect on Aviva's consolidated financial condition.  If Garnet  cannot
fund  its  obligations, Aviva may be required to accept an assignment  of  its
Colombian  interests and assume those funding obligations.  Aviva  itself  has
experienced  significant losses which have resulted in recurring noncompliance
with  the  minimum consolidated tangible net worth covenant and debt repayment
schedule  under its existing credit agreement with ING Capital.  In the  past,
ING  Capital has amended or waived compliance when the Company has been unable
to  meet such covenants.  There is no assurance that ING Capital will continue
to make similar concessions in the future.

Aviva is engaged in exploration for and development and production of oil  and
gas  in Colombia and offshore in the United States.  In addition to its London
Stock Exchange listing, the Company's Depositary Receipts (one of which equals
five common shares) are traded on the American Stock Exchange under the ticker
symbol "AVV".

Safe Harbor for Forward-Looking Statements:  Except for historical information
contained  herein,  the statements in this press release  are  forward-looking
statements that are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Forward-looking statements  involve
known and unknown risks and uncertainties which may cause the Company's actual
results in future periods to differ materially from forecasted results.  These
risks   and  uncertainties  include,  among  other  things,  general  economic
conditions,  volatility  of  oil  and  gas  prices,  the  impact  of  possible
geopolitical occurrences world-wide, imprecision of reserve estimates, changes
in   laws   and   regulations,  unforeseen  engineering  and   mechanical   or
technological difficulties in drilling or working-over wells, and other  risks
described  in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and other filings  with
the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Further Information:
Ron Suttill                        Andrew Edwards
Aviva Petroleum Inc.               Henderson Crosthwaite Corporate
Dallas, Texas                      Finance Limited
001 214 691 3464                   0171 772 7081

George Collie
George Collie and Company
0171 603 7765


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