NAPS Napster Group Plc

RNS No 4127q
AVIVA PETROLEUM INC
25th June 1998


AVIVA AND GARNET ANNOUNCE SIGNING OF MERGER AGREEMENT


Aviva Petroleum Inc., ("AVP") the Dallas-based oil and gas exploration and
production company, and Houston-based Garnet Resources Corporation announced
today that they have signed an Agreement and Plan of Merger.  Shareholders of
Garnet will receive one share of Aviva common stock for each ten shares of
Garnet common stock that they hold.  Garnet shareholders holding less than
1000 Garnet shares or who would receive fractional Aviva common shares after
the exchange will receive cash in the amount of $0.02 for each Garnet share
held.  Garnet shareholders entitled to receive Aviva common stock will be
issued one Aviva depositary share for each five shares of Aviva common stock
that they receive as a result of the merger.  The Aviva depositary shares
trade on the American Stock Exchange under the symbol "AVV".

Aviva also announced that it has entered into Debenture Purchase Agreements
with the holders of $15 million in principal amount of Garnet's outstanding
91/2% Convertible Subordinated Debentures due December 21, 1998, providing for
the acquisition of the Debentures for an aggregate of approximately 12.9
million shares of Aviva common stock.  The acquisition of the Debentures is a
condition to Aviva's obligation to consummate the merger.  Aviva has reached
agreement in principle with its bank lender regarding the terms of a $15
million credit facility.  The loan proceeds will be used to refinance the
outstanding bank debt of Aviva and Garnet.  The refinancing of such bank debt
is also a condition of Aviva's obligation to consummate the merger.  

Completion of the merger is planned to take place during the third quarter of
this year and is subject to various contingencies including the execution of a
definitive credit agreement and the approval of the merger by the shareholders
of Aviva and Garnet.  A Joint Proxy Statement, to be filed shortly with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, will be sent to shareholders of both
companies prior to special meetings of the shareholders of each company to be
called at a later date.  

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
Aviva Petroleum Inc.
Dallas, Texas
001 214 691 3464

Andrew Edwards
Henderson Crosthwaite Corporate Finance Limited
0171 772 7081

George Collie
George Collie and Company
0171 603 7765


END




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