The Russian Ministry of Justice impedes service of the claim fordamages filed against Gazprom with the Landgericht (Regional Court)of Berlin. Medvedev's most recent statements on the state oflawlessness in Russia are hardly suited to console the plaintiff.

Berlin, Fort Worth, April 3rd, 2008. The Texan family-owned MoncriefOil International has once again filed suit against the Russianenergy conglomerate OAO Gazprom in connection with ownership of theWestern Siberian Yuzhno-Russkoye gas field. The claim for damages wasfiled with the District Court of Tarrant County, Texas on April 3rd,2008 and is based on new evidence of Gazprom's use of confidentialinformation and an attempt to influence the outcome of Moncrief'soriginal claim in US court.

The Texas-based company has obtained evidence that during the courseof the proceedings, Gazprom used confidential information and exertedinfluence on an important industry partner of Moncrief demanding thatthe partner use its influence with Moncrief to pressure Moncrief todrop the ongoing litigation. When the industry partner informedMoncrief of the incident, it requested Moncrief not to introduce thematter into the original court proceedings out of concern that theinterests of its shareholders would be damaged since it ownedsignificant assets in Russia. Today, the partner has sold theRussian assets and no longer objects to Moncrief using the incidentin a new court procedure against Gazprom.

As early as in 2005, Moncrief had filed for damages against theRussian group in Texas with the District Court of Fort Worth. Boththe court in Texas and the court of appeals in New Orleans held thatthey did not have personal jurisdiction over the case. The courts didnot hear or pass judgment on the merits of Moncrief's claims.

Complaint against Gazprom before the Landgericht (Regional Court) ofBerlin is not affected - service of the documents on Gazprom has beenimpeded

After the courts in the USA denied jurisdiction, Moncrief OilInternational transferred its rights and claims on theYuzhno-Russkoye gas field to its subsidiary Moncrief OilInternational (Deutschland) GmbH, which then filed a new complaintfor damages against OAO Gazprom with the Berlin Landgericht (RegionalCourt) in early October of 2007. This action in the Berlin Court isnot affected by the new action in Texas. The claims filed by Moncriefin the Berlin court amount to US $ 12 billion. Moncrief's hopes thatprogress would be swift in Berlin Landgericht (Regional Court) havenot been fulfilled. According to information issued recently by theBerlin court, simply serving the complaint documents on Gazprom inMoscow, could take until 2009. The Russian Ministry of Justice maydelay the service of German court documents at its discretion and iscurrently making use of this option.

"Up to the present day, Gazprom has not terminated our agreementconcerning the Yuzhno-Russkoye gas field, neither expressly nor byimplication, which means that it is continuing to act in violation ofthe law. It is small consolation that the future Russian presidentDmitry Medvedev has recently stated in the Financial Times that thereis a chronic failure in Russia to observe the law, also going intothe legal nihilism of the country. Now that the Russian Ministry ofJustice itself is blocking the service of our complaint to Gazprom inRussia, we are once again placing our hopes a) that the Berlin Courtwill agree with our petition to take available remedies to acceleratethe process of formal service of the claim on Gazprom and now b) onthe new court proceedings in Texas which will take place inparallel. We will not give up until we have our day in court",stated Richard W. Moncrief, the founder and owner of Moncrief OilInternational.

Background:

In 1997 and 1998, Moncrief concluded several agreements with aGazprom subsidiary for the development of the Yushno Russkoye gasfield. Moncrief was granted an exclusive minority ownership interestof 40 % in the Yushno Russkoye gas field. In return, Moncriefsupplied the Gazprom subsidiary with its technical know how andbusiness plans and stood ready to provide for private equity as wellas to arrange for debt finance from western financial institutions.In the lawless period of 1999-2000 in Russia from 1999 to 2000,Gazprom executives stole the gas field from Gazprom. It was only whenVladimir Putin was elected President that Gazprom regained control ofthe Yuzhno Russkoye field. The Putin administration assured Moncriefthat it could quickly resume work on the field with Gazprom and twoVice Chairmen of the Gazprom Management Board. Boris Yurlov andAlexander Riazanov so notified the US government in November of 2002.

Gazprom executives stalled Moncrief however, despite the assertionsof the Putin administration. Then in 2004 during discussions of theapproved contract, Gazprom suddenly demanded higher compensation forthe participation of Moncrief. Since a Memorandum of Understandingwas signed between Gazprom and BASF in May of 2005, Gazprom hasrefused to fulfill its contracts with Moncrief.

About Moncrief Oil

Moncrief Oil International is owned by Richard W. Moncrief, a thirdgeneration principal and philanthropist of Moncrief Oil which is oneof the largest oil and gas exploration and production companies inthe United States that is still family-owned and has its headquartersin Fort Worth, Texas. In its 75 year history, Moncrief Oil has beenone of the most successful, independent, privately-owned oil andgas-producers in the US. The company often and regularlycollaborates with all of the major oil producers in the UnitedStates. Moncrief Oil is credited with the discovery and developmentof numerous significant oil and gas fields in various states in theUnited States. Under the leadership of Richard W. Moncrief, MoncriefOil International Inc. has also been active in many countries outsideof the United States, such as Russia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Israel,Indonesia and in various African nations. Richard W. Moncrief isalso the chairman of the ALL AMERICAN WILDCATTERS, an exclusiveorganization of American oil and gas explorers and producers. In thecourse of his career, he was a director of the independent PetroleumAssociation of America, and of the Texas Commerce Bank.

For further information please contact:

Results: S. Holzinger! GmbHSpeaker: Stephan Holzingercontact@results-holzinger.dewww.results-holzinger.deTelephone: +49 (0) 175 59 30 897

Party responsible according German press law : Richard W. Moncrief,Chairman and CEO of Moncrief Oil International, 301 Commerce Street,Suite 3600, Fort Worth, Texas 76102, Tel. 001 817 348 8454, Fax 001817 348 8484.

Exclusion of liability: Although Results: S. Holzinger! GmbHexercises due care and has regular controls in place, it will notaccept to be held liable for the information provided in the presentpress release being complete, correct or up-to-date, nor will itguarantee that it is so complete, correct and up-to-date.

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