Amoco said yesterday it would consolidate its U.S. explorationand production management offices in Houston to cut costs andincrease competitiveness. About 660 E&P management, technicaland administrative jobs in Denver and New Orleans will be affected.Many of the positions will be relocated to Houston, but Amoco saidthere will be some jobs eliminated as well.

The consolidation does not affect Amoco field production officesin Colorado or Louisiana or the company’s petroleum productsmarketing operations. Amoco will continue to produce crude oil andnatural gas and market gasoline and other products in both statesas well as in the other areas where the company currently operates.

“This is a very difficult but necessary decision,” said RichardFlury, executive vice president of Amoco Corp. “We are faced withtremendous cost pressures resulting from the depressed priceenvironment coupled with an increasingly competitive marketplace.”Staffing for the businesses will be determined during the remainderof the year. Then the company will determine the number ofpositions that will transfer to Houston.

©Copyright 1998 Intelligence Press Inc. All rights reserved. Thepreceding news report may not be republished or redistributed, inwhole or in part, in any form, without prior written consent ofIntelligence Press, Inc.