Article Co-Authored by EMK3 and Markey Says Oil and Natural Gas Producers
Must Reinvent Themselves in Turbulent Commodities Market

Effective Marketing Boosts Profitability Amid Uncertainty

HOUSTON and DALLAS, Nov. 1, 2004 -- EMK3 has announced publication of the article "Marketing Strategies Maximize Value" in the October issue of The American Oil & Gas Reporter magazine. Co-authored by Terry Coulter, Vice President of Sales, EMK3, and Michele A. Markey, Special Projects, Apache Corp.'s U.S. operations division, the article outlines marketing challenges and solutions for the oil and natural gas production industry.

"We designed this article to provide concrete steps that can help oil and gas producers enhance profitability through better marketing," said Coulter. "The importance of sound marketing cannot be overstated in light of the current climate, in which market and global security conditions can change in an instant. Marketing is a key strategy for safeguarding value."

The article cites a number of factors that have contributed to the climate of uncertainty. An accelerated pace of acquisitions and divestitures across the oil and gas production industry, deadlines for compliance with new federal financial accountability standards under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, lawsuits, and the threat of terrorism all place significant stress on a company's productivity and profit margins.

Producers, however, have opportunities to decrease the impact of these factors by investing in marketing. "The real question for producers is not whether they should invest in improved marketing capabilities, but whether they can afford not to invest," Markey stated.

The article provides tips to help companies weigh whether to outsource marketing or manage it in-house. It also delineates the key components of an effective marketing process, including:

- establishing clear marketing objectives;
- creating a marketing infrastructure;
- educating the company about the role of marketing;
- determining a marketing timeline;
- ensuring that procedures comply with Sarbanes-Oxley requirements;
- developing a system for measuring the performance of the marketing effort; and
- studying the market to identify major players and end-users in oil and gas production.

"Successfully accomplishing each of these steps enables the producing company to optimize one of its most valuable assets: the marketing division," the article concludes.

To view the full article, the second in a three-part series, go to: http://www.emk3.com/home/resources/article_aogr_pt2.htm.

About EMK3 (http://www.emk3.com)
EMK3 is a market leader in providing information technology solutions for oil and gas producers. EMK3's software helps manage the complete marketing cycle and helps clients sell the maximum produced each day at the optimal price and efficiency.

Contact:
Terry Coulter, Vice President of Sales, EMK3
972-265-3653 ext 13
tcoulter@emk3.com