EXHIBIT 99.1

ENCORE ACQUISITION COMPANY COMPLETES THE ACQUISITION OF NATURAL GAS PRODUCING
PROPERTIES IN NORTH LOUISIANA

FORT WORTH, Texas - July 31, 2003 - Encore Acquisition Company ("Encore") (NYSE:
EAC) today announced that it has completed the previously announced acquisition
of interests in natural gas properties located in the Elm Grove Field in Bossier
Parish, Louisiana for $52.5 million including certain purchase price
adjustments. The acquisition was funded with $41.0 million of bank financing
under the Company's existing credit line and available cash.

The acquired properties include non-operated working interests ranging from 2%
to 38% across 1,800 net acres in 15 sections. Current net production is 7,200
per thousand cubic feet equivalent ("mcfe") per day, and the Company is
expecting production to reach in excess of 12,000 mcfe per day in 2004. There
are two wells currently being drilled and five wells waiting on completion.

Third quarter guidance given in the previous press release issued July 29, 2003,
reflected expected results of the transaction.

Jon Brumley, Chairman and CEO stated, "This acquisition provides Encore with a
new focus area that is expected to show significant growth through drilling and
add-on acquisitions. The production profile from these properties along with our
development drilling in the Cedar Creek Anticline ("CCA") and in West Texas will
generate near term production and cash flow growth while awaiting uplift from
the high-pressure air injection project at the CCA. We are excited about this
new core area".

Organized in 1998, Encore is a growing independent energy company engaged in the
acquisition, development and exploitation of North American oil and natural gas
reserves. Encore's oil and natural gas reserves are located in the Williston
Basin of Montana and North Dakota, the Permian Basin of Texas and New Mexico,
the Anadarko Basin of Oklahoma, the Powder River Basin of Montana, the Paradox
Basin of Utah and the North Louisiana Salt Basin of Louisiana.

This press release includes forward-looking statements. Forward-looking
statements give our current expectations or forecasts of future events based on
assumptions and estimations that management believes are reasonable given
currently available information. However, the assumptions of management and the
future performance of Encore are both subject to a wide range of business risks
and uncertainties and there is no assurance that these statements and
projections will be met. Factors that could affect Encore's business include,
but are not limited to: diversion of management's attention from existing
operations while pursuing acquisitions; difficulties integrating acquisitions;
complications resulting from increasing the scope and geographic diversity of
our operations; inaccuracies in the assessment of reserves and daily and annual
production with respect to acquisitions; inaccuracies in our assumptions
regarding the expected revenues, lease operating expenses, production taxes and
other items of income and expense related to acquisitions; the amount, nature
and timing of capital expenditures; significant growth through drilling and
add-on acquisitions; timing and amount of future production of oil and natural
gas; operating hazards; operating costs and other expenses and marketing of oil
and natural gas. Actual results could differ materially from those presented in
the forward-looking statements. Encore undertakes no obligation to publicly
update or revise any forward-looking statements. Further information on risks
and uncertainties is available in Encore's filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, which are incorporated by this reference as though fully
set forth herein.


Contacts:

Morris B. Smith
Executive Vice President and CFO
817-339-0908

Rani M. Wainwright
Assistant Treasurer
817-339-0919