SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                               Washington, D.C. 20549

                                      FORM 8-K

                                   CURRENT REPORT
                       Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                           Securities Exchange Act of 1934

          Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) October 31, 1997


                           SUPERIOR ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
               (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


Delaware                                0-20310             75-2379388
(State  or  other  jurisdiction  (Commission File Number)   (IRS Employer
    of incorporation)                                       Identification No.)


                  1503 Engineers Road, Belle Chasse, Louisiana    70037
                 (Address  of  principal   executive   offices) (Zip Code)



                                   (504) 393-7774
                (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)


                                         N/A
           (Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)
          
          Item 2:  Acquisition or Disposition of Assets

               (a)  Pursuant to  a  Stock  Purchase  Agreement  dated as of
          October  31, 1997, by and between Superior Energy Services,  Inc.
          ("Superior")   and   Sammy  Joe  Russo,  Ron  Richardson,  Roland
          Manceaux, Chris Russo, Martin A. Leblanc, Dennis Matherne, Connie
          Hart and Sammy Russo,  Jr.  (collectively,  the  "  Stabil  Drill
          Sellers"),  Superior acquired all of the outstanding common stock
          of Stabil Drill  Specialties,  Inc. ("Stabil Drill") effective as
          of  October  31, 1997. Stabil Drill  manufactures  for  sale  and
          rental a full  range  of  tools  used in the bottom hole assembly
          including:   a  comprehensive line of  stabilizers,  mills,  hole
          openers, Drillrites(TM)  and  non-magnetic drill collars.  Stabil
          Drill  is  headquartered  in  Lafayette,   Louisiana,   and   has
          facilities in Houma, Louisiana, Houston and Corpus Christi, Texas
          and Laurel, Mississippi.  The purchase price paid by Superior for
          all of the outstanding common stock of Stabil Drill was (i) $17.5
          million cash and (ii) promissory notes in the aggregate principal
          amount  of  $7.5 million, with payments thereunder dependent upon
          Stabil Drill meeting specified earnings levels.

               Superior  is not aware of any material relationships between
          itself, its affiliates,  directors  or officers or any associates
          of  its  directors  or  officers with any  of  the  Stabil  Drill
          Sellers.

               (b)  Pursuant to a Stock  Purchase  Agreement  dated  as  of
          November  5,  1997,  by  and  between Superior and Kay S. Vinson,
          individually and as trustee of  the  Joe  D.  Vinson Testamentary
          Trust,  Barry  J.  Vinson,  John  H.  Vinson  and  JoAnn   Vinson
          (collectively, the "Sub-Surface Sellers"), Superior acquired  all
          the  outstanding  common  stock of Sub-Surface Tools, Inc. ("Sub-
          Surface"),  effective November  5,  1995.   Sub-Surface  provides
          specialized rental equipment including tubulars, tubular handling
          tools and pressure control equipment for drilling, completion and
          workover of oil  and  gas  wells in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico area.
          Sub-Surface is headquartered  in  Morgan  City, Louisiana and has
          facilities in Venice and New Iberia, Louisiana, and Alvin, Texas.
          The purchase price paid by Superior for all  of  the  outstanding
          common stock of Sub-Surface was (i) $17.5 million cash  and  (ii)
          promissory  notes  in  the  aggregate  principal  amount  of $7.5
          million,  with  payments  thereunder  dependent  upon Sub-Surface
          meeting specified earnings levels.

               Superior is not aware of any material relationships  between
          itself,  its  affiliates, directors or officers or any associates
          of its directors or officers with any of the Sub-Surface Sellers.

                                        - 1 -
          
          Item 7.  Financial Statements and Exhibits

          (a)  Financial Statements of Business Acquired

               (i)  The financial  statements  of  Stabil Drill required by
          this item were filed as part of Superior's Registration Statement
          (the   "Registration   Statement")  on  Form  S-3   (Registration
          Statement No. 333-39205) filed with the Commission on October 31,
          1997 (pages F-28 through  F-37),  and  are incorporated herein by
          reference.

               (ii) The  financial  statements of Sub-Surface  required  by
          this item were filed as part of the Registration Statement (pages
          F-38 through F-44) and are incorporated herein by reference.

          (b)  Pro Forma Financial Information.

               The pro forma financial  information of the Company required
          by this item was filed as a part  of  the  Registration Statement
          (pages F-2 through F-7), and is incorporated herein by reference.

          (c)  Exhibits.

               2.1  Stock Purchase Agreement dated October 31, 1997, by and
                    between  Superior  and the Stabil Drill  Sellers.   The
                    following attachments  are omitted and will be provided
                    to  the  Commission upon request:  Form  of  Employment
                    Agreement,  Form  of  Promissory  Note  and  Disclosure
                    Schedule.

               2.2  Stock Purchase Agreement dated November 5, 1997, by and
                    between  Superior  and  the  Sub-Surface Sellers.   The
                    following attachments are omitted  and will be provided
                    to  the  Commission  upon request: Form  of  Employment
                    Agreement; Form of Promissory  Note; Form of Disclosure
                    Schedule;   Form   of  Security  Agreement;   Form   of
                    Subordination Agreement.

               23.1 Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP.

               99.1 Financial Statements  of Stabil Drill.  Incorporated by
                    reference  from  pages  F-28   through   F-37   of  the
                    Registration Statement.

               99.2 Financial  Statements of Sub-Surface.  Incorporated  by
                    reference  from   pages   F-38   through  F-44  of  the
                    Registration Statement.

               99.3 Pro   Forma  Financial  Statements.   Incorporated   by
                    reference   from   pages   F-2   through   F-7  of  the
                    Registration Statement.

                                        - 2 -
                                      
                                      SIGNATURES

               Pursuant to the requirements of  the Securities Exchange Act
          of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to  be signed
          on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                        SUPERIOR ENERGY SERVICES, INC.



                                        By:     /s/ Robert S. Taylor
                                                    Robert S. Taylor
                                                Chief Financial Officer
                                              and duly authorized officer

          Dated: November 11, 1997

                                        - 3 -














                             STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT

                                     Between

                          SUPERIOR ENERGY SERVICES, INC.

                                       and


                                 SAMMY JOE RUSSO
                                  RON RICHARDSON
                                 ROLAND MANCEAUX
                                   CHRIS RUSSO
                                MARTIN A. LEBLANC
                                 DENNIS MATHERNE
                                   CONNIE HART
                                 SAMMY RUSSO, JR.




                           Dated as of October 31, 1997







                                TABLE OF CONTENTS


                                                                    Page

          ARTICLE 1                                                     1
               SALE AND PURCHASE OF SHARES; CLOSING                     1
               Section 1.1 Sale of Shares                               1
               Section 1.2 Purchase Price                               1
               Section 1.3 Closing                                      2
               Section 1.4 Deliveries at Closing                        2

          ARTICLE 2                                                     2
               Section 2.1 Ownership                                    3
               Section 2.2 Authority; Enforceability                    3
               Section 2.3 Organization; Qualification; Subsidiaries    3
               Section 2.4 Capital Stock                                4
               Section 2.5 No Conflict                                  4
               Section 2.6 Consent                                      4
               Section 2.7 Legal Proceedings                            4
               Section 2.8 Charter and By-laws                          4
               Section 2.9 Financial Statements                         5
               Section 2.10 Accounts Receivable                         5
               Section 2.11 Absence of Certain Changes                  5
               Section 2.12 Suppliers and Customers                     7
               Section 2.13 Properties; Equipment                       7
               Section 2.14 Permits; Compliance with Laws               8
               Section 2.15 Material Contracts                          8
               Section 2.16 Litigation                                  9
               Section 2.17 Environmental Matters                       9
               Section 2.18 ERISA and Related Matters.                  9
               Section 2.19 Taxes.                                      11
               Section 2.20 Transactions with Certain Persons           14
               Section 2.21 Intellectual Property                       14
               Section 2.22 Insurance                                   15
               Section 2.23 Safety and Health                           15
               Section 2.24 Books and Records                           15
               Section 2.25 Bank Accounts; Powers of Attorney           15
               Section 2.26 Compensation Agreements                     15
               Section 2.27 Director and Officer Indemnification        16
               Section 2.28 Documents and Written Materials             16
               Section   2.29   Effectiveness   of  Representations  and
                    Warranties                                          16

          ARTICLE 3
               REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SESI                   16
               Section 3.1 Organization                                 16
               Section 3.2 Authority; Enforceability                    16
               Section 3.3 Consents and Approvals; Conflicts            17
               Section   3.4   Effectiveness  of Representations  and
                    Warranties                                          17

          ARTICLE 4                                                     17
               COVENANTS                                                17
               Section 4.1 Legal Requirements                           17
               Section 4.2 Access to Properties and Records             17
               Section 4.3 Conduct of Business                          18
               Section 4.4 Public Statements                            18
               Section 4.5 No Solicitation                              18
               Section 4.6 Noncompetition                               18
               Section 4.7 Update Information                           20

          ARTICLE 5                                                     20
               CLOSING CONDITIONS                                       20
               Section 5.1 Conditions Applicable to all Parties         20
               Section 5.2 Conditions to Obligations of SESI            20
               Section 5.3 Conditions to Obligations of Sellers         21

          ARTICLE 6                                                     21
               TERMINATION AND AMENDMENT                                21
               Section 6.1 Termination                                  21
               Section 6.2 Effect of Termination                        22
               Section 6.3 Amendment                                    22
               Section 6.4 Extension; Waiver                            22

          ARTICLE 7                                                     22
               INDEMNIFICATION; REMEDIES                                22
               Section 7.1 Indemnification by Sellers                   22
               Section 7.2 Indemnification by SESI                      23
               Section 7.3 Notice and Defense of Third Party Claims     23
               Section 7.4 Survival                                     24
               Section 7.5 Allocation                                   24
               Section 7.6 Limits                                       25

          ARTICLE 8                                                     25
               DEFINED TERMS                                            25
               Section 8.1 Definitions                                  25

          ARTICLE 9                                                     27
               MISCELLANEOUS                                            27
               Section 9.1 Bonus Pool                                   27
               Section 9.2 Confidentiality                              28
               Section 9.3 Survival of Representations, Warranties and
                    Agreements                                          28
               Section 9.4 Notices                                      28
               Section 9.5 Headings; Gender                             28
               Section 9.6 Entire Agreement; No Third Party
                    Beneficiaries                                       29
               Section 9.7 Governing Law                                29
               Section 9.8 Assignment                                   29
               Section 9.9 Severability                                 29
               Section 9.10 Counterparts                                29




          Exhibits

          A   - Form of Employment Agreement
          B   - Form of Promissory Note
          C   - Form of Disclosure Schedule

                                         

                             STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT


               This STOCK PURCHASE  AGREEMENT,  dated  as of October 31,
          1997 (this "Agreement"), is between Superior Energy  Services,
          Inc.,  a  Delaware corporation ("SESI" or "Buyer"), and  Sammy
          Joe Russo,  Ron  Richardson,  Roland  Manceaux,  Chris  Russo,
          Martin  A.  LeBlanc,  Dennis  Matherne,  Connie Hart and Sammy
          Russo,  Jr.  (collectively, the "Sellers" and  individually  a
          "Seller").

                               W I T N E S S E T H:

               WHEREAS,  Sellers are the owners of all of the issued and
          outstanding shares  of  common  stock, no par value, of Stabil
          Drill  Specialties,  Inc.,  a Louisiana  corporation  ("Stabil
          Drill");

               WHEREAS, Sellers desire  to  sell  to  Buyer,  and  Buyer
          desires to buy from Sellers, all of the issued and outstanding
          shares  of  common stock of Stabil Drill that is owned by each
          of the Sellers for the purchase price and subject to the terms
          and conditions set forth in this Agreement; and

               WHEREAS,  in  addition  to  the  other defined terms used
          herein, as used in this Agreement, certain  terms  are defined
          in Article 8.

               NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual  promises,
          covenants and agreements set forth herein and in reliance upon
          the  undertakings, representations, warranties and indemnities
          contained herein, Sellers and Buyer agree as follows:


                                    ARTICLE 1
                       SALE AND PURCHASE OF SHARES; CLOSING

               Section  1.1     Sale of Shares. Subject to the terms and
          conditions herein  stated,  at  the  Closing Sellers agrees to
          sell to Buyer, and Buyer agrees to purchase  from Sellers, the
          Shares, free and clear of all Liens, restrictions,  and claims
          of every kind.

               Section  1.2    Purchase Price. In consideration  of  its
          purchase of the Shares, Buyer shall (a) pay to Sellers the sum
          of  $17,500,000  by  check  and (b) execute and deliver to the
          Sellers  Notes  providing for maximum  payouts  thereunder  of
          $7,500,000 plus interest  allocated  to each of the Sellers as
          follows:

                      ------------------------------------------
                      |     Name        |  Cash     |  Note    |
                      ------------------------------------------
                      |Sammy Joe Russo  |$14,350,000|$4,350,000|
                      ------------------------------------------
                      |Ron Richardson   | 625,000   |  625,000 |
                      ------------------------------------------
                      |Roland Manceaux  | 625,000   |  625,000 |
                      ------------------------------------------
                      |Chris Russo      | 750,000   |  750,000 |
                      ------------------------------------------
                      |Martin A.        | 500,000   |  500,000 |
                      |LeBlanc          |           |          |
                      ------------------------------------------
                      |Dennis Matherne  | 150,000   |  150,000 |
                      ------------------------------------------
                      |Connie Hart      | 250,000   |  250,000 |
                      ------------------------------------------
                      |Sammy Russo, Jr. |           |          |
                      |                 | 250,000   |  250,000 |
                      ------------------------------------------
                      | Total           |$17,500,000|$7,500,000|
                      ------------------------------------------

               The Sellers acknowledge that they have instructed SESI to
          allocate the purchase price among the  Sellers  as  set  forth
          above.   Each  Seller  hereby acknowledges that the portion of
          the purchase price allocated  to  such  Seller set forth above
          represents full payment by SESI for the Shares  owned  by such
          Seller.   Accordingly,  SESI  shall  have no liability for the
          amount of the purchase price actually  received  by any Seller
          after delivery all of the components of the purchase  price to
          each  Seller  as  specified  above,  and  each  Seller  hereby
          releases and discharges SESI from any such claim.

               Section 1.3    Closing. Subject to satisfaction or waiver
          of  the  conditions  specified in Articles 5 and 6 hereof, the
          Closing shall take place  at  such place and time as Buyer and
          Sellers may agree.

               Section 1.4    Deliveries  at Closing. At the Closing (a)
          Buyer shall pay or deliver to Sellers the cash payment and the
          Note specified in Section 1.2, (b)  Sellers  shall  deliver to
          Buyer  certificates  representing the Shares duly endorsed  to
          SESI, which shall transfer  to  SESI good and marketable title
          to the Shares free and clear of all  Liens,  restrictions, and
          claims of every kind and (c) Sellers and Buyer  shall each (i)
          provide  to  the  other  such  certificates,  agreements   and
          instruments  as  are required to be delivered under Article 5,
          (ii)  provide  to  the   other  proof  or  indication  of  the
          satisfaction or waiver of  the conditions set forth in Article
          5,  and  (iii)  take  such other  action  as  is  required  to
          consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.


                                    ARTICLE 2
                    REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SELLERS

               Each  of the representations  and  warranties  set  forth
          herein shall  be  separate  and  independent,  and,  except as
          expressly  provided  herein, shall not be limited by reference
          to any other representation  or  warranty  or anything else in
          this Agreement. Except as set forth in the Disclosure Schedule
          that is attached hereto and that is numbered  to correspond to
          the  applicable representation or warranty, Sellers  represent
          and warrant to Buyer as follows:

               Section  2.1    Ownership. Each of the Sellers is, and at
          the Closing Date will be, the sole record and beneficial owner
          of the Shares,  which  are  represented  by  the  certificates
          bearing the numbers, shown opposite his name in the Disclosure
          Schedule. Each of the Sellers has and at the Closing Date will
          have good and marketable title to the Shares and the  absolute
          right  to  deliver the Shares in accordance with the terms  of
          this Agreement,  free  and clear of all Liens. The transfer of
          the  Shares  to SESI in accordance  with  the  terms  of  this
          Agreement will  transfer  good  and  marketable  title  to the
          Shares  owned  by  each  Seller  to SESI free and clear of all
          Liens, restrictions and claims of every kind.

               Section  2.2    Authority; Enforceability.  Each  of  the
          Sellers has full  legal right, power and authority to execute,
          deliver and perform  this  Agreement  and  to  consummate  the
          transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement has been duly
          executed and delivered by each of the Sellers and constitutes,
          and  each other agreement, instrument or documents executed or
          to be  executed  by each of the Sellers in connection with the
          transactions contemplated  hereby  has  been, or when executed
          will be, duly executed and delivered by each  of  the  Sellers
          and   constitutes,   or   when  executed  and  delivered  will
          constitute, a valid and legally  binding obligation of each of
          the  Sellers,  enforceable  against each  of  the  Sellers  in
          accordance  with  their respective  terms,  except  that  such
          enforceability  may   be  limited  by  applicable  bankruptcy,
          insolvency,  reorganization,   moratorium   and  similar  laws
          affecting creditors' rights generally and equitable principles
          which may limit the availability of certain equitable remedies
          in certain instances.

               Section 2.3    Organization; Qualification; Subsidiaries.

                    (a) Stabil Drill and each of its subsidiaries  is  a
          corporation  duly  organized,  validly  existing  and  in good
          standing under the laws of the State of Louisiana, having  all
          requisite  corporate  power  and authority to own its property
          and to carry on its business as  it is now being conducted. No
          actions or proceedings to dissolve  Stabil Drill or any of its
          subsidiaries  are  pending.  Stabil  Drill  and  each  of  its
          subsidiaries is duly qualified or licensed  to do business and
          is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the property
          owned, leased or operated by it or the conduct of its business
          requires such qualification or licensing.

                    (b) Stabil   Drill   does   not  own,  directly   or
          indirectly,  any  capital  stock,  equity  interest  or  other
          ownership    interest   in   any   corporation,   partnership,
          association, joint venture, limited liability company or other
          entity, other  than  the  ownership  of  all of the issued and
          outstanding  stock  of  Terrebonne  Machine  Shop,   Inc.,   a
          Louisiana   corporation,   which   is   Stabil   Drill's  only
          subsidiary.   All  of  the  issued  and outstanding shares  of
          capital  stock  of  Terrebonne Machine Shop,  Inc.  have  been
          validly issued and are fully paid.

               Section 2.4    Capital Stock.

                    (a) The authorized  capital  stock  of  Stabil Drill
          consists  exclusively of 10,000 shares of common stock,  $1.00
          par value,  of which only the Shares are issued and are owned,
          beneficially and of record, by the Sellers. All of such issued
          shares have been  validly issued and are fully paid.   Sellers
          will, by delivery to  Buyer  of certificates properly endorsed
          representing  the  Shares at the  Closing,  have  transferred,
          delivered and vested  in  Buyer good and marketable (legal and
          beneficial) title to the whole of the Shares free and clear of
          all Liens.

                    (b) There are no  existing options, warrants, calls,
          commitments or other agreements  or rights with respect to the
          capital stock of Stabil Drill or any  of its subsidiaries, and
          there   are   no   convertible   or  exchangeable   securities
          outstanding which, upon conversion  or exchange, would require
          the  issuance  of  any  shares  of  capital   stock  or  other
          securities of Stabil Drill or any of its subsidiaries.

               Section 2.5    No Conflict. Neither the execution and the
          delivery of this Agreement by Sellers, nor the consummation of
          the transactions contemplated hereby do or will  (a)  violate,
          conflict with, or result in a breach of any provisions of, (b)
          constitute a default (or an event which, with notice or  lapse
          of time or both, would constitute a default) under, (c) result
          in  the  termination of or accelerate the performance required
          by, (d) result  in the creation of any Lien upon the Shares or
          any of Stabil Drill's or any of its subsidiaries properties or
          assets under any  of  the  terms,  conditions or provisions of
          Stabil  Drill's  or  any  of  its  subsidiaries   articles  of
          incorporation   or   by-laws  or  any  note,  bond,  mortgage,
          indenture, deed of trust,  lease,  license,  loan agreement or
          other  instrument or obligation to or by which  Stabil  Drill,
          any of its  subsidiaries or any of their respective assets are
          bound, or (e) violate any Applicable Law binding upon Sellers,
          Stabil  Drill,  any  of  its  subsidiaries  or  any  of  their
          respective assets.

               Section  2.6    Consent.  No  consent, approval, order or
          authorization of, or declaration, filing or registration with,
          any  Governmental Entity or other Person  is  required  to  be
          obtained  or  made  by  Sellers,  Stabil  Drill  or any of its
          subsidiaries  in  connection  with the execution, delivery  or
          performance by Sellers of this  Agreement  or the consummation
          by any of them of the transactions contemplated hereby.

               Section   2.7    Legal   Proceedings.   There    are   no
          Proceedings   pending   or,   to  the  knowledge  of  Sellers,
          threatened seeking to restrain,  prohibit or obtain damages or
          other  relief in connection with the  execution,  delivery  or
          performance of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated
          hereby.

               Section  2.8    Charter  and  By-laws.  Sellers have made
          available  to  SESI accurate and complete copies  of  (a)  the
          articles of incorporation and by-laws of Stabil Drill and each
          of its subsidiaries, (b) the stock records of Stabil Drill and
          each of its subsidiaries  and  (c) the minutes of all meetings
          of the Board of Directors, any committees  of  such  board and
          the  shareholders  of Stabil Drill and any of its subsidiaries
          (and all consents in  lieu  of  such  meetings). Such records,
          minutes and consents accurately reflect the stock ownership of
          Stabil  Drill  and each of its subsidiaries  and  all  actions
          taken by the Board  of Directors, committees and shareholders.
          Neither  Stabil Drill  nor  any  of  its  subsidiaries  is  in
          violation of any provision of its articles of incorporation or
          by-laws.

               Section   2.9    Financial   Statements.  The  Disclosure
          Schedule contains true and complete  copies  of  the Financial
          Statements.  The Financial Statements have been prepared  from
          the  books and  records  of  Stabil  Drill  and  each  of  its
          subsidiaries  and are complete, correct and in accordance with
          the books of account  and  records of Stabil Drill and each of
          its subsidiaries.  As of August 31, 1997, neither Stabil Drill
          nor any of its subsidiaries  had,  and Stabil Drill's and each
          of its subsidiaries' properties and  assets  were  not subject
          to,  any liability, commitment, indebtedness or obligation  of
          any  kind  whatsoever  (whether  liquidated  or  unliquidated,
          actual  or  contingent), which (a) is not shown and adequately
          reserved against  in  the  Financial Statements or (b) has not
          been disclosed to Buyer in writing.  Neither  Stabil Drill nor
          any of its subsidiaries has since August 31, 1997 incurred any
          liability    or   obligation   (whether   accrued,   absolute,
          contingent, unliquidated or otherwise), except (a) liabilities
          reflected in the Financial Statements, (b) current liabilities
          which have arisen  since  the date of the Financial Statements
          in  the  ordinary  course of business  (none  of  which  is  a
          material  liability  for   breach   of   contract,   tort   or
          infringement)  and  (c)  liabilities  arising  under executory
          contracts  entered  into  in  the ordinary course of  business
          (none  of  which  is  a  material  liability   for  breach  of
          contract).

               Section 2.10    Accounts Receivable. All of  the accounts
          receivable  reflected  on the Financial Statements or  created
          thereafter have arisen only from bona fide transactions in the
          ordinary course of business, represent valid obligations owing
          to Stabil Drill and its  subsidiaries and have been accrued in
          accordance with generally  accepted accounting principles. All
          such accounts receivable either have been collected in full or
          will be collectible in full without any counterclaims, setoffs
          or other defenses and without  provision for any allowance for
          uncollectible accounts in excess  of  any reserve provided for
          in the Financial Statements.

               Section 2.11    Absence of Certain  Changes. Since August
          31, 1997 there has been no event or condition of any character
          that  has  had,  or  can  reasonably be expected  to  have,  a
          material adverse effect on the financial condition, results of
          operations, cash flow, business  or  prospects of Stabil Drill
          and  its subsidiaries. Neither Stabil Drill  nor  any  of  its
          subsidiaries has since August 31, 1997:

                    (a) made  any  material change in the conduct of its
          business and operations or  failed  to operate its business so
          as  to  preserve  its  business  organization  intact  and  to
          preserve the good will of its customers,  suppliers and others
          with whom it has significant business relations;

                    (b) entered into any agreement or transaction not in
          the ordinary course of business;

                    (c) incurred  any obligation or liability,  absolute
          or contingent, except trade  or  business obligations incurred
          in  the  ordinary  course  of  business   or   sales,  income,
          franchise, or ad valorem taxes accruing or becoming payable in
          the ordinary course of business;

                    (d) declared   or   paid   any   dividend  or  other
          distribution  with  respect  to  any of its capital  stock  or
          purchased any of its capital stock;

                    (e) acquired or disposed  of  any assets material to
          its business or operations;

                    (f) subjected any of its assets to any Lien;

                    (g) increased  the  rate of compensation  (including
          bonuses,  contingent  severance payments,  retirement,  profit
          sharing, benefit or similar  payments)  payable  or  to become
          payable to any of its officers or directors;

                    (h) adopted    any    employee   welfare,   pension,
          retirement,  profit  sharing  or  similar  plan  or  made  any
          material addition to or modification of existing plans;

                    (i) experienced any labor trouble or any controversy
          or unsettled grievance involving any personnel;

                    (j) terminated or received notice of the termination
          of any contract, commitment or transaction that is material to
          it, or waived any right of material value to it;

                    (k) made  any  material  change  in  any  accounting
          principle, procedure or practice followed by it;

                    (l) issued any stock or merged  or consolidated with
          any other business or agreed to do so;

                    (m) made any capital expenditure or entered into any
          Lease;

                    (n) borrowed any money or guaranteed  or assumed any
          indebtedness of others;

                    (o) suffered   any   extraordinary  losses  or   any
          material damage, destruction or  casualty  with respect to its
          assets,  or  experienced  any  events, conditions,  losses  or
          casualties which have resulted in  or  might  result in claims
          under  its  insurance policies of an aggregate of  $50,000  or
          more;

                    (p) loaned any money to any Person;

                    (q) defaulted   under   any  note,  loan,  mortgage,
          guarantee or other instrument of indebtedness  or any Material
          Contract;

                    (r) received  any notification, warning  or  inquiry
          from or given any notification  to  or  had  any communication
          with  any  Governmental Entity, with respect to  any  proposed
          remedial action  for  any  violation  or  alleged  or possible
          violation of any law, rule, regulation or order relating to or
          affecting its business, nor are any facts known to the Sellers
          that  may  reasonably  be  expected  to give rise to any  such
          notification, warning or inquiry;

                    (s) transferred any asset, right  or interest to, or
          entered  into  any  transaction  with Sellers or  any  of  his
          Affiliates;

                    (t) amended its articles  of  incorporation  or  by-
          laws;

                    (u) received  notice  or  had knowledge or reason to
          believe  that  any  substantial  customer  has  terminated  or
          intends to terminate its relationship;

                    (v) waived any right in  connection  with any aspect
          of  its  business  that  could have a material effect  on  the
          business of Stabil Drill and its subsidiaries; or

                    (w) made any agreement  or  commitment  to do any of
          the foregoing.

               Section 2.12 Suppliers and Customers. To the knowledge of
          Sellers,  (a)  no  supplier  providing products, materials  or
          services to Stabil Drill and its subsidiaries intends to cease
          selling such products, materials  or  services to Stabil Drill
          and  its  subsidiaries  or to limit or reduce  such  sales  to
          Stabil  Drill and its subsidiaries  or  materially  alter  the
          terms or  conditions  of  such  sales  and  (b) no customer of
          Stabil Drill and its subsidiaries intends to  terminate, limit
          or  reduce its or their business relations with  Stabil  Drill
          and its subsidiaries.

               Section 2.13     Properties; Equipment.

                    (a) Stabil  Drill  and  each of its subsidiaries has
          good  and  marketable  title  to, or in  the  case  of  leased
          property valid leasehold interests in, all property and assets
          (whether real or personal, tangible  or  intangible) reflected
          on the Financial Statements or used by it  in  the  conduct of
          the  Company's  business  or  acquired  after August 31, 1997,
          except for properties and assets sold since August 31, 1997 in
          the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice.
          None of such properties or assets is subject to any Liens.

                    (b) The Disclosure Schedule sets  forth  all  of the
          real   property   owned  by  Stabil  Drill  and  each  of  its
          subsidiaries.   Neither   Stabil   Drill   nor   any   of  its
          subsidiaries  has  ever owned any real property other than  as
          described in the Disclosure  Schedule.  Stabil  Drill has good
          title to all material properties and assets reflected  in  the
          Disclosure Schedule, free and clear of any Liens.

                    (c) The  Disclosure  Schedule  sets forth a complete
          and  correct list of all Leases, all of which  are  valid  and
          enforceable and in full force and effect. Complete and correct
          copies  of each Lease have been made available to SESI. Stabil
          Drill is in full compliance with and has not received a notice
          of default  under any Lease and is not involved in any dispute
          under any Lease,  the  effect  of  which would have a material
          adverse effect on the business, assets  or financial condition
          of Stabil Drill and its subsidiaries.

                    (d) Except as described in the  Disclosure Schedule,
          there are no developments affecting any of  Stabil  Drill's or
          any  of its subsidiaries owned or leased properties or  assets
          pending  or threatened which could materially detract from the
          value of such  property  or  assets, materially interfere with
          any present or intended use of  any such property or assets or
          materially   adversely  affect  the  marketability   of   such
          properties or assets.

               Section 2.14 Permits; Compliance  with Laws. Stabil Drill
          and  each of its subsidiaries (a) has all  necessary  permits,
          licenses  and  governmental  authorizations  required  for the
          lease, ownership, occupancy or operation of its properties and
          assets  and  the  carrying  on  of  its  business, and (b) has
          conducted its business in substantial compliance  with  and is
          in   substantial   compliance   with   all   applicable  laws,
          regulations, orders, permits, judgments, ordinances or decrees
          of any Governmental Entity.

               Section 2.15 Material Contracts. The Disclosure  Schedule
          lists and describes  all  Material  Contracts.  A complete and
          correct  copy of each Material Contract has been furnished  to
          or made available  to  SESI.  Each Material Contract is valid,
          binding and enforceable, except to the extent that enforcement
          may be limited by bankruptcy, reorganization,  insolvency  and
          other   similar  laws  and  court  decisions  relating  to  or
          affecting  the  enforcement of creditors' rights generally and
          by  equitable  principles.    Stabil   Drill,   each   of  its
          subsidiaries  and  each  other party to each Material Contract
          are in compliance in all material respects with the provisions
          of such Material Contract.

               Section 2.16 Litigation. There are no Proceedings pending
          or threatened against Stabil Drill  or any of its subsidiaries
          and, to the knowledge of Sellers, there  have  been  no events
          and  there are no facts or circumstances that could result  in
          any Proceedings.

               Section 2.17 Environmental Matters. Stabil Drill is not in
          violation  of  any  Applicable Law relating to the environment
          and  is  not a party to  any  proposed  removal,  response  or
          remedial  action.   Neither   Stabil  Drill  nor  any  of  its
          subsidiaries  has  received any notice  with  respect  to  the
          business, the leased  or owned properties, or the use by third
          parties  of  the  assets  of   Stabil  Drill  or  any  of  its
          subsidiaries that (i) any investigation, administrative order,
          consent  order  and  agreement, removal  or  remedial  action,
          litigation or settlement  with  respect  to  any environmental
          permit, law or regulation is proposed, threatened, anticipated
          or in existence, (ii) any release of any hazardous substances,
          pollutant or contaminant into the environment  by Stabil Drill
          or any of its subsidiaries has occurred or (iii)  any exposure
          of   any  person  or  property  to  any  hazardous  substance,
          pollutant   or   contaminant   has  occurred.  The  properties
          currently and previously leased  or  owned  by Stabil Drill or
          any  of  its subsidiaries are not and have never  been  on  or
          associated   with   any  "national  priorities"  list  or  any
          equivalent state list  or  any  federal  or  state "superlien"
          list.  Stabil  Drill  and  each of its subsidiaries  has  made
          available  to  SESI all internal  and  external  environmental
          audits and studies  relating to its leased or owned properties
          and all correspondence  on  substantial  environmental matters
          relating to its leased or owned properties in its possession.

               Section 2.18     ERISA and Related Matters.

                    (a) The Disclosure Schedule lists each Employee Plan
          that  Stabil  Drill  or  any  of  its subsidiaries  maintains,
          administers, contributes to, or has  any  contingent liability
          with respect thereto. Sellers has provided a true and complete
          copy  of  each  such  Employee  Plan,  current  summary   plan
          description, (and, if applicable, related trust documents) and
          all  amendments  thereto  and  written interpretations thereof
          together with (i) all annual reports,  if  any, that have been
          prepared in connection with each such Employee Plan; (ii)  all
          material communications received from or sent  to the Internal
          Revenue Service or the Department of Labor within the last two
          years   (including   a   written   description   of  any  oral
          communications);  and  (iii) the most recent Internal  Revenue
          Services determination letter  with  respect  to each Employee
          Plan  and  the  most  recent  application  for a determination
          letter.

                    (b) The Disclosure Schedule identifies  each Benefit
          Arrangement  that  Stabil  Drill  or  any  of its subsidiaries
          maintains  or  administers.  Except  as  set  forth   in   the
          Disclosure Schedule, Stabil Drill and each of its subsidiaries
          has  made all contributions to and has no contingent liability
          with respect  to  any of its Benefit Arrangements. Sellers has
          furnished  to SESI copies  or  descriptions  of  each  Benefit
          Arrangement.   To  the  knowledge  of  Sellers,  each  Benefit
          Arrangement has been maintained in substantial compliance with
          its terms and with  the requirements prescribed by any and all
          statutes, orders, rules  and  regulations which are applicable
          to such Benefit Arrangement.

                    (c) Neither Stabil Drill nor any of its subsidiaries
          maintains and has never maintained  an "employee benefit plan"
          (as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA)  which  is  or was (i) a
          plan  subject  to  Title  IV of ERISA or (ii) a "multiemployer
          plan" (as defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA).

                    (d) Benefits under  any  Employee  Plan  or  Benefit
          Arrangement are as represented in said documents and have  not
          been  increased  or  modified (whether written or not written)
          subsequent to the dates  of  such  documents.  Neither  Stabil
          Drill  nor  any  of  its  subsidiaries has communicated to any
          employee or former employee  any  intention  or  commitment to
          modify  any  Employee  Plan  or  Benefit  Arrangement  or   to
          establish  or  implement any other employee or retiree benefit
          or compensation arrangement.

                    (e) Each  Employee  Plan  which  is  intended  to be
          qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code is so qualified and
          has  been so qualified during the period from its adoption  to
          date,  and  to  the knowledge of Sellers no event has occurred
          since  such  adoption   that   would   adversely  affect  such
          qualification and each trust created in  connection  with each
          such  Employee Plan forming a part thereof is exempt from  tax
          pursuant  to  Section 501(a) of the Code.  To the knowledge of
          Sellers,  each  Employee   Plan   has   been   maintained  and
          administered  in  compliance  with  its  terms  and  with  the
          requirements  prescribed  by  any and all applicable statutes,
          orders, rules and regulations,  including  but  not limited to
          ERISA and the Code.

                    (f) To the  knowledge of Sellers, full  payment  has
          been  made  of  all  amounts  which Stabil Drill or any of its
          subsidiaries  is  or  has  been  required   to  have  paid  as
          contributions  to  any  Employee  Plan or Benefit  Arrangement
          under applicable law or under the terms  of  any  such plan or
          any arrangement.

                    (g) To  the  knowledge  of  Sellers, neither  Stabil
          Drill,   any   of   its  subsidiaries  nor  their   respective
          shareholders, directors,  officers or employers has engaged in
          any transaction with respect  to  an  Employee Plan that could
          subject  Stabil Drill to a tax, penalty  or  liability  for  a
          prohibited  transaction, as defined in Section 406 of ERISA or
          Section 4975 of the Code.

                    (h) To  the  knowledge  of  Sellers,  neither Stabil
          Drill nor any of its subsidiaries has any current or projected
          liability  in  respect  of  post-retirement or post-employment
          welfare benefits for retired,  current or former employees. No
          health, medical, death or survivor benefits have been provided
          under any Benefit Arrangement to  any  person  who  is  not an
          employee  or  former  employee  of  Stabil Drill or any of its
          subsidiaries or a dependent thereof.

                    (i) There  is  no  litigation,   administrative   or
          arbitration  proceeding or other dispute pending or threatened
          that involves  any  Employee Plan or Benefit Arrangement which
          could reasonably be expected  to  result  in  a  liability  to
          Stabil  Drill,  any  of  its  subsidiaries  or  any  of  their
          respective  employees  or  directors,  or  any  fiduciary  (as
          defined  in  ERISA  Section  3(21))  of  such Employee Plan or
          Benefit Arrangement.

                    (j) No employee or former employee  of  Stabil Drill
          or any of its subsidiaries will become entitled to  any bonus,
          retirement,  severance,  job  security  or similar benefit  or
          enhanced benefit (including acceleration  of  compensation, an
          award, vesting or exercise of an incentive award)  or  any fee
          or  payment of any kind as a result of any of the transactions
          contemplated hereby.

                    (k) Stabil  Drill  is  not a party to any agreement,
          contract,  arrangement  or plan that  has  resulted  or  would
          result, separately or in  the aggregate, in the payment of any
          "excess parachute payments" within the meaning of Section 280G
          of the Code (i.e., a golden parachute).

               Section 2.19     Taxes.

                    (a) All Returns required to be filed by or on behalf
          of Stabil Drill and each of  its  subsidiaries  have been duly
          filed  on  a  timely  basis  and  such Returns (including  all
          attached  statements and schedules)  are  true,  complete  and
          correct. All  Taxes  shown  to be payable on the Returns or on
          subsequent assessments with respect  thereto have been paid in
          full  on  a timely basis, and no other Taxes  are  payable  by
          Stabil Drill  or any of its subsidiaries with respect to items
          or periods covered by such Returns (whether or not shown on or
          reportable on such  Returns)  or  with  respect  to any period
          prior to the Closing Date.

                    (b) Stabil  Drill  and each of its subsidiaries  has
          withheld  and  paid  over  all Taxes  required  to  have  been
          withheld and paid over (including  any  estimated  taxes), and
          has   complied  with  all  information  reporting  and  backup
          withholding  requirements,  including  maintenance of required
          records with respect thereto, in connection  with amounts paid
          or owing to any employee, creditor, independent contractor, or
          other third party.

                    (c) There  are  no  Liens  on any of the  assets  of
          Stabil Drill or any of its subsidiaries  with respect to Taxes
          other  than  Liens for Taxes not yet due and  payable  or  for
          Taxes  that  are   being   contested  in  good  faith  through
          appropriate proceedings and  for  which  appropriate  reserves
          have been established.

                    (d) Sellers has furnished or made available to  SESI
          true and complete copies of:  (i) all federal and state income
          and  franchise  tax  returns  of  Stabil Drill and each of its
          subsidiaries for all periods beginning  on or after January 1,
          1994, and (ii) all tax audit reports, work  papers  statements
          of  deficiencies,  closing  or  other  agreements received  by
          Stabil Drill or on Stabil Drill's behalf relating to Taxes.

                    (e) Except as disclosed on the Disclosure Schedule:

                        (i)  The Returns of Stabil Drill and each of its
          subsidiaries  have  never been audited by  a  governmental  or
          taxing authority, nor is any such audit in process, pending or
          threatened (formally or informally).

                        (ii) No deficiencies exist or have been asserted
          (either formally or informally) or are expected to be asserted
          with  respect  to  Taxes   of  Stabil  Drill  or  any  of  its
          subsidiaries, and there is no  basis  for the assertion of any
          deficiency   of  Taxes  of  Stabil  Drill  or   any   of   its
          subsidiaries.  No  notice  (either formally or informally) has
          been received by Stabil Drill  or any of its subsidiaries that
          it has not filed a Return or paid  Taxes  required to be filed
          or paid by it.

                        (iii) Neither Stabil  Drill  nor   any   of  its
          subsidiaries  is  a  party to any pending action or proceeding
          for assessment or collection  of Taxes, nor has such action or
          proceeding  been asserted or threatened  (either  formally  or
          informally) against Stabil Drill or any of its subsidiaries or
          any of their respective assets.

                        (iv) Except  as  reflected  in the Returns or as
          disclosed on the Disclosure Schedule, no waiver  or  extension
          of  any  statute  of limitations is in effect with respect  to
          Taxes or Returns of Stabil Drill or any  of its subsidiaries.

                        (v)  There   are   no   requests   for  rulings,
          subpoenas or requests for information pending with  respect to
          Stabil Drill or any of its subsidiaries.

                        (vi) No  power  of attorney has been granted  by
          Stabil Drill or any of its subsidiaries,  with  respect to any
          matter relating to Taxes.

                        (vii) The amount of liability for unpaid Taxes of
          Stabil  Drill  and  each  of its subsidiaries for all  periods
          ending  on  or  before  the Closing  Date  will  not,  in  the
          aggregate, exceed the amount of the current liability accruals
          for Taxes (excluding reserves  for  deferred  Taxes),  as such
          accruals  are  reflected on the balance sheets of Stabil Drill
          and each of its subsidiaries as of the Closing Date.

                    (f) Except as disclosed on the Disclosure Schedule:

                        (i)  Neither   Stabil   Drill  nor  any  of  its
          subsidiaries  has made an election, and  is  not  required  to
          treat any asset  as owned by another person for federal income
          tax purposes or as  tax-exempt  bond financed property or tax-
          exempt use property within the meaning  of  section 168 of the
          Code.

                        (ii)  Neither Stabil  Drill  nor  any   of   its
          subsidiaries  has  issued  or assumed any indebtedness that is
          subject to section 279(b) of the Code.

                        (iii) Neither Stabil   Drill   nor  any  of  its
          subsidiaries has entered into any compensatory agreements with
          respect   to   the   performance  of  services  which  payment
          thereunder would result  in a nondeductible expense to Section
          280G of the Code or an excise  tax  to  the  recipient of such
          payment pursuant to Section 4999 of the Code.

                        (iv) No consent under Section 341(f) of the Code
          has  been  filed with respect to Stabil Drill or  any  of  its
          subsidiaries.

                        (v)  Neither   Stabil   Drill  nor  any  of  its
          subsidiaries has agreed, nor is Stabil Drill required to make,
          any adjustment under Code Section 481(a)  by  reason of change
          in accounting method or otherwise.

                        (vi) Neither  Stabil  Drill  nor  any   of   its
          subsidiaries  has  disposed  of  any  property  that  has been
          accounted for under the installment method.

                        (vii) Neither  Stabil   Drill  nor  any  of  its
          subsidiaries is a party to any interest  rate  swap,  currency
          swap or similar transaction.

                        (viii) Neither  Stabil  Drill  nor  any  of  its
          subsidiaries   is  a  United  States  real  property   holding
          corporation within   the  meaning  of Section 897(c)(2) of the
          Code  and  SESI  is  not  required  to  withhold  tax  on  the
          acquisition of the stock of Stabil Drill.

                        (ix) Neither  Stabil  Drill  nor   any   of  its
          subsidiaries has participated in any international boycott  as
          defined in Code Section 999.

                        (x)  Neither   Stabil   Drill  nor  any  of  its
          subsidiaries is subject to any joint venture,  partnership  or
          other arrangement or contract that is treated as a partnership
          for federal income tax purposes.

                        (xi) Neither   Stabil   Drill  nor  any  of  its
          subsidiaries  has made any of the foregoing  elections  or  is
          required  to apply  any  of  the  foregoing  rules  under  any
          comparable state or local income tax provisions.

                        (xii) Neither  Stabil   Drill  nor  any  of  its
          subsidiaries  has  ever had a permanent establishment  in  any
          foreign country, as  defined  in  any applicable tax treaty or
          convention between the United States and such foreign country.

                        (xiii) The transactions contemplated herein  are
          not  subject to the tax withholding provisions of Section 3406
          of the  Code,  or of Subchapter A of Chapter 3 of the Code, or
          of any other provision of law.

                    (g) Set forth in the Disclosure Schedule is accurate
          and complete information with respect to each of the following
          for all tax periods beginning on or after January 1, 1994:

                        (i)  Any tax elections in effect with respect to
                             Stabil Drill or any of its subsidiaries;

                        (ii) Any  net  operating  loss  carry  overs  of
                             Stabil  Drill  or  any of its subsidiaries;
                             and

                        (iii) Any tax credit carry overs of Stabil Drill
                             or any of its subsidiaries.

               Section 2.20 Transactions with Certain Persons. Except for
          employment relationships in the ordinary course  of  business,
          no employee of Stabil Drill or any of its subsidiaries  or any
          of  the  employees'  Affiliates  is  presently  a party to any
          transaction  with  Stabil  Drill  or  any of its subsidiaries,
          including without limitation any contract,  agreement or other
          arrangement providing for the furnishing of services by or the
          rental of real or personal property from any  such  person  or
          from any of their Affiliates.

               Section 2.21 Intellectual Property. Stabil Drill and each
          of its subsidiaries  either  owns or has valid licenses to use
          all patents, copyrights, trademarks,  software, databases, and
          other technical information used in its  business as presently
          conducted, subject to limitations contained  in the agreements
          governing the use of same, which limitations are customary for
          companies  engaged  in businesses similar to Stabil  Drill  or
          such subsidiary. There  are  no  limitations  contained in any
          such agreements which will alter any such rights,  breach  any
          such  agreement or any third-party vendor, or require payments
          of additional  sums  thereunder.  Stabil Drill and each of its
          subsidiaries  is  in compliance with  all  such  licenses  and
          agreements and there  are  no pending or, to the  knowledge of
          Sellers, threatened Proceedings challenging or questioning the
          validity or effectiveness of any license or agreement relating
          to such property or the right  of  Stabil  Drill or any of its
          subsidiaries to use, copy, modify or distribute the same.

               Section 2.22 Insurance. SESI has been provided copies  of
          or access to all insurance policies or binders which relate to
          the  Company's Business.  All premiums due under such policies
          and binders  have  been  paid  or accrued for on the Financial
          Statements and all such policies and binders are in full force
          and effect and no notice of cancellation  or nonrenewal of any
          such policy or binder has been received by Stabil Drill or any
          of its subsidiaries and no notice of disallowance of any claim
          under any insurance policy or binder, whether or not currently
          in effect, has been received by Stabil Drill  or  any  of  its
          subsidiaries. To the knowledge of Sellers neither Stabil Drill
          nor  any of its subsidiaries has any liability for or exposure
          to any  premium  expense for expired policies and there are no
          current claims by  Stabil  Drill  or  any  of its subsidiaries
          under any such policy or binder as to which  coverage has been
          questioned,  denied  or disputed by the underwriters  of  such
          policies, nor are there  any  insured  losses for which claims
          have not been made.

               Section 2.23 Safety and Health. The property and assets of
          Stabil Drill and each of its subsidiaries  have  been  and are
          being operated in compliance with all Applicable Laws designed
          to  protect  safety  or  health,  or  both,  including without
          limitation,  the Occupational Safety and Health  Act  and  the
          regulations  promulgated  pursuant  thereto.   Neither  Stabil
          Drill nor any  of  its  subsidiaries  has received any written
          notice of any violations, deficiency, investigation or inquiry
          from any Governmental Entity, employer  or  third  party under
          any  such  law  and,  to  the   knowledge  of Sellers, no such
          investigation or inquiry is planned or threatened.

               Section 2.24 Books  and Records.  All of  the  books  and
          records  of  Stabil  Drill  and   each  of  its  subsidiaries,
          including  all  personnel  files,  employee   data  and  other
          materials  relating  to employees, are substantially  complete
          and correct, have been  maintained  in  accordance  with  good
          business  practice  and  all Applicable Laws.  To the Sellers'
          knowledge,  such  books  and  records  accurately  and  fairly
          reflect, in reasonable detail,  all  assets,  liabilities  and
          material   transactions  of  Stabil  Drill  and  each  of  its
          subsidiaries.

               Section  2.25 Bank  Accounts;  Powers  of  Attorney.  The
          Disclosure Schedule  sets  forth  with  respect  to  each bank
          account or cash account maintained by Stabil Drill and each of
          its  subsidiaries  at  any  bank, brokerage or other financial
          firm, the name of the institution  at  which  such  account is
          maintained,  the number of the account, and the names  of  the
          individuals having  authority  to  withdraw  funds  from  such
          account.

               Section  2.26 Compensation   Agreements.  The  Disclosure
          Schedule lists all written employment,  commission,  bonus  or
          other  compensation and consulting agreements to which  Stabil
          Drill and  each  of its subsidiaries is a party. Except as set
          forth on the Disclosure Schedule, neither Stabil Drill nor any
          of  its subsidiaries  is  a  party  to  any  written  or  oral
          employment,   commission,   bonus  or  other  compensation  or
          consulting  agreement  which  Stabil   Drill  or  any  of  its
          subsidiaries may not terminate without any payment or penalty,
          at  will,  with or without cause, except to  the  extent  that
          employment at will may be limited by Applicable Law.

               Section 2.27 Director  and  Officer  Indemnification. The
          directors  and  officers  of   Stabil Drill and  each  of  its
          subsidiaries  are not entitled to  indemnification  by  Stabil
          Drill  or any such  subsidiary,  except  to  the  extent  that
          indemnification rights are provided for generally in Louisiana
          and there  are  no   pending claims for indemnification by any
          such director or officer.

               Section 2.28 Documents and Written Materials. Originals or
          true and complete copies  of  all  documents  or other written
          materials  underlying items listed in the Disclosure  Schedule
          have been furnished  or  made available to SESI in the form in
          which each of such documents  is  in  effect,  and will not be
          modified  in  any  material respect prior to the Closing  Date
          without SESI's prior written consent.

               Section  2.29 Effectiveness    of   Representations   and
          Warranties.  All  of  the representations  and  warranties  of
          Sellers  in this Agreement  shall  be  true  in  all  material
          respects on  the Closing Date and shall be deemed to have been
          made again by Sellers on and as of the Closing Date.


                                    ARTICLE 3
                      REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SESI

               Each of the  representations  and  warranties  set  forth
          herein  shall  be  separate  and  independent,  and, except as
          expressly  provided herein, shall not be limited by  reference
          to any other  representation  or  warranty or anything else in
          this Agreement.  SESI represents and  warrants  to  and agrees
          with Sellers as follows:

               Section 3.1 Organization.  SESI  is  a  corporation  duly
          organized,  validly  existing  and  in good standing under the
          laws of Louisiana and has all requisite  corporate  power  and
          authority  to  own its properties and carry on its business as
          now being conducted.

               Section 3.2 Authority;   Enforceability.   SESI  has  the
          requisite corporate power and authority to execute and deliver
          this Agreement and to carry out its obligations hereunder. The
          execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement  and the
          consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have been
          duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the  part
          of SESI and no other corporate proceedings on the part of SESI
          are necessary to authorize this Agreement or to consummate the
          transactions  so  contemplated.  This  Agreement has been duly
          executed  and delivered by SESI and constitutes  a  valid  and
          binding  obligation  of  SESI,  enforceable  against  SESI  in
          accordance  with  its  terms,  except  as  may  be  limited by
          applicable  bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium
          and  similar laws  affecting  the  enforcement  of  creditors'
          rights  generally and equitable principles which may limit the
          availability   of   certain   equitable  remedies  in  certain
          instances.

               Section 3.3 Consents and Approvals; Conflicts.  No filing
          with  or  notice to, and no permit, authorization, consent  or
          approval of,  any  Governmental  Entity  is  necessary for the
          execution  and  delivery  by  SESI  of this Agreement  or  the
          consummation by SESI of the transactions  contemplated hereby.
          Neither the execution and delivery of this  Agreement by SESI,
          nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated  hereby,
          will  violate  any  of  the  provisions  of the Certificate of
          Incorporation or By-laws of SESI; or conflict  with  or result
          in a breach of, or give rise to a right of termination  of, or
          accelerate the performance required by, any terms of any court
          order,  consent  decree, note, bond, mortgage, indenture, deed
          of trust, or any license  or  agreement  binding on SESI or to
          which  SESI  is  subject or a party, or constitute  a  default
          thereunder, or result  in the creation of any Lien upon any of
          the assets of SESI, except  for  any  such  conflict,  breach,
          termination,  acceleration,  default  or  Lien which would not
          have a material adverse effect on (a) the business,  assets or
          financial   condition   of  SESI  or  (b)  SESI's  ability  to
          consummate any of the transactions contemplated hereby.

               Section  3.4 Effectiveness    of    Representations   and
          Warranties. All of the representations and  warranties of SESI
          in  this Agreement shall be true in all material  respects  on
          the Closing  Date  and shall be deemed to have been made again
          by SESI on and as of the Closing Date.


                                    ARTICLE 4
                                    COVENANTS

               Section 4.1 Legal Requirements. Subject to the conditions
          set forth in Article 5 and  to  the other terms and provisions
          of  this  Agreement,  each of the parties  to  this  Agreement
          agrees to take, or cause  to  be taken, all reasonable actions
          necessary  to  comply  promptly with  all  legal  requirements
          applicable to it with respect to the transactions contemplated
          by this Agreement and will promptly cooperate with and furnish
          information  to  each  other   in  connection  with  any  such
          requirements  imposed  upon any of  them.  Each  of  SESI  and
          Sellers will take all reasonable  actions necessary to obtain,
          and will cooperate with each other  in obtaining, any consent,
          authorization, order or approval of,  or any exemption by, any
          Governmental Entity or other public or private party, required
          to  be  obtained  or made by it or the taking  or  any  action
          contemplated by this Agreement.

               Section 4.2 Access to  Properties  and Records. Until the
          Closing Date, Sellers shall cause Stabil  Drill  to allow SESI
          and its authorized representatives full access, during  normal
          business  hours  and  on  reasonable  notice, to all of Stabil
          Drill's  properties, offices, vehicles,  equipment,  inventory
          and other  assets,  documents,  files,  books  and records, in
          order   to   allow  SESI  a  full  opportunity  to  make  such
          investigation  and  inspection as it desires of Stabil Drill's
          business and assets.  Sellers shall further cause Stabil Drill
          to use its best efforts  to  cause  the employees, counsel and
          regular  independent certified public  accountants  of  Stabil
          Drill  to  be  available  upon  reasonable  notice  to  answer
          questions of  SESI's  representatives  concerning the business
          and affairs of Stabil Drill, and shall further  use their best
          efforts to cause them to make available all relevant books and
          records  in  connection  with such inspection and examination,
          including without limitation  work  papers  for all audits and
          reviews of financial statements of Stabil Drill.

               Section 4.3 Conduct of Business. From and after  the date
          of  this  Agreement  and until the Closing Date, Sellers shall
          cause Stabil Drill to  conduct  its  business, in the ordinary
          course and consistent with past practice,  except as expressly
          required or otherwise permitted by this Agreement,  and  shall
          not  take  or  permit  any action which would cause any of his
          representations made in  this  Agreement  not  to  be true and
          correct on the Closing Date.

               Section 4.4 Public Statements. Prior to the Closing Date,
          none  of  the  parties to this Agreement shall, and each party
          shall use its best  efforts  so  that  none  of  its advisors,
          officers, directors or employees shall, except with  the prior
          written  consent  of  the other party, publicize, announce  or
          describe to any third person, except their respective advisors
          and employees, the execution  or  terms of this Agreement, the
          parties hereto or the transactions contemplated hereby, except
          as required by law or as required pursuant  to  this Agreement
          to obtain the consent of such third person; provided,  in  any
          case, that SESI may make such disclosures and announcements as
          may  be  necessary  or  advisable  under applicable securities
          laws.

               Section 4.5 No Solicitation. Sellers will not prior to the
          Closing Date or the termination of this  Agreement pursuant to
          Section 6.1, (nor will he permit any of his  affiliates or any
          of Stabil Drill's officers, directors or agents  to)  directly
          or  indirectly solicit or participate or engage in or initiate
          any negotiations  or  discussions,  or enter into or authorize
          any  agreement  or agreements in principle,  or  announce  any
          intention to do any  of  the  foregoing,  with  respect to any
          offer  or proposal to acquire all or any significant  part  of
          Stabil Drill's  business  and properties or any Shares whether
          by merger, purchase of assets, purchase of stock or otherwise.
          Sellers will notify SESI promptly upon receipt of any inquiry,
          offer or other communication  from  any  third party regarding
          any such activities.


               Section 4.6      Noncompetition.

                    (a) In  recognition  of,  among other  things,   the
          nature  and  scope of the business and  good  will  of  Stabil
          Drill, all the  Shares  of which will be acquired by SESI, the
          substantial impairment of  value  to  SESI  if Sellers were to
          compete with SESI or Stabil Drill following the  Closing,  the
          consideration  being paid for this covenant and the reasonable
          restrictions and  limitations  imposed  hereby, Sellers agrees
          that from the Closing Date until the second anniversary of the
          Closing Date, Sellers shall not:

                        (i)  directly  or  indirectly,  for  himself  or
          others, own, manage, operate, control,  be employed by, engage
          or participate in, allow his skill, knowledge,  experience  or
          reputation  to  be  used  by, or otherwise be connected in any
          manner with the ownership,  management,  operation  or control
          of,  any company or other business enterprise engaged  in  any
          aspect  of  the  Company's  Business,  within  any  parish  or
          municipality  of  the State of Louisiana (or any area offshore
          in the Gulf of Mexico  of  such  parish  or  municipality) set
          forth of Appendix A to the Employment Agreement  or the States
          of Texas, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida (including any area
          offshore in the Gulf of Mexico of such States); and

                        (ii) call   upon   any   customer  or  potential
          customer of Stabil Drill or its subsidiaries  for  the purpose
          of soliciting, diverting or enticing away the business of such
          person  or  entity,  or  otherwise  disrupting  any previously
          established  relationship  existing  between  such  person  or
          entity and Stabil Drill or its subsidiaries.

                    (b) Sellers acknowledges that a breach by Sellers of
          paragraph  (a)  of this Section 4.6 would cause immediate  and
          irreparable harm to the Company for which an adequate monetary
          remedy does not exist;  hence,  Sellers  agrees  that,  in the
          event  of  a  breach  or  threatened  breach by Sellers of the
          provisions of paragraph (a) of this Section 4.6, SESI shall be
          entitled  to  injunctive  relief  restraining   Sellers   from
          violation of any such paragraph without the necessity of proof
          of  actual  damage  or  the  posting  of  any  bond, except as
          required by non-waivable, applicable law. Nothing herein shall
          be  construed  as  prohibiting  SESI  from pursuing any  other
          remedy at law or in equity to which SESI may be entitled under
          applicable law in the event of a breach  or  threatened breach
          of this Section 4.6 by Sellers including, but  not limited to,
          recovery  of costs and expenses such as reasonable  attorney's
          fees incurred  by  reason  of  any such breach, actual damages
          sustained by SESI as a result of any such breach.

                    (c) Any dispute regarding  the reasonableness of the
          covenants and agreements set forth in this Section 4.6, or the
          territorial  scope  or  duration  thereof,   or  the  remedies
          available  to  SESI  upon  any  breach  of such covenants  and
          agreements, shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance
          with the laws of the State of Louisiana and,  with  respect to
          each  such  dispute,  SESI and Sellers each hereby irrevocably
          consent to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal
          courts sitting in the State  of  Louisiana  for  resolution of
          such  dispute,  and  agree  to  be  irrevocably  bound by  any
          judgment rendered thereby in connection with such dispute, and
          further agree that service of process may be made  upon him in
          any legal proceeding relating to this Section 4.6 by any means
          allowed under the laws of such state.

               Section 4.7 Update  Information.  Each party hereto  will
          promptly  disclose to the other any information  contained  in
          its representations  and  warranties  that because of an event
          occurring  after the date hereof is incomplete  or  no  longer
          correct; provided, however, that none of such disclosures will
          be deemed to  modify, amend, or supplement the representations
          and warranties  of such party, unless the other party consents
          to such modification, amendment, or supplement in writing.


                                    ARTICLE 5
                                CLOSING CONDITIONS

               Section 5.1 Conditions Applicable  to  all  Parties.  The
          respective   obligations  of  each  party  to  consummate  the
          transactions contemplated  by  this Agreement shall be subject
          to  the  satisfaction or, where permissible,  waiver  by  such
          party of the  following  conditions at or prior to the Closing
          Date:

                    (a) No statute,  rule,  regulation, executive order,
          decree,  preliminary  or permanent injunction  or  restraining
          order  shall  have  been  enacted,   entered,  promulgated  or
          enforced  by  any  court  of competent jurisdiction  or  other
          Governmental   Entity  which  prohibits   or   restricts   the
          consummation  of   the   transactions   contemplated  by  this
          Agreement, and no action, suit, claim or proceeding by a state
          or  federal  Governmental  Entity before any  court  or  other
          Governmental Entity shall have  been  commenced and be pending
          which seeks to prohibit or restrict the  consummation  of  the
          transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

                    (b) Sammy   Joe   Russo,   Ron   Richardson,  Roland
          Manceaux, Chris Russo, Martin A. LeBlanc and  Dennis  Matherne
          shall each have entered into an Employment Agreement.

               Section  5.2 Conditions   to  Obligations  of  SESI.  The
          obligations   of   SESI   to   consummate   the   transactions
          contemplated by this Agreement are subject to the satisfaction
          of the following conditions unless waived by SESI:

                    (a) The representations  and  warranties  of Sellers
          set forth in this Agreement shall be true and correct  in  all
          material  respects  as of the date of this Agreement and as of
          the Closing Date as though made on and as of the Closing Date,
          except  as  otherwise  contemplated  by  this  Agreement,  and
          Sellers shall have performed  in  all  material  respects  all
          obligations  required  to  be  performed  by  them  under this
          Agreement at or prior to the Closing Date.

                    (b) All  consents  and  approvals  of  third parties
          necessary for consummation of the transactions contemplated by
          this  Agreement  shall have been obtained. Sellers shall  have
          used  their best efforts  to  obtain  all  necessary  permits,
          authorizations,   consents  and  approvals  required  by  such
          Governmental Entities prior to the Closing Date.

                    (c) SESI  shall  have  had  a  full  opportunity  to
          conduct  inspections  of  the  operating  assets and books and
          records  of  Stabil  Drill. Sellers shall have  provided  SESI
          certified copies of Stabil  Drill's  Articles of Incorporation
          and By-laws and certificates of existence  and  good standing,
          certified by the Secretary of State of the State of Louisiana.

                    (d) Any  and  all  changes  made  to  the Disclosure
          Schedule or to the representations and warranties  of  Sellers
          shall be satisfactory in all respects to SESI

                    (e) Sellers   shall   have  provided  to  SESI  such
          certificates  and other documents  as  SESI  shall  reasonably
          request.

               Section 5.3 Conditions to  Obligations  of  Sellers.  The
          obligations   of    Sellers  to  consummate  the  transactions
          contemplated by this Agreement are subject to the satisfaction
          of the following conditions, unless waived by Sellers:

                    (a) The representations  and  warranties of SESI set
          forth  in  this  Agreement shall be true and  correct  in  all
          material respects  as  of the date of this Agreement and as of
          the Closing Date as though made on and as of the Closing Date,
          except as otherwise contemplated  by  this Agreement, and SESI
          shall have performed in all material respects  all obligations
          required  to be performed by them under this Agreement  at  or
          prior to the Closing Date.

                    (b) Sellers  shall  have received a certificate of a
          duly  authorized  officer of SESI,  dated  the  Closing  Date,
          certifying as to the  incumbency  of any person executing this
          Agreement or any certificates or other  documents delivered in
          connection  with  this  Agreement  and certifying  such  other
          matters as Sellers may reasonably request.

                                    ARTICLE 6
                            TERMINATION AND AMENDMENT

               Section 6.1 Termination. This Agreement may be terminated
          and may be abandoned at any time prior to the Closing Date:

                    (a) by mutual consent of SESI and Sellers;

                    (b) by SESI or Sellers, as the case  may  be, if (a)
          there shall have been a material breach of any representation,
          warranty, covenant or agreement on the part of either  of  the
          Sellers  or  on  the  part  of SESI, as the case may be, which
          breach shall not have been cured  prior  to the earlier of (i)
          20 days following notice of such breach and  (ii)  the Closing
          Date;  or  (b)  any permanent injunction or other order  of  a
          court or other competent  Governmental  Entity  preventing the
          transactions contemplated by this agreement shall  have become
          final and nonappealable; or

                    (c) by   SESI   or   Sellers   if  the  transactions
          contemplated by this Agreement shall not have been consummated
          on or before November 30, 1997; provided,  that  the  right to
          terminate  this Agreement under this Section 6.1(c) shall  not
          be available  to any party whose breach of its representations
          and warranties  in  this Agreement or whose failure to perform
          any of its covenants  and  agreements under this Agreement has
          resulted in the failure of the  transactions  contemplated  by
          this agreement to occur on or before such date.

               Section 6.2 Effect  of  Termination.  In  the  event of a
          termination of this Agreement as provided in Section 6.1, this
          Agreement  shall forthwith become void and there shall  be  no
          liability or  obligation  under  any  provisions hereof on the
          part of SESI or Sellers, except (a) pursuant  to the covenants
          and agreements contained in Section 9.1 and this  Section  6.2
          and  (b)  to the extent that such termination results from the
          willful material  breach  by  a  party  hereto  of  any of its
          representations, warranties, covenants or agreements set forth
          in this Agreement, in which case the non-breaching party shall
          have a right to recover its damages caused thereby.

               Section 6.3 Amendment. This Agreement may not be  amended
          except by an instrument  in  writing  signed  by  each  of the
          parties hereto.

               Section 6.4 Extension;  Waiver.  At any time prior to the
          Closing Date, the parties hereto may, in their respective sole
          discretion and to the extent legally allowed,  (a)  extend the
          time  for  the performance of any of the obligations or  other
          acts of the  other  parties hereto; (b) waive any inaccuracies
          in the representations  and  warranties contained herein or in
          any  document  delivered  pursuant   thereto;  and  (c)  waive
          compliance with any of the agreements  or conditions contained
          herein.  Any agreement on the part of a party  hereto  to  any
          such extension or waiver shall be valid only if set forth in a
          written instrument signed by or on behalf of such party.


                                    ARTICLE 7
                            INDEMNIFICATION; REMEDIES

               Section  7.1 Indemnification   by   Sellers.   Except  as
          otherwise expressly provided in this Article 7, Sellers  shall
          in  accordance  with this Article 7 defend, indemnify and hold
          harmless SESI and  SESI's Affiliates (SESI and such Affiliates
          collectively,  "SESI's   Indemnified   Persons"),   and  shall
          reimburse  SESI's  Indemnified  Persons, for, from and against
          each  and  every  demand,  claim, action,  loss  (which  shall
          include any diminution in value), liability, judgment, damage,
          cost  and expense (including,  without  limitation,  interest,
          penalties,  costs  of  preparation  and investigation, and the
          reasonable  fees,  disbursements  and expenses  of  attorneys,
          accountants  and other professional  advisors)  (collectively,
          "Losses")  imposed   on  or  incurred  by  SESI's  Indemnified
          Persons, directly or indirectly,  relating  to, resulting from
          or  arising out of:  (a) any inaccuracy in any  representation
          or warranty  of  Sellers in this Agreement or any certificate,
          document or other  instrument  delivered  or  to  be delivered
          pursuant   hereto   in  any  respect  or  (b)  any  breach  or
          nonperformance of any  covenant, agreement or other obligation
          of Sellers under this Agreement  or  any certificate, document
          or  other  instrument  delivered or to be  delivered  pursuant
          hereto; provided, however,  that,  except  for  a  knowing and
          intentional  breach  of  any  representation  or  warranty  of
          Sellers  in  this  Agreement  (as to which there shall  be  no
          Minimum Amount), Sellers shall have no liability under Section
          7.1 unless and until the aggregate  of  all  Losses  resulting
          therefrom  exceeds  $100,000 (the "Sellers's Minimum Amount"),
          in which event Sellers  shall  be  liable  for  all  Losses in
          excess of Sellers's Minimum Amount.

               Section 7.2 Indemnification  by SESI. Except as otherwise
          expressly  provided  in this Article  7,  SESI  shall  defend,
          indemnify and hold harmless  Sellers  and  each  of  Sellers's
          successors    and   assigns   (Sellers   and   such   persons,
          collectively,  "Sellers's  Indemnified  Persons"),  and  shall
          reimburse Sellers's  Indemnified Persons for, from and against
          all Losses imposed on  or  incurred  by  Sellers's Indemnified
          Persons, directly or indirectly, relating  to,  resulting from
          or  arising  out of:  (a) any inaccuracy in any representation
          or warranty of  SESI  in  this  Agreement  or any certificate,
          document  or  other  instrument delivered or to  be  delivered
          pursuant  hereto  in  any   respect   or  (b)  any  breach  or
          nonperformance of any covenant, agreement  or other obligation
          of SESI under this Agreement or any certificate,  document  or
          other instrument delivered or to be delivered pursuant hereto;
          provided,  however,  that  SESI  shall have no liability under
          this Section 7.2 unless and until  the aggregate of all Losses
          exceeds $100,000 ("SESI Minimum Amount"),  in which event SESI
          shall  be  liable for all Losses in excess of  SESI's  Minimum
          Amount.

               Section 7.3 Notice  and Defense of Third Party Claims. If
          any third party demand, claim,  action  or proceeding shall be
          brought   or  asserted  under  this  Article  7   against   an
          indemnified  party  or any successor thereto (the "Indemnified
          Person") in respect of  which  indemnity  may  be sought under
          this  Article  7 from an indemnifying person or any  successor
          thereto (the "Indemnifying  Person"),  the  Indemnified Person
          shall  give prompt written notice thereof to the  Indemnifying
          Person who  shall  have  the  right  to  assume  its  defense,
          including the hiring of counsel reasonably satisfactory to the
          Indemnified  Person  and  the  payment of all expenses; except
          that any delay or failure to so notify the Indemnifying Person
          shall relieve the Indemnifying Person of its obligations under
          this Article 7 only to the extent,  if  at  all,  that  it  is
          prejudiced by reason of such delay or failure. The Indemnified
          Person  shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any
          of  the  foregoing  actions,  claims  or  proceedings  and  to
          participate  in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses
          of such counsel  shall  be  at  the expense of the Indemnified
          Person unless both the Indemnified Person and the Indemnifying
          Person are named as parties and the  Indemnified  Person shall
          in  good  faith  determine  that  representation  by the  same
          counsel  is  inappropriate. In the event that the Indemnifying
          Person, within  ten  days  after  notice of any such action or
          claim, does not assume the defense  thereof,  the  Indemnified
          Person   shall  have  the  right  to  undertake  the  defense,
          compromise  or  settlement of such action, claim or proceeding
          for the account of  the  Indemnifying  Person,  subject to the
          right of the Indemnifying Person to assume the defense of such
          action,   claim   or   proceeding   with   counsel  reasonably
          satisfactory to the Indemnified Person at any  time  prior  to
          the  settlement,  compromise  or  final determination thereof.
          Anything  in  this Article 7 to the contrary  notwithstanding,
          the Indemnifying  Person  shall  not,  without the Indemnified
          Person's  prior consent, settle or compromise  any  action  or
          claim or consent  to the entry of any judgment with respect to
          any action, claim or  proceeding for anything other than money
          damages  paid  by the Indemnifying  Person.  The  Indemnifying
          Person may, without  the  Indemnified  Person's prior consent,
          settle or compromise any such action, claim  or  proceeding or
          consent  to  entry  of  any judgment with respect to any  such
          action or claim that requires  solely  the  payment  of  money
          damages  by  the  Indemnifying  Person and that includes as an
          unconditional term thereof the release  by the claimant or the
          plaintiff  of  the Indemnified Person from  all  liability  in
          respect of such action, claim or proceeding.

               Section 7.4 Survival.

                    (a) The  representations and warranties set forth in
          Article 2 shall survive  the  Closing  for  a  period of three
          years,   except   that   the  representations  and  warranties
          contained in Sections 2.1,  2.4,  2.17  and 2.19 shall survive
          for the applicable statute of limitation.

                    (b) The representations and warranties  set forth in
          Article  3  shall  survive  the Closing for a period of  three
          years.

                    (c) Upon the expiration  of the survival period of a
          representation and warranty as described  in Section 7.4(a) or
          (b),  such  representation  and  warranty  shall   expire  and
          terminate  and  there  shall  be  no  liability  or obligation
          whatsoever  in  respect  thereof  whether  such liability  has
          accrued prior to or will accrue after the expiration  of  such
          representations  and warranties unless prior to the expiration
          thereof a specific, written indemnification claim is made with
          respect thereto.

               Section 7.5 Allocation.  Notwithstanding  anything to the
          contrary  in  this  Article  7, the obligation of the  Sellers
          (other than Sammy Joe Russo) to  indemnify  SESI's Indemnified
          Persons  shall  be  joint and proportionate to the  number  of
          Shares owned by each  Seller  to  the  total number of Shares,
          provided that the obligation of Sammy Joe  Russo  to indemnify
          SESI's  Indemnified  Persons  shall  be  joint,  several   and
          solidary with each of the other Sellers with the intent of the
          parties  being  that  Sammy  Joe  Russo  shall be liable under
          Section 7.1 to SESI's Indemnified Persons for any amounts that
          may be due thereunder and the other Sellers  only  liable  for
          their proportionate share.

               Section  7.6 Limits.   Notwithstanding  anything  to  the
          contrary in Article  7,  in  no event shall Sellers or SESI be
          required to make payments pursuant  to  Sections  7.1  or 7.2,
          respectively,  that exceed $5,000,000 in the aggregate, except
          to the extent that  the  claim  for  which indemnity is sought
          relates  to  (a)  a  knowing  and intentional  breach  of  any
          representation or warranty in this  Agreement  or (b) a breach
          of  any  of the representations and warranties  set  forth  in
          Section 2.19.


                                    ARTICLE 8
                                  DEFINED TERMS

               Section 8.1 Definitions. In addition to the other defined
          terms used herein,  as  used  in this Agreement, the following
          terms when capitalized have the meanings indicated.

               "Affiliate" shall have the meaning ascribed by Rule 12b-2
          promulgated under the Securities  Exchange  Act  of  1934,  as
          amended.

               "Applicable  Law"  shall  mean  any statute, law, rule or
          regulation or any judgement, order, writ, injunction or decree
          of any Governmental Entity to which a  specified Person or its
          property is subject.

               "Agreement"  shall  mean  this Stock Purchase  Agreement,
          including the Exhibits hereto, all  as  amended  or  otherwise
          modified from time to time.

               "Benefit   Arrangement"   shall   mean   any  employment,
          severance  or  similar contract, or any other contract,  plan,
          policy or arrangement  (whether  or not written) providing for
          compensation, bonus, profit-sharing,  stock  option  or  other
          stock  related  rights or other forms of incentive or deferred
          compensation, vacation benefits, insurance coverage (including
          any self-insured  arrangement),  health  or  medical benefits,
          disability benefits, severance benefits and post-employment or
          retirement benefits (including compensation, pension,  health,
          medical  or  life insurance benefits), other than the Employee
          Plans, that  is  maintained, administered or contributed to by
          the employer and covers any employee or former employee of the
          employer.

               "Closing"  means the consummation of the Purchase and the
          other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

               "Closing Date"  shall  mean the date on which the Closing
          occurs.

               "Code" shall mean the Internal  Revenue  Code of 1986, as
          amended.

               "Company's  Business"  means the sale and rental  of  oil
          field  tools  used  in  the  bottom  hole  assembly  including
          stabilizers, mills, hole openers, drill rites and non-magnetic
          drill collars.

               "Disclosure Schedule" shall mean the disclosure schedules
          and other documents attached hereto as Exhibit "C" prepared by
          Sellers in accordance with the  applicable  provisions of this
          Agreement.

               "Employee Plan" means a plan or arrangement as defined in
          Section 3(3) of ERISA, that (a) is subject to any provision of
          ERISA,  (b) is maintained, administered or contributed  to  by
          the employer and (c) covers any employee or former employee of
          the employer.

               "Employment   Agreement"   shall   mean   the  Employment
          Agreement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit "A".

               "ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act
          of 1974, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated
          thereunder.

               "Financial  Statements"  shall  mean, as the context  may
          require, the audited consolidated balance  sheet  and  related
          audited   consolidated  statements  of  income,  stockholders'
          equity and  cash flows and the related notes thereto of Stabil
          Drill as of and for the fiscal year ended August 31, 1997.

               "Governmental Entity" shall mean any court or tribunal in
          any jurisdiction  or  any  public,  governmental or regulatory
          body, agency, department, commission,  board,  bureau or other
          authority or instrumentality.

               "Leases" shall mean any executory lease to  which  Stabil
          Drill  or  any  of  its  subsidiaries is subject having future
          rental payments of more than $50,000 in the aggregate.

               "Liens"  shall  mean  pledges,  liens,  defects,  leases,
          licenses,  equities,  conditional  sales  contracts,  charges,
          claims,   encumbrances,   security    interests,    easements,
          restrictions, chattel mortgages, mortgages or deeds of  trust,
          of any kind or nature whatsoever.

               "Material   Contract"   means   any  executory  contract,
          agreement or other understanding, whether  or  not  reduced to
          writing,  that  is  not  cancelable  within  30 days, to which
          Stabil  Drill  or any of its subsidiaries or their  respective
          property is subject,  which  provides  for  future payments to
          another Person by Stabil Drill or any of its  subsidiaries  of
          more than $50,000 in the aggregate.

               "Multiemployer  Plan"  means  a  plan  or  arrangement as
          defined in Section 4001(a)(3) and 3(37) of ERISA.

               "Note"  shall mean Non-Negotiable Convertible  Promissory
          Note in the form attached hereto as Exhibit "B".

               "Person"  shall  mean  an  individual, firm, corporation,
          general  or  limited partnership, limited  liability  company,
          limited   liability   partnership,   joint   venture,   trust,
          governmental  authority  or  body, association, unincorporated
          organization or other entity.

               "Proceedings"   means  any   suit,   action,  proceeding,
          dispute or claim before or investigation by  any  Governmental
          Entity.

               "Purchase" shall mean the purchase by SESI of  the Shares
          for  the  consideration  specified  in  Section  2.2  of  this
          Agreement.

               "Returns"   means   all   returns,   reports,  estimates,
          declarations  and statements of any nature   relating  to,  or
          required to be  filed in connection with, any Taxes, including
          information  returns   or   reports  with  respect  to  backup
          withholding and other payments to third parties.

               "Shares" shall mean all  of  the  issued  and outstanding
          shares of common stock, no par value, of  Stabil Drill.

               "Taxes"  shall  mean any federal, state, local  or  other
          taxes  (including,  without  limitation,  income,  alternative
          minimum,  franchise,  property,  sales,  use,  lease,  excise,
          premium,  payroll, wage,  employment  or  withholding  taxes),
          fees,  duties,   assessments,   withholdings  or  governmental
          charges of any kind whatsoever (including  interest, penalties
          and additions to tax).


                                    ARTICLE 9
                                  MISCELLANEOUS

               Section 9.1 Bonus  Pool.   SESI will cause  Stabil  Drill
          following the Closing Date to establish an employee bonus pool
          for its employees for the 12 month  periods ending October 31,
          1998, 1999 and 2000 in accordance with  this  Section 9.1.  If
          Stabil Drill's EBITDA (as defined and calculated in accordance
          with  the  Note)  exceeds $6,000,000 in any of these  12-month
          periods,  then  a  bonus  pool  of  20%  of  the  amount  over
          $6,000,000 will be established for that period for the benefit
          of Stabil Drill's employees  to  be allocated as determined by
          Sammy Joe Russo in accordance with  such  procedures as he may
          develop and paid within 30 days after EBITDA is determined for
          each 12 month period.

               Section 9.2 Confidentiality. Until the Closing  Date  and
          subsequent  to  the  termination of this Agreement pursuant to
          Section 6.1, SESI will keep confidential and will not disclose
          to any third party any information obtained by it from Sellers
          in connection with this  Agreement except (a) that information
          may be disclosed by SESI to  its  advisors  in connection with
          the  negotiation of and the activities conducted  pursuant  to
          this Agreement,  or (b) to the extent that such information is
          or becomes generally available to the public through no act or
          omission of SESI in violation of this Agreement.

               Section 9.3 Survival  of Representations,  Warranties and
          Agreements   The  representations,  warranties, covenants  and
          agreements in this Agreement (or in any  Exhibit hereto) or in
          any  instrument  delivered  pursuant to this  Agreement  shall
          survive the Closing and shall  not  be  limited or affected by
          any investigation by or on behalf of any party hereto.

               Section 9.4 Notices.  All notices hereunder  must  be  in
          writing and shall be deemed to have been given upon receipt of
          delivery  by:  (a)  personal  delivery   to   the   designated
          individual, (b) certified or registered mail, postage prepaid,
          return   receipt   requested,   (c)  a  nationally  recognized
          overnight courier service (against  a receipt therefor) or (d)
          facsimile transmission with confirmation  of receipt. All such
          notices must be addressed as follows or such  other address as
          to  which  any  party  hereto may have notified the  other  in
          writing:

               If to SESI, to:

                    1503 Engineers Road
                    Belle Chasse, LA 70037
                    Attention: Terence Hall
                    Facsimile transmission No.:  504-393-9904

               If to Sellers, to:

                    P. O. Box 80294
                    Lafayette, LA  70598
                    Attention:  Sammy Joe Russo
                    Facsimile transmission No.: 318-392-1688

               Section 9.5 Headings; Gender. When a reference is made in
          this  Agreement  to  a  section,  exhibit  or  schedule,  such
          reference shall be to a section,  exhibit  or schedule of this
          Agreement  unless otherwise indicated. The table  of  contents
          and headings  contained  in  this  Agreement are for reference
          purposes only and shall not affect in  any  way the meaning or
          interpretation of this Agreement. All personal  pronouns  used
          in  this  Agreement  shall  include the other genders, whether
          used in the masculine, feminine  or  neuter  gender,  and  the
          singular shall include the plural and vice versa, whenever and
          as often as may be appropriate.

               Section   9.6 Entire    Agreement;    No    Third   Party
          Beneficiaries.   This   Agreement  (including  the  documents,
          exhibits and instruments  referred  to herein) (a) constitutes
          the entire agreement and supersedes all  prior agreements, and
          understandings  and  communications,  both written  and  oral,
          among the parties with respect to the subject  matter  hereof,
          and  (b) is not intended to confer upon any person other  than
          the parties hereto any rights or remedies hereunder.

               Section  9.7 Governing   Law.  This  Agreement  shall  be
          governed and construed in accordance  with  the  laws  of  the
          State of Louisiana without regard to any applicable principles
          of conflicts of law.

               Section 9.8 Assignment. Neither this Agreement nor any of
          the  rights,  interests  or  obligations  hereunder  shall  be
          assigned by any of the parties hereto (whether by operation of
          law or otherwise)  without  the  prior  written consent of the
          other parties.

               Section 9.9 Severability. If any term  or other provision
          of  this Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable  of  being
          enforced  by  reason  of any rule of law or public policy, all
          other  conditions  and  provisions  of  this  Agreement  shall
          nevertheless remain in full  force  and  effect so long as the
          economic  or legal substance of the transactions  contemplated
          hereby is not  affected in any adverse manner to either party.
          Upon such determination  that  any  term or other provision is
          invalid, illegal or incapable of being  enforced,  the parties
          hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this  Agreement
          so as to effect the original intent of the parties as  closely
          as  possible  in  an  acceptable  manner  to  the end that the
          transactions contemplated hereby are fulfilled  to  the extent
          possible,  and  in  any  case such term or provision shall  be
          deemed amended to the extent  necessary  to  make it no longer
          invalid, illegal or unenforceable.

               Section 9.10 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed
          in  multiple  counterparts, each of which shall be  deemed  an
          original and all  of which taken together shall constitute one
          and the same document.



                                          

               IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  the  parties hereto have caused this
          Agreement to be signed themselves  or by their respective duly
          authorized officers as of the date first written above.

                                       SUPERIOR ENERGY SERVICES, INC.


                                       By:     /s/ Robert Taylor
                                          ______________________________
                                          Robert  Taylor, Chief
                                          Financial Officer

                                       SELLERS:

                                                /s/ Sammy Joe Russo
                                                Sammy Joe Russo
                                          


                                                /s/ Ron Richardson
                                                Ron Richardson


                                                /s/ Roland Manceaux
                                                Roland Manceaux


                                                /s/ Chris Russo
                                                Chris Russo


                                                /s/ Martin A. LeBlanc
                                                Martin A. LeBlanc


                                                 /s/ Dennis Matherne
                                                 Dennis Matherne


                                                 /s/ Connie Hart
                                                 Connie Hart


                                                 /s/ Sammy Russo, Jr.
                                                 Sammy Russo, Jr.


                                                           















                               STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT

                                        Among

                            SUPERIOR ENERGY SERVICES, INC.

                                         and


                      KAY S. VINSON, Individually and as Trustee
                       of the Joe D. Vinson Testamentary Trust,
                                   BARRY J. VINSON,
                                    JOHN H. VINSON
                                         and
                                    JO ANN VINSON





                             Dated as of November 5, 1997










                                  TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                       Page

          ARTICLE 1 - SALE AND PURCHASE OF SHARES; CLOSING              1

               Section 1.1 Sale of Shares                               1
               Section 1.2 Purchase Price                               1
               Section 1.3 Closing                                      1
               Section 1.4 Deliveries at Closing                        2

          ARTICLE 2 - REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SELLERS         2

               Section 2.1 Ownership                                    2
               Section 2.2 Authority; Enforceability                    2
               Section 2.3 Organization; Qualification; Subsidiaries    2
               Section 2.4 Capital Stock                                3
               Section 2.5 No Conflict                                  3
               Section 2.6 Consent                                      3
               Section 2.7 Legal Proceedings                            3  
               Section 2.8 Charter and By-laws                          4
               Section 2.9 Financial Statements                         4
               Section 2.10 Accounts Receivable                         4
               Section 2.11 Absence of Certain Changes                  4
               Section 2.12 Suppliers and Customers                     6
               Section 2.13 Properties; Equipment                       6
               Section 2.14 Permits; Compliance with Laws               7
               Section 2.15 Material Contracts                          7
               Section 2.16 Litigation                                  7
               Section 2.17 Environmental Matters                       7
               Section 2.18 ERISA and Related Matters.                  8
               Section 2.19 Taxes                                       9
               Section 2.20 Transactions with Certain Persons           12
               Section 2.21 Intellectual Property                       12
               Section 2.22 Insurance                                   12
               Section 2.23 Safety and Health                           12
               Section 2.24 Books and Records                           13
               Section 2.25 Bank Accounts; Powers of Attorney           13
               Section 2.26 Compensation Agreements                     13
               Section 2.27 Payments                                    13
               Section 2.28 Director and Officer Indemnification        13
               Section 2.29 Documents and Written Materials             13
               Section 2.30 Effectiveness of Representations and 
               Warranties                                               13

          ARTICLE 3 - REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SESI            14

               Section 3.1 Organization                                 14
               Section 3.2 Authority; Enforceability                    14
               Section 3.3 Consents and Approvals; Conflicts            14
               Section  3.4 Effectiveness of Representations and 
               Warranties                                               14

          ARTICLE 4 - COVENANTS                                         15

               Section 4.1 Legal Requirements                           15
               Section 4.2 Access to Properties and Records             15
               Section 4.3 Conduct of Business                          15
               Section 4.4 Public Statements                            15
               Section 4.5 No Solicitation                              15

          ARTICLE 5 - CLOSING CONDITIONS                                17

               Section 5.1 Conditions Applicable to all Parties         17
               Section 5.2 Conditions to Obligations of SESI            17
               Section 5.3 Conditions to Obligations of Sellers         18

          ARTICLE 6 - TERMINATION AND AMENDMENT                         18

               Section 6.1 Termination                                  18
               Section 6.2 Effect of Termination                        19
               Section 6.3 Amendment                                    19
               Section 6.4 Extension; Waiver                            19

          ARTICLE 7 - INDEMNIFICATION; REMEDIES                         19

               Section 7.1 Indemnification by Sellers                   19
               Section 7.2 Indemnification by SESI                      20
               Section 7.3 Notice and Defense of Third Party Claims     20
               Section 7.4 Survival of Representations and Warranties   21

          ARTICLE 8 - DEFINED TERMS                                     22

               Section 8.1 Definitions                                  22

          ARTICLE 9 - MISCELLANEOUS                                     24

               Section 9.1 Bonus Pool                                   24
               Section 9.2 Confidentiality                              24
               Section 9.3 Notices                                      25
               Section 9.4 Headings; Gender                             25
               Section 9.5  Entire  Agreement; No Third Party   
               Beneficiaries                                            25
               Section 9.6 Governing Law                                26
               Section 9.7 Assignment                                   26
               Section 9.8 Severability                                 26
               Section 9.9 Counterparts                                 26



          Exhibits

          A   - Form of Employment Agreement
          B   - Form of Promissory Note
          C   - Form of Disclosure Schedule
          D   - Form of Security Agreement
          E   - Form of Subordination Agreement


                                         

                               STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT


               This STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT,  dated as of November 5, 1997
          (this "Agreement"), is between Superior  Energy Services, Inc., a
          Delaware  corporation ("SESI" or "Buyer"),  and  Kay  S.  Vinson,
          individually  and  as  Trustee  of the Joe D. Vinson Testamentary
          Trust,  Barry  J.  Vinson,  John  H. Vinson  and  Jo  Ann  Vinson
          (collectively, the "Sellers" and individually, a "Seller").

                                 W I T N E S S E T H:

               WHEREAS, Sellers are the owner  of  all  of  the  issued and
          outstanding  shares of common stock, no par value, of Sub-Surface
          Tools, Inc., a Louisiana corporation ("Sub-Surface");

               WHEREAS,  Sellers desire to sell to Buyer, and Buyer desires
          to buy from Sellers,  all of the issued and outstanding shares of
          common stock of Sub-Surface  that  is  owned  by  Sellers for the
          purchase price and subject to the terms and conditions  set forth
          in this Agreement; and

               WHEREAS, in addition to the other defined terms used herein,
          as  used  in this Agreement, certain terms are defined in Article
          8.

               NOW, THEREFORE,  in  consideration  of  the mutual promises,
          covenants and agreements set forth herein and  in  reliance  upon
          the  undertakings,  representations,  warranties  and indemnities
          contained herein, Sellers and Buyer agree as follows:


                                      ARTICLE 1
                         SALE AND PURCHASE OF SHARES; CLOSING

               Section  1.1      Sale of Shares. Subject to the  terms  and
          conditions herein stated, at the Closing Sellers agree to sell to
          Buyer, and Buyer agrees  to  purchase  from  Sellers, the Shares,
          free and clear of all Liens, restrictions, and  claims  of  every
          kind.

               Section  1.2      Purchase  Price.  In  consideration of its
          purchase of the Shares, Buyer shall (a) pay to Sellers the sum of
          $17,500,000  in immediately available funds and  (b)  execute and
          deliver  to  the  Sellers  Notes  providing  for maximum payments
          thereunder  of  $7,500,000  plus interest and deliver  the  other
          documents  specified  in  Article  5.   The  payments  and  Notes
          required by this Section 1.2 shall be allocated among the Sellers
          in accordance with their ownership  of  Shares  specified  in the
          Disclosure Schedule.

               Section  1.3      Closing. Subject to satisfaction or waiver
          of the conditions specified  in  Article  5  hereof,  the Closing
          shall take place at such place and time as Buyer and Sellers  may
          agree.

               Section  1.4      Deliveries  at Closing. At the Closing (a)
          Buyer shall pay or deliver to Sellers  the payments and the Notes
          specified  in  Section 1.2, (b) Sellers shall  deliver  to  Buyer
          certificates representing the Shares duly endorsed to SESI, which
          shall transfer to  SESI  good  and marketable title to the Shares
          free and clear of all Liens, restrictions,  and  claims  of every
          kind  and  (c)  Sellers  and  Buyer shall each (i) provide to the
          other  such  certificates,  agreements  and  instruments  as  are
          required to be delivered under  Article  5,  (ii)  provide to the
          other  proof or indication of the satisfaction or waiver  of  the
          conditions  set  forth  in  Article  5, and (iii) take such other
          action as is required to consummate the transactions contemplated
          by this Agreement.


                                      ARTICLE 2
                      REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SELLERS

               Each of the representations and warranties  set forth herein
          shall  be  separate  and  independent,  and, except as  expressly
          provided herein, shall not be limited by  reference  to any other
          representation  or  warranty  or anything else in this Agreement.
          Except as set forth in the Disclosure  Schedule  that is attached
          hereto  and  that  is  numbered  to  correspond to the applicable
          representation  or  warranty, Sellers represent  and  warrant  to
          Buyer as follows:

               Section 2.1      Ownership.  Sellers are, and at the Closing
          Date  will  be,  the  sole record and beneficial  owners  of  the
          Shares, which are represented  by  the  certificates  bearing the
          numbers,  shown  opposite their names in the Disclosure Schedule.
          Sellers  have  and  at  the  Closing  Date  will  have  good  and
          marketable title to the  Shares and the absolute right to deliver
          the Shares in accordance with  the  terms of this Agreement, free
          and clear of all Liens. The transfer  of  the  Shares  to SESI in
          accordance  with  the terms of this Agreement will transfer  good
          and marketable title  to the Shares to SESI free and clear of all
          Liens, restrictions and claims of every kind.

               Section 2.2     Authority; Enforceability. Sellers have full
          legal right, power and  authority to execute, deliver and perform
          this Agreement and to consummate  the  transactions  contemplated
          hereby.  This  Agreement has been duly executed and delivered  by
          Sellers and constitutes,  and each other agreement, instrument or
          documents executed or to be  executed  by  Sellers  in connection
          with  the  transactions  contemplated  hereby  has been, or  when
          executed  will  be,  duly executed and delivered by  Sellers  and
          constitutes, or when executed  and  delivered  will constitute, a
          valid  and  legally  binding  obligation of Sellers,  enforceable
          against Sellers in accordance with their respective terms, except
          that such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy,
          insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws affecting
          creditors' rights generally and  equitable  principles  which may
          limit  the  availability of certain equitable remedies in certain
          instances.

               Section 2.3       Organization; Qualification; Subsidiaries.

                    (a)  Sub-Surface   is  a  corporation  duly  organized,
          validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State
          of Louisiana, having all requisite  corporate power and authority
          to own its property and to carry on its  business  as  it  is now
          being  conducted.  No  actions  or  proceedings  to dissolve Sub-
          Surface are pending. Sub-Surface is duly qualified or licensed to
          do business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which
          the  property owned, leased or operated by it or the  conduct  of
          its business requires such qualification or licensing.

                    (b)  Sub-Surface  does not own, directly or indirectly,
          any capital stock, equity interest or other ownership interest in
          any corporation, partnership, association, joint venture, limited
          liability company or other entity.

               Section 2.4      Capital Stock.

                    (a)  The  authorized   capital   stock  of  Sub-Surface
          consists  exclusively of 10,000 shares of common  stock,  without
          par value, divided into 1,000 shares designated as Class A common
          stock and 9,000  shares  designated  as  Class B common stock, of
          which only the Shares are issued and are owned,  beneficially and
          of  record, by the Sellers.  The shares of each class  of  common
          stock  have  the relative rights, preferences and limitations set
          forth in the Company's  articles  of  incorporation,  as amended.
          All of such issued shares have been validly issued and  are fully
          paid  and  nonassessable  and free of preemptive rights, with  no
          personal liability attaching  to  the ownership thereof.  Sellers
          will,  by  delivery  to Buyer of certificates  properly  endorsed
          representing  the  Shares   at  the  Closing,  have  transferred,
          delivered and vested in Buyer  good  and  marketable  (legal  and
          beneficial)  title  to  the whole of the Shares free and clear of
          all Liens.

                    (b)  There are  no  existing  options, warrants, calls,
          commitments or other agreements or rights  with  respect  to  the
          capital  stock  of  Sub-Surface,  and there are no convertible or
          exchangeable securities outstanding  which,  upon  conversion  or
          exchange,  would  require  the  issuance of any shares of capital
          stock or other securities of Sub-Surface.

               Section  2.5      No  Conflict.    Except   as  provided  in
          Disclosure Schedule 2.5, neither the execution and  the  delivery
          of  this  Agreement  by  Sellers,  nor  the  consummation  of the
          transactions contemplated hereby do or will (a) violate, conflict
          with,  or result in a breach of any provisions of, (b) constitute
          a default  (or  an  event  which, with notice or lapse of time or
          both,  would  constitute a default)  under,  (c)  result  in  the
          termination of  or  accelerate  the  performance required by, (d)
          result in the creation of any Lien upon the Shares or any of Sub-
          Surface's properties or assets under any of the terms, conditions
          or provisions of Sub-Surface's articles  of  incorporation or by-
          laws  or  any  note,  bond, mortgage, indenture, deed  of  trust,
          lease, license, loan agreement  or other instrument or obligation
          to or by which Sub-Surface, or any of its assets is bound, or (e)
          violate any Applicable Law binding  upon  Sellers, Sub-Surface or
          any of the properties or assets of Sub-Surface.

               Section  2.6      Consent.  No consent, approval,  order  or
          authorization of, or declaration,  filing  or  registration with,
          any  Governmental  Entity  or  other  Person  is required  to  be
          obtained or made by Sellers or Sub-Surface in connection with the
          execution, delivery or performance by Sellers of  this  Agreement
          or   the   consummation  by  any  of  them  of  the  transactions
          contemplated hereby.

               Section  2.7     Legal Proceedings. There are no Proceedings
          pending or, to  the  knowledge  of Sellers, threatened seeking to
          restrain,  prohibit  or  obtain  damages   or   other  relief  in
          connection  with the execution, delivery or performance  of  this
          Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

               Section  2.8      Charter  and  By-laws.  Sellers  have made
          available  to  SESI  accurate  and  complete  copies  of  (a) the
          articles  of  incorporation,  as  amended,  and  by-laws  of Sub-
          Surface, (b) the stock records of Sub-Surface and (c) the minutes
          of all meetings of the Board of Directors, any committees of such
          board  and  the shareholders of Sub-Surface (and all consents  in
          lieu  of such  meetings).  Such  records,  minutes  and  consents
          accurately  reflect  the  stock  ownership of Sub-Surface and all
          actions  taken  by  the  Board  of  Directors,   committees   and
          shareholders.   Sub-Surface  is not in violation of any provision
          of its articles of incorporation or by-laws.

               Section 2.9     Financial  Statements.   Disclosure Schedule
          2.9(i)  contains  true  and  complete  copies  of  the  Financial
          Statements. The Financial Statements have been prepared  from the
          books and records of Sub-Surface and are complete, correct and in
          accordance  with the books of account and records of Sub-Surface.
          Except  as  provided   in  Disclosure  Schedule  2.9(ii),  as  of
          September 30, 1997, Sub-Surface  did  not have, and Sub-Surface's
          properties  and  assets  were  not  subject  to,  any  liability,
          commitment, indebtedness or obligation  of  any  kind  whatsoever
          (whether liquidated or unliquidated, actual or contingent), which
          (a) is not shown and adequately reserved against in the Financial
          Statements  or  (b)  has  not been disclosed to Buyer in writing.
          Sub-Surface  has  not  since  September  30,  1997  incurred  any
          liability or obligation (whether  accrued,  absolute, contingent,
          unliquidated or otherwise), except (a) liabilities  reflected  in
          the  Financial  Statements,  (b)  current  liabilities which have
          arisen since the date of the Financial Statements in the ordinary
          course  of  business (none of which is a material  liability  for
          breach of contract,  tort  or  infringement)  and (c) liabilities
          arising under executory contracts entered into  in  the  ordinary
          course  of  business  (none of which is a material liability  for
          breach of contract).

               Section 2.10     Accounts Receivable.  Except as provided in
          Disclosure  Schedule  2.10,   all   of  the  accounts  receivable
          reflected on the Financial Statements  or created thereafter have
          arisen only from bona fide transactions in the ordinary course of
          business, represent valid obligations owing  to Sub-Surface.  All
          such accounts receivable either have been collected  in  full  or
          will  be collectible in full within 120 days of when due, without
          any  counterclaims,   setoffs   or  other  defenses  and  without
          provision for any allowance for uncollectible  accounts in excess
          of any reserve provided for in the Financial Statements.

               Section 2.11     Absence of Certain Changes. Since September
          30,  1997 there has been no event or condition of  any  character
          that has  had,  or can reasonably be expected to have, a material
          adverse effect on the financial condition, results of operations,
          cash flow, business  or  prospects  of  Sub-Surface.   Except  as
          provided  in  Disclosure Schedule 2.11, Sub-Surface has not since
          September 30, 1997:

                    (a)  made  any  material  change  in the conduct of its
          business and operations or failed to operate  its  business so as
          to preserve its business organization intact and to  preserve the
          good will of its customers, suppliers and others with whom it has
          significant business relations;

                    (b)  entered into any agreement or transaction  not  in
          the ordinary course of business;

                    (c)  incurred  any obligation or liability, absolute or
          contingent, except trade or  business obligations incurred in the
          ordinary course of business or  sales,  income,  franchise, or ad
          valorem taxes accruing or becoming payable in the ordinary course
          of business;

                    (d)  declared   or   paid   any   dividend   or   other
          distribution  with  respect  to  any  of  its  capital  stock  or
          purchased any of its capital stock;

                    (e)  acquired or disposed of any assets material to its
          business or operations;

                    (f)  subjected any of its assets to any Lien;

                    (g)  increased  the  rate  of  compensation  (including
          bonuses,   contingent   severance  payments,  retirement,  profit
          sharing,  benefit  or similar  payments)  payable  or  to  become
          payable to any of its officers or directors;

                    (h)  adopted any employee welfare, pension, retirement,
          profit sharing or similar  plan  or made any material addition to
          or modification of existing plans;

                    (i)  experienced any labor  trouble  or any controversy
          or unsettled grievance involving any personnel;

                    (j)  terminated or received notice of  the  termination
          of  any  contract, commitment or transaction that is material  to
          it, or waived any right of material value to it;

                    (k)  made   any   material  change  in  any  accounting
          principle, procedure or practice followed by it;

                    (l)  issued any stock  or  merged  or consolidated with
          any other business or agreed to do so;

                    (m)  made any capital expenditure or  entered  into any
          Lease;

                    (n)  borrowed  any  money or guaranteed or assumed  any
          indebtedness of others;

                    (o)  suffered any extraordinary  losses or any material
          damage, destruction or casualty with respect  to  its  assets, or
          experienced  any  events, conditions, losses or casualties  which
          have resulted in or  might  result  in claims under its insurance
          policies of an aggregate of $25,000 or more;

                    (p)  loaned any money to any Person;

                    (q)  defaulted   under   any  note,   loan,   mortgage,
          guarantee  or other instrument of indebtedness  or  any  Material
          Contract;

                    (r)  received any notification, warning or inquiry from
          or given any  notification  to  or had any communication with any
          Governmental Entity, with respect to any proposed remedial action
          for any violation or alleged or possible  violation  of  any law,
          rule,  regulation or order relating to or affecting its business,
          nor are  any  facts  known  to the Sellers that may reasonably be
          expected  to  give  rise to any  such  notification,  warning  or
          inquiry;

                    (s)  transferred  any  asset,  right or interest to, or
          entered  into  any  transaction  with Sellers  or  any  of  their
          Affiliates;

                    (t)  amended its articles of incorporation or by-laws;

                    (u)  received notice or  had  knowledge  or  reason  to
          believe  that  any substantial customer has terminated or intends
          to terminate its relationship with Sub-Surface;

                    (v)  waived  any right in connection with any aspect of
          its business that could have a material effect on the business of
          Sub-Surface; or

                    (w)  made any  agreement or commitment to do any of the
          foregoing.

               Section 2.12  Suppliers  and  Customers. To the knowledge of
          Sellers,  (a)  no  supplier  providing  products,   materials  or
          services  to Sub-Surface intends to cease selling such  products,
          materials or  services  to Sub-Surface or to limit or reduce such
          sales to Sub-Surface or materially  alter the terms or conditions
          of  such  sales  and (b) no customer of  Sub-Surface  intends  to
          terminate, limit or  reduce  its or their business relations with
          Sub-Surface.

               Section 2.13     Properties; Equipment.

                    (a)  Sub-Surface has  good  and marketable title to, or
          in the case of leased property valid leasehold  interests in, all
          property  and  assets  (whether  real  or  personal, tangible  or
          intangible) reflected on the Financial Statements  or  used by it
          in  the  conduct  of  the  Company's  business  or acquired after
          September  30, 1997 except for properties and assets  sold  since
          September 30,  1997 in the ordinary course of business consistent
          with past practice.   Except  as disclosed on Disclosure Schedule
          2.13(a), none of such properties  or  assets  is  subject  to any
          Liens.   No  Seller  owns, directly or indirectly (except through
          such Seller's interest  in  Sub-Surface) any property used in the
          business of Sub-Surface.

                    (b)  The Disclosure Schedule sets forth all of the real
          property owned by Sub-Surface.   Sub-Surface  has never owned any
          real property other than as described in the Disclosure Schedule.
          Sub-Surface has good title to all material properties  and assets
          reflected  in  the  Disclosure  Schedule,  free and clear of  any
          Liens.

                    (c)  The Disclosure Schedule sets  forth a complete and
          correct  list  of  all  Leases,  all  of  which  are  valid   and
          enforceable  and  in  full force and effect. Complete and correct
          copies of each Lease have  been  made  available  to  SESI.  Sub-
          Surface  is in full compliance with and has not received a notice
          of default  under  any  Lease  and is not involved in any dispute
          under  any  Lease,  the effect of which  would  have  a  material
          adverse effect on the  business, assets or financial condition of
          Sub-Surface.

                    (d)  Except as  described  in  the Disclosure Schedule,
          there are no developments affecting Sub-Surface's owned or leased
          properties or assets pending or threatened which could materially
          detract  from  the value of such property or  assets,  materially
          interfere with any  present  or intended use of any such property
          or assets or materially adversely  affect  the  marketability  of
          such properties or assets.

               Section  2.14 Permits; Compliance with Laws. Sub-Surface (a)
          has all necessary  permits,  licenses and authorizations required
          by any Governmental Entity required  for  the  lease,  ownership,
          occupancy  or  operation  of  its  properties and assets and  the
          carrying on of its business, and (b)  has  conducted its business
          in  substantial compliance with and is in substantial  compliance
          with all Applicable Laws.

               Section  2.15  Material  Contracts.  The Disclosure Schedule
          lists  and  describes  all  Material Contracts.  A  complete  and
          correct copy of each Material  Contract  has been furnished to or
          made available to SESI. Each Material Contract  is valid, binding
          and  enforceable,  except to the extent that enforcement  may  be
          limited  by  bankruptcy,  reorganization,  insolvency  and  other
          similar laws and  court  decisions  relating  to or affecting the
          enforcement  of  creditors'  rights  generally and  by  equitable
          principles.  Sub-Surface and each other  party  to  each Material
          Contract  are  in  compliance  in all material respects with  the
          provisions of such Material Contract.

               Section 2.16 Litigation.  Except  as  provided on Disclosure
          Schedule  2.16,  there are no Proceedings pending  or  threatened
          against Sub-Surface  and, to the knowledge of Sellers, there have
          been no events and there are no facts or circumstances that could
          result in any Proceedings.

               Section 2.17 Environmental  Matters.  Except as disclosed on
          Disclosure Schedule 2.17, Sub-Surface  is not in violation of any
          Applicable Law relating to pollution or  the  protection  of  the
          environment  and is not a party to any proposed removal, response
          or remedial action.  Sub-Surface has not received any notice with
          respect to the business,  the  leased or owned properties, or the
          use by third parties of the assets  of  Sub-Surface  that (i) any
          investigation, administrative order, consent order and agreement,
          removal or remedial action, litigation or settlement with respect
          to  any  environmental  permit,  law  or  regulation is proposed,
          threatened, anticipated or in existence, (ii)  any release of any
          hazardous   substances,   pollutant   or  contaminant  into   the
          environment by Sub-Surface has occurred  or (iii) any exposure of
          any person or property to any hazardous substance,  pollutant  or
          contaminant has occurred. The properties currently and previously
          leased or owned by Sub-Surface  are not and have never been on or
          associated  with any "national priorities" list or any equivalent
          state list or  any federal or state "superlien" list. Sub-Surface
          has  made  available   to   SESI   all   internal   and  external
          environmental audits and studies relating to its leased  or owned
          properties  and  all  correspondence on substantial environmental
          matters  relating  to its  leased  or  owned  properties  in  its
          possession.

               Section 2.18  ERISA and Related Matters.

                    (a)  The Disclosure  Schedule  lists each Employee Plan
          that Sub-Surface  maintains, administers,  contributes to, or has
          any  contingent  liability  with  respect thereto.  Sellers  have
          provided a true and complete copy of  each  such  Employee  Plan,
          current  summary  plan  description, (and, if applicable, related
          trust  documents)  and  all   amendments   thereto   and  written
          interpretations thereof together with (i) all annual reports,  if
          any,  that  have  been  prepared  in  connection  with  each such
          Employee Plan; (ii)  all material communications received from or
          sent  to the Internal Revenue Service or the Department of  Labor
          within the last two years (including a written description of any
          oral communications);  and (iii) the most recent Internal Revenue
          Services determination letter  with respect to each Employee Plan
          and the most recent application for a determination letter.

                    (b)  The Disclosure Schedule  identifies  each  Benefit
          Arrangement that Sub-Surface maintains or administers. Except  as
          set  forth  in  the Disclosure Schedule, Sub-Surface has made all
          contributions to  and has no contingent liability with respect to
          any of its Benefit  Arrangements.  Sellers have furnished to SESI
          copies  or  descriptions  of  each Benefit  Arrangement.  To  the
          knowledge  of  Sellers,  each  Benefit   Arrangement   has   been
          maintained  in substantial compliance with its terms and with the
          requirements  prescribed  by  any and all statutes, orders, rules
          and regulations which are applicable to such Benefit Arrangement.

                    (c)  Sub-Surface  does   not  maintain  and  has  never
          maintained an "employee benefit plan" (as defined in Section 3(3)
          of ERISA) which is or was (i) a plan subject to Title IV of ERISA
          or (ii) a "multiemployer plan" (as defined  in  Section  3(37) of
          ERISA).

                    (d)  Benefits   under  any  Employee  Plan  or  Benefit
          Arrangement are as represented  in  said  documents  and have not
          been  increased  or  modified  (whether  written  or not written)
          subsequent to the dates of such documents.  Sub-Surface  has  not
          communicated  to any employee or former employee any intention or
          commitment to modify  any Employee Plan or Benefit Arrangement or
          to establish or implement  any  other employee or retiree benefit
          or compensation arrangement.

                    (e)  Each  Employee  Plan   which  is  intended  to  be
          qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code  is  so  qualified and
          has  been  so  qualified  during the period from its adoption  to
          date, and no event has occurred  since  such  adoption that would
          adversely  affect  such qualification and each trust  created  in
          connection with each such Employee Plan forming a part thereof is
          exempt from tax pursuant  to  Section  501(a)  of the Code.  Each
          Employee Plan has been maintained and administered  in compliance
          with  its terms and with the requirements prescribed by  any  and
          all applicable statutes, orders, rules and regulations, including
          but not limited to ERISA and the Code.

                    (f)  Full  payment  has  been made of all amounts which
          Sub-Surface is or has been required to have paid as contributions
          to any Employee Plan or Benefit Arrangement  under applicable law
          or under the terms of any such plan or any arrangement.

                    (g)  Neither    Sub-Surface   nor   its   shareholders,
          directors, officers or employers  have engaged in any transaction
          with respect to an Employee Plan that  could  subject Sub-Surface
          to a tax, penalty or liability for a prohibited  transaction,  as
          defined in Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code.

                    (h)  Sub-Surface  has no current or projected liability
          in respect of post-retirement or post-employment welfare benefits
          for retired, current or former  employees.  No  health,  medical,
          death  or  survivor benefits have been provided under any Benefit
          Arrangement  to  any  person  who  is  not  an employee or former
          employee of Sub-Surface or a dependent thereof.

                    (i)  There   is   no   litigation,  administrative   or
          arbitration  proceeding or other dispute  pending  or  threatened
          that involves  any  Employee  Plan  or  Benefit Arrangement which
          could reasonably be expected to result in  a  liability  to  Sub-
          Surface  or  any  of its employees or directors, or any fiduciary
          (as defined in ERISA  Section  3(21))  of  such  Employee Plan or
          Benefit Arrangement.

                    (j)  Except   as   disclosed   on  Disclosure  Schedule
          2.18(j),  no  employee  or  former employee of  Sub-Surface  will
          become entitled to any bonus, retirement, severance, job security
          or similar benefit or enhanced benefit (including acceleration of
          compensation,  an award, vesting  or  exercise  of  an  incentive
          award) or any fee  or  payment  of any kind as a result of any of
          the transactions contemplated hereby.

                    (k)  Sub-Surface  is not  a  party  to  any  agreement,
          contract, arrangement or plan  that has resulted or would result,
          separately or in the aggregate,  in  the  payment  of any "excess
          parachute  payments"  within the meaning of Section 280G  of  the
          Code (i.e., a golden parachute).

               Section 2.19     Taxes.

                    (a)  All Returns  required  to be filed by or on behalf
          of Sub-Surface have been duly filed on  a  timely  basis and such
          Returns  (including  all  attached statements and schedules)  are
          true, complete and correct.  All Taxes shown to be payable on the
          Returns or on subsequent assessments  with  respect  thereto have
          been  paid  in  full  on  a timely basis, and no other Taxes  are
          payable by Sub-Surface with  respect  to items or periods covered
          by such Returns (whether or not shown on  or  reportable  on such
          Returns) or with respect to any period prior to the Closing Date.

                    (b)  Sub-Surface  has  withheld and paid over all Taxes
          required  to  have been withheld and  paid  over  (including  any
          estimated taxes), and has complied with all information reporting
          and backup withholding  requirements,  including  maintenance  of
          required records with respect thereto, in connection with amounts
          paid  or owing to any employee, creditor, independent contractor,
          or other third party.

                    (c)  There  are  no  Liens on any of the assets of Sub-
          Surface with respect to Taxes other  than Liens for Taxes not yet
          due and payable or for Taxes that are  being  contested  in  good
          faith  through  appropriate proceedings and for which appropriate
          reserves have been established.

                    (d)  Sellers  have  furnished or made available to SESI
          true and complete copies of:  (i)  all  federal  and state income
          and   franchise  tax  returns  of  Sub-Surface  for  all  periods
          beginning  on  or  after  January 1, 1994, and (ii) all tax audit
          reports, work papers statements of deficiencies, closing or other
          agreements received by Sub-Surface  or  on  Sub-Surface's  behalf
          relating to Taxes.

                    (e)  Except as disclosed on the Disclosure Schedule:

                         (i)  The  Returns  of  Sub-Surface have never been
          audited by a governmental or taxing authority,  nor  is  any such
          audit in process, pending or threatened (formally or informally).

                         (ii) No  deficiencies  exist or have been asserted
          (either formally or informally) or are  expected  to  be asserted
          with  respect to Taxes of Sub-Surface, and there is no basis  for
          the assertion  of  any  deficiency  of  Taxes  of Sub-Surface. No
          notice (either formally or informally) has been  received by Sub-
          Surface that it has not filed a Return or paid Taxes  required to
          be filed or paid by it.

                         (iii)  Sub-Surface is not  a  party to any pending
          action or proceeding for assessment or collection  of  Taxes, nor
          has such action or proceeding been asserted or threatened (either
          formally or informally) against Sub-Surface or any of its assets.

                         (iv) Except  as  reflected  in  the Returns or  as
          disclosed on the Disclosure Schedule, no waiver  or  extension of
          any statute of limitations is in effect with respect to  Taxes or
          Returns of Sub-Surface.

                         (v)  There  are no requests for rulings, subpoenas
          or requests for information pending with respect to Sub-Surface.

                         (vi) No power of attorney has been granted by Sub-
          Surface, with respect to any matter relating to Taxes.

                    (f)  Except as disclosed on the Disclosure Schedule:

                         (i)  Sub-Surface  has not made an election, and is
          not required to treat any asset as  owned  by  another person for
          federal  income  tax  purposes  or  as  tax-exempt bond  financed
          property or tax-exempt use property within the meaning of section
          168 of the Code.

                         (ii) Sub-Surface  has not issued  or  assumed  any
          indebtedness that is subject to section 279(b) of the Code.

                         (iii) Sub-Surface has   not   entered   into   any
          compensatory  agreements  with  respect  to  the  performance  of
          services which payment thereunder would result in a nondeductible
          expense  to  Section  280G  of  the  Code or an excise tax to the
          recipient of such payment pursuant to Section 4999 of the Code.

                         (iv) No consent under Section  341(f)  of the Code
          has been filed with respect to Sub-Surface.

                         (v)  Sub-Surface  has  not  agreed,  nor  is  Sub-
          Surface  required  to  make,  any  adjustment  under Code Section
          481(a) by reason of change in accounting method or otherwise.

                         (vi) Sub-Surface has not disposed  of any property
          that has been accounted for under the installment method.

                         (vii) Sub-Surface is  not a party to any  interest
          rate swap, currency swap or similar transaction.

                         (viii) Sub-Surface is not  a  United  States  real
          property  holding  corporation  within  the  meaning  of  Section
          897(c)(2) of the Code and SESI is not required to withhold tax on
          the acquisition of the stock of Sub-Surface.

                         (ix) Sub-Surface  has   not  participated  in  any
          international boycott as defined in Code Section 999.

                         (x)  Sub-Surface  is  not  subject  to  any  joint
          venture,  partnership or other arrangement or  contract  that  is
          treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes.

                         (xi) Sub-Surface has not made any of the foregoing
          elections or  is  required  to  apply  any of the foregoing rules
          under any comparable state or local income tax provisions.

                         (xii) Sub-Surface has  never   had   a   permanent
          establishment   in   any  foreign  country,  as  defined  in  any
          applicable tax treaty or convention between the United States and
          such foreign country.

                         (xiii) The transactions contemplated herein are not
          subject to the tax withholding  provisions of Section 3406 of the
          Code, or of Subchapter A of Chapter  3  of  the  Code,  or of any
          other provision of law.

                    (g)  Set  forth  in the Disclosure Schedule is accurate
          and complete information with  respect  to  each of the following
          for all tax periods beginning on or after January 1, 1994:

                         (i)  Any tax elections in effect  with  respect to
                              Sub-Surface;

                         (ii) Any  net  operating loss carry overs of  Sub-
                              Surface; and

                         (iii)  Any tax credit carry overs of Sub-Surface.

               Section 2.20 Transactions  with  Certain Persons. Except for
          employment relationships in the ordinary  course  of business, no
          employee  of  Sub-Surface or any of the employees' Affiliates  is
          presently a party  to any transaction with Sub-Surface, including
          without limitation any  contract,  agreement or other arrangement
          providing for the furnishing of services by or the rental of real
          or personal property from any such person  or  from  any of their
          Affiliates.

               Section 2.21 Intellectual Property. Sub-Surface either  owns
          or has valid licenses to use all patents, copyrights, trademarks,
          software,  databases, and other technical information used in its
          business as presently conducted, subject to limitations contained
          in the agreements  governing  the  use of same, which limitations
          are customary for companies engaged in businesses similar to Sub-
          Surface.  There  are  no  limitations  contained   in   any  such
          agreements  which  will  alter  any  such rights, breach any such
          agreement  or  any  third-party vendor, or  require  payments  of
          additional sums thereunder. Sub-Surface is in compliance with all
          such licenses and agreements  and there are no pending or, to the
          knowledge  of  Sellers,  threatened  Proceedings  challenging  or
          questioning  the validity or  effectiveness  of  any  license  or
          agreement relating  to  such property or the right of Sub-Surface
          to use, copy, modify or distribute the same.

               Section 2.22 Insurance.  SESI has been provided copies of or
          access to all insurance policies  or  binders which relate to the
          Company's  Business.  All premiums due under  such  policies  and
          binders have been paid or accrued for on the Financial Statements
          and all such  policies  and  binders are in full force and effect
          and no notice of cancellation or nonrenewal of any such policy or
          binder  has  been  received  by  Sub-Surface  and  no  notice  of
          disallowance of any claim under any  insurance  policy or binder,
          whether  or  not currently in effect, has been received  by  Sub-
          Surface. Except  as  disclosed  on Disclosure Schedule 2.22, Sub-
          Surface has no liability for or exposure  to  any premium expense
          for  expired  policies  and there are no current claims  by  Sub-
          Surface under any such policy  or binder as to which coverage has
          been questioned, denied or disputed  by  the underwriters of such
          policies, nor are there any insured losses  for which claims have
          not been made.

               Section 2.23 Safety and Health. The property  and  assets of
          Sub-Surface  have been and are being operated in compliance  with
          all Applicable  Laws  designed  to  protect  safety or health, or
          both, including without limitation, the Occupational  Safety  and
          Health  Act  and  the  regulations  promulgated pursuant thereto.
          Sub-Surface  has  not  received  any  written   notice   of   any
          violations,   deficiency,   investigation  or  inquiry  from  any
          Governmental Entity, employer  or  third party under any such law
          and,  to  the  knowledge  of Sellers, no  such  investigation  or
          inquiry is planned or threatened.

               Section  2.24 Books and  Records.   All  of  the  books  and
          records of Sub-Surface,  including  all personnel files, employee
          data and other materials relating to employees, are substantially
          complete  and correct, have been maintained  in  accordance  with
          good business  practice  and all Applicable Laws.  Such books and
          records accurately and fairly  reflect, in reasonable detail, all
          assets, liabilities and material transactions of Sub-Surface.

               Section  2.25  Bank  Accounts;   Powers   of  Attorney.  The
          Disclosure Schedule sets forth with respect to each  bank account
          or cash account maintained by Sub-Surface at any bank,  brokerage
          or  other  financial  firm,  the name of the institution at which
          such account is maintained, the  number  of  the account, and the
          names of the individuals having authority to withdraw  funds from
          such account.

               Section   2.26   Compensation   Agreements.  The  Disclosure
          Schedule lists all written employment, commission, bonus or other
          compensation and consulting agreements to which  Sub-Surface is a
          party.  Except  as  set  forth on the Disclosure  Schedule,  Sub-
          Surface  is  not  a party to  any  written  or  oral  employment,
          commission, bonus or  other  compensation or consulting agreement
          which  Sub-Surface  may  not terminate  without  any  payment  or
          penalty, at will, with or  without  cause,  except  to the extent
          that employment at will may be limited by Applicable Law.

               Section 2.27 Payments.  Neither Sub-Surface nor  any  of its
          directors or officers nor, to the knowledge of Sellers, any other
          Person  associated  with  or  acting on behalf of Sub-Surface has
          directly or indirectly:  (a) made  any  bribe,  payoff, influence
          payment,  kickback  or  other  payment to any Person,  to  obtain
          favorable treatment in securing  business,  to  pay for favorable
          treatment  for business secured or to obtain special  concessions
          or for special concessions already obtained, for or in respect of
          Sub-Surface;  (b) received any bribe, payoff or kickback from any
          person regardless of form, whether in money, property or services
          to award business;  or  (c) established or maintained any fund or
          asset that has not been recorded in the books and records of Sub-
          Surface.

               Section  2.28  Director  and  Officer  Indemnification.  The
          directors  and officers  of   Sub-Surface  are  not  entitled  to
          indemnification   by  Sub-Surface,  except  to  the  extent  that
          indemnification rights  are  provided  for generally in Louisiana
          and there are no  pending claims for indemnification  by any such
          director or officer.

               Section  2.29 Documents and Written Materials. Originals  or
          true and complete  copies  of  all  documents  or  other  written
          materials underlying items listed in the Disclosure Schedule have
          been  furnished  or  made  available to SESI in the form in which
          each of such documents is in  effect, and will not be modified in
          any material respect prior to the  Closing  Date  without  SESI's
          prior written consent.

               Section    2.30   Effectiveness   of   Representations   and
          Warranties. All of  the representations and warranties of Sellers
          in this Agreement shall  be  true in all material respects on the
          Closing Date and shall be deemed  to  have  been  made  again  by
          Sellers on and as of the Closing Date.


                                      ARTICLE 3
                        REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SESI

               SESI  represents  and warrants to and agrees with Sellers as
          follows:

               Section  3.1  Organization.   SESI  is  a  corporation  duly
          organized, validly existing and in good  standing  under the laws
          of Louisiana and has all requisite corporate power and  authority
          to  own  its  properties  and  carry on its business as now being
          conducted.

               Section  3.2  Authority;  Enforceability.   SESI   has   the
          requisite  corporate  power  and authority to execute and deliver
          this Agreement and to carry out  its  obligations  hereunder. The
          execution,  delivery  and performance of this Agreement  and  the
          consummation of the transactions  contemplated  hereby  have been
          duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the  part of
          SESI  and no other corporate proceedings on the part of SESI  are
          necessary  to  authorize  this  Agreement  or  to  consummate the
          transactions  so  contemplated.  This  Agreement  has  been  duly
          executed  and  delivered  by  SESI  and  constitutes  a valid and
          binding   obligation   of   SESI,  enforceable  against  SESI  in
          accordance with its terms, except as may be limited by applicable
          bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,  moratorium  and  similar
          laws affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights generally and
          equitable  principles which may limit the availability of certain
          equitable remedies in certain instances.

               Section  3.3  Consents  and  Approvals; Conflicts. No filing
          with  or  notice  to,  and no permit, authorization,  consent  or
          approval  of,  any  Governmental  Entity  is  necessary  for  the
          execution  and  delivery   by  SESI  of  this  Agreement  or  the
          consummation  by SESI of the  transactions  contemplated  hereby.
          Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement by SESI, nor
          the consummation  of  the  transactions contemplated hereby, will
          violate any of the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation
          or By-laws of SESI; or conflict with or result in a breach of, or
          give  rise  to  a  right of termination  of,  or  accelerate  the
          performance required  by,  any  terms of any court order, consent
          decree, note, bond, mortgage, indenture,  deed  of  trust, or any
          license or agreement binding on SESI or to which SESI  is subject
          or a party, or constitute a default thereunder, or result  in the
          creation  of any Lien upon any of the assets of SESI, except  for
          any such conflict,  breach, termination, acceleration, default or
          Lien which would not  have  a  material adverse effect on (a) the
          business, assets or financial condition  of  SESI  or  (b) SESI's
          ability  to  consummate  any  of  the  transactions  contemplated
          hereby.

               Section 3.4 Effectiveness of Representations and Warranties.
          All  of  the  representations  and  warranties  of  SESI  in this
          Agreement  shall  be true in all material respects on the Closing
          Date and shall be deemed  to  have been made again by SESI on and
          as of the Closing Date.


                                      ARTICLE 4
                                      COVENANTS

               Section 4.1 Legal Requirements.  Subject  to  the conditions
          set  forth in Article 5 and to the other terms and provisions  of
          this Agreement,  each  of the parties to this Agreement agrees to
          take, or cause to be taken,  all  reasonable actions necessary to
          comply promptly with all legal requirements applicable to it with
          respect to the transactions contemplated  by  this  Agreement and
          will  promptly  cooperate  with and furnish information  to  each
          other in connection with any  such  requirements imposed upon any
          of  them.  Each  of  SESI and Sellers will  take  all  reasonable
          actions necessary to obtain,  and  will cooperate with each other
          in obtaining, any consent, authorization,  order  or approval of,
          or any exemption by, any Governmental Entity or other  public  or
          private  party,  required  to  be  obtained  or made by it or the
          taking or any action contemplated by this Agreement.

               Section  4.2  Access  to Properties and Records.  Until  the
          Closing Date, Sellers shall  cause  Sub-Surface to allow SESI and
          its  authorized  representatives  full  access,   during   normal
          business  hours and on reasonable notice, to all of Sub-Surface's
          properties,  offices,  vehicles,  equipment,  inventory and other
          assets, documents, files, books and records, in  order  to  allow
          SESI a full opportunity to make such investigation and inspection
          as it desires of Sub-Surface's business and assets. Sellers shall
          further  cause  Sub-Surface  to use its best efforts to cause the
          employees,  counsel  and  regular  independent  certified  public
          accountants of Sub-Surface to be available upon reasonable notice
          to  answer  questions of SESI's  representatives  concerning  the
          business and  affairs of Sub-Surface, and shall further use their
          best efforts to  cause  them to make available all relevant books
          and records in connection  with  such inspection and examination,
          including  without limitation work  papers  for  all  audits  and
          reviews of financial statements of Sub-Surface.

               Section  4.3 Conduct of Business. From and after the date of
          this Agreement  and  until  the Closing Date, Sellers shall cause
          Sub-Surface to conduct its business,  in  the ordinary course and
          consistent    with    past    practice,   maintain   satisfactory
          relationships  with its customers  and  take  all  other  actions
          reasonably necessary  to  preserve the good will of its business,
          except  as expressly required  or  otherwise  permitted  by  this
          Agreement,  and  shall  not take or permit any action which would
          cause any of his representations made in this Agreement not to be
          true and correct on the Closing Date.

               Section 4.4 Public Statements.  Prior  to  the Closing Date,
          none of the parties to this Agreement shall, and each party shall
          use  its  best  efforts  so that none of its advisors,  officers,
          directors  or employees shall,  except  with  the  prior  written
          consent of the  other  party,  publicize, announce or describe to
          any third person, except their respective advisors and employees,
          the execution or terms of this Agreement,  the  parties hereto or
          the transactions contemplated hereby, except as required  by  law
          or  as  required pursuant to this Agreement to obtain the consent
          of such third  person;  provided, in any case, that SESI may make
          such  disclosures  and  announcements  as  may  be  necessary  or
          advisable under applicable securities laws.

               Section 4.5 No Solicitation.  Sellers  will not prior to the
          Closing  Date  or the termination of this Agreement  pursuant  to
          Section 6.1, (nor  will he permit any of his affiliates or any of
          Sub-Surface's officers,  directors  or  agents  to)  directly  or
          indirectly  solicit  or  participate or engage in or initiate any
          negotiations or discussions,  or  enter  into  or  authorize  any
          agreement  or  agreements in principle, or announce any intention
          to do any of the foregoing, with respect to any offer or proposal
          to acquire all or  any significant part of Sub-Surface's business
          and properties or any  Shares  whether  by  merger,  purchase  of
          assets,  purchase of stock or otherwise. Sellers will notify SESI
          promptly  upon   receipt   of   any   inquiry,   offer  or  other
          communication from any third party regarding any such activities.

                                      ARTICLE 5
                                  CLOSING CONDITIONS

               Section  5.1  Conditions  Applicable  to  all  Parties.  The
          respective   obligations   of   each   party  to  consummate  the
          transactions contemplated by this Agreement  shall  be subject to
          the satisfaction or, where permissible, waiver by such  party  of
          the following conditions at or prior to the Closing Date:

                    (a)  No  statute,  rule,  regulation,  executive order,
          decree, preliminary or permanent injunction or restraining  order
          shall have been enacted, entered, promulgated or enforced by  any
          court  of  competent  jurisdiction  or  other Governmental Entity
          which prohibits or restricts the consummation of the transactions
          contemplated  by this Agreement, and no action,  suit,  claim  or
          proceeding by a  state  or federal Governmental Entity before any
          court or other Governmental  Entity shall have been commenced and
          be pending which seeks to prohibit  or  restrict the consummation
          of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

                    (b)  Kay S. Vinson, Barry J. Vinson,  John  H.  Vinson,
          Gregory  Parrish  and  Christopher Lipari shall each have entered
          into an Employment Agreement.

               Section  5.2  Conditions   to   Obligations   of  SESI.  The
          obligations  of  SESI to consummate the transactions contemplated
          by  this  Agreement  are  subject  to  the  satisfaction  of  the
          following conditions unless waived by SESI:

                    (a)  The  representations and warranties of Sellers set
          forth in this Agreement shall be true and correct in all material
          respects as of the date  of  this Agreement and as of the Closing
          Date as though made on and as  of  the  Closing  Date,  except as
          otherwise contemplated by this Agreement, and Sellers shall  have
          performed in all material respects all obligations required to be
          performed by them under this Agreement at or prior to the Closing
          Date.

                    (b)  All   consents  and  approvals  of  third  parties
          necessary for consummation  of  the  transactions contemplated by
          this Agreement shall have been obtained.  Sellers shall have used
          their   best   efforts   to   obtain   all   necessary   permits,
          authorizations,   consents   and  approvals  required   by   such
          Governmental Entities prior to the Closing Date.

                    (c)  SESI shall have  had a full opportunity to conduct
          inspections of the operating assets and books and records of Sub-
          Surface. Sellers shall have provided  SESI  certified  copies  of
          Sub-Surface's   Articles   of   Incorporation   and  By-laws  and
          certificates  of  existence and good standing, certified  by  the
          Secretary of State of the State of Louisiana.

                    (d)  Sellers  shall have executed and delivered to SESI
          for  the  benefit  of Whitney  National  Bank  the  Subordination
          Agreement.

                    (e)  Any  and   all  changes  made  to  the  Disclosure
          Schedule  or to the representations  and  warranties  of  Sellers
          shall be satisfactory in all respects to SESI

                    (f)  Sellers   shall   have   provided   to  SESI  such
          certificates   and  other  documents  as  SESI  shall  reasonably
          request.

               Section  5.3  Conditions  to  Obligations  of  Sellers.  The
          obligations   of   Sellers   to   consummate   the   transactions
          contemplated by this Agreement are subject to the satisfaction of
          the following conditions, unless waived by Sellers:

                    (a)  The  representations  and  warranties  of SESI set
          forth in this Agreement shall be true and correct in all material
          respects  as of the date of this Agreement and as of the  Closing
          Date as though  made  on  and  as  of the Closing Date, except as
          otherwise contemplated by this Agreement,  and  SESI  shall  have
          performed in all material respects all obligations required to be
          performed by them under this Agreement at or prior to the Closing
          Date.

                    (b)  Sellers  shall  have  received  a certificate of a
          duly  authorized  officer  of  SESI,  dated  the  Closing   Date,
          certifying  as  to  the  incumbency  of any person executing this
          Agreement.

                    (c)  Sellers shall have received  evidence  that either
          the  guarantees or endorsements of the Company's indebtedness  to
          Guaranty  Bank  &  Trust Company shall have been canceled or that
          SESI  shall  have  implemented   arrangements   to   the  Sellers
          reasonable satisfaction that all such indebtedness shall  be paid
          on the Closing Date.

                    (d)  Sellers   shall   receive   a  Security  Agreement
          executed  by  the  Company granting a security  interest  in  the
          equipment specified therein to secure SESI's obligation under the
          Notes.


                                      ARTICLE 6
                              TERMINATION AND AMENDMENT

               Section 6.1 Termination.  This  Agreement  may be terminated
          and may be abandoned at any time prior to the Closing Date:

                    (a)  by mutual written consent of SESI and Sellers;

                    (b)  by  SESI or Sellers, as the case may  be,  if  (a)
          there shall have been  a  material  breach of any representation,
          warranty, covenant or agreement on the  part  of  either  of  the
          Sellers  or on the part of SESI, as the case may be, which breach
          shall not  have  been  cured  prior to the earlier of (i) 10 days
          following notice of such breach and (ii) the Closing Date; or (b)
          any permanent injunction or other  order  of  a  court  or  other
          competent   Governmental   Entity   preventing  the  transactions
          contemplated  by  this  agreement shall  have  become  final  and
          nonappealable; or

                    (c)  by   SESI   or   Sellers   if   the   transactions
          contemplated by this Agreement shall not have been consummated on
          or  before  December  31,  1997;  provided,  that  the  right  to
          terminate this Agreement under  this  Section 6.1(c) shall not be
          available to any party whose breach of  its  representations  and
          warranties  in  this Agreement or whose failure to perform any of
          its covenants and agreements under this Agreement has resulted in
          the failure of the transactions contemplated by this agreement to
          occur on or before such date.

               Section 6.2  Effect  of  Termination.  In  the  event  of  a
          termination  of  this  Agreement as provided in Section 6.1, this
          Agreement shall forthwith  become  void  and  there  shall  be no
          liability  or  obligation under any provisions hereof on the part
          of SESI or Sellers,  except  (a)  pursuant  to  the covenants and
          agreements contained in Section 9.2 and this Section  6.2 and (b)
          to  the  extent  that  such  termination results from the willful
          material breach by a party hereto  of any of its representations,
          warranties, covenants or agreements  set forth in this Agreement,
          in  which case the non-breaching party  shall  have  a  right  to
          recover its damages caused thereby.

               Section  6.3  Amendment.  This  Agreement may not be amended
          except by an instrument in writing signed  by each of the parties
          hereto.

               Section  6.4  Extension; Waiver. At any time  prior  to  the
          Closing Date, the parties  hereto  may,  in their respective sole
          discretion and to the extent legally allowed, (a) extend the time
          for the performance of any of the obligations  or  other  acts of
          the  other  parties  hereto;  (b)  waive  any inaccuracies in the
          representations  and  warranties  contained  herein   or  in  any
          document  delivered  pursuant  thereto;  and (c) waive compliance
          with  any of the agreements or conditions contained  herein.  Any
          agreement  on the part of a party hereto to any such extension or
          waiver shall  be  valid only if set forth in a written instrument
          signed by or on behalf of such party.


                                      ARTICLE 7
                              INDEMNIFICATION; REMEDIES

               Section 7.1 Indemnification  by Sellers. Except as otherwise
          expressly provided in this Article  7,  Sellers shall jointly and
          severally  defend,  indemnify  and  hold harmless  SESI  and  any
          successors of SESI through merger or consolidation (SESI and such
          Persons, collectively, "SESI's Indemnified  Persons"),  and shall
          reimburse SESI's Indemnified Persons, for, from and against  each
          and  every  demand,  claim, action, loss (which shall include any
          diminution  in value),  liability,  judgment,  damage,  cost  and
          expense  (including,  without  limitation,  interest,  penalties,
          costs of preparation  and investigation, and the reasonable fees,
          disbursements and expenses  of  attorneys,  accountants and other
          professional  advisors) (collectively, "Losses")  imposed  on  or
          incurred by SESI's  Indemnified  Persons, directly or indirectly,
          relating  to,  resulting  from  or  arising   out  of:   (a)  any
          inaccuracy in any representation or warranty of  Sellers  in this
          Agreement  or  any  certificate,  document  or  other  instrument
          delivered  or  to  be  delivered  pursuant  hereto in any respect
          whether or not SESI's Indemnified Persons relied  thereon  or had
          knowledge  thereof  or  (b)  any  breach or nonperformance of any
          covenant, agreement or other obligation  of  Sellers  under  this
          Agreement  or  any  certificate,  document  or  other  instrument
          delivered or to be delivered pursuant hereto; provided,  however,
          that,  except  for  a  knowing  and  intentional  breach  of  any
          representation  or  warranty  of Sellers in this Agreement (as to
          which there shall be no minimum  or maximum amount of liability),
          Sellers shall have no liability under this Section 7.1 unless and
          until  the aggregate of all Losses  resulting  therefrom  exceeds
          $50,000, in which event Sellers shall be liable for all Losses in
          excess of  that  amount  up  to  a  maximum  aggregate  amount of
          $5,000,000.

               Section  7.2  Indemnification  by  SESI. Except as otherwise
          expressly  provided  in  this  Article  7,  SESI   shall  defend,
          indemnify   and  hold  harmless  Sellers  and  each  of  Sellers'
          successors and  assigns  (Sellers and such persons, collectively,
          "Sellers' Indemnified Persons"),  and  shall  reimburse  Sellers'
          Indemnified  Persons for, from and against all Losses imposed  on
          or  incurred  by   Sellers'   Indemnified  Persons,  directly  or
          indirectly, relating to, resulting  from  or arising out of:  (a)
          any inaccuracy in any representation or warranty  of SESI in this
          Agreement  or  any  certificate,  document  or  other  instrument
          delivered  or  to  be  delivered  pursuant hereto in any respect,
          whether or not Sellers' Indemnified Persons relied thereon or had
          knowledge thereof, or (b) any breach  or  nonperformance  of  any
          covenant,  agreement  or  other  obligation  of  SESI  under this
          Agreement  or  any  certificate,  document  or  other  instrument
          delivered or to be delivered pursuant hereto; provided,  however,
          that  SESI  shall have no liability under this Section 7.2 unless
          and until the  aggregate  of all Losses exceeds $50,000, in which
          event SESI shall be liable  for  all  Losses  in  excess  of that
          amount up to a maximum aggregate amount of $5,000,000.

               Section 7.3 Notice and Defense of Third Party Claims. If any
          third  party demand, claim, action or proceeding shall be brought
          or asserted  under this Article 7 against an indemnified party or
          any successor  thereto  (the  "Indemnified Person") in respect of
          which  indemnity  may be sought under  this  Article  7  from  an
          indemnifying person  or  any successor thereto (the "Indemnifying
          Person"), the Indemnified Person shall give prompt written notice
          thereof to the Indemnifying  Person  who  shall have the right to
          assume  its defense, including the hiring of  counsel  reasonably
          satisfactory  to  the  Indemnified  Person and the payment of all
          expenses;  except  that any delay or failure  to  so  notify  the
          Indemnifying Person  shall relieve the Indemnifying Person of its
          obligations under this  Article  7 only to the extent, if at all,
          that it is prejudiced by reason of  such  delay  or  failure. The
          Indemnified  Person  shall  have  the  right  to  employ separate
          counsel  in  any of the foregoing actions, claims or  proceedings
          and to participate  in  the  defense  thereof,  but  the fees and
          expenses  of  such  counsel  shall  be  at  the  expense  of  the
          Indemnified  Person  unless  both  the Indemnified Person and the
          Indemnifying  Person  are named as parties  and  the  Indemnified
          Person shall in good faith  determine  that representation by the
          same counsel is inappropriate. In the event that the Indemnifying
          Person, within ten days after notice of any such action or claim,
          does not assume the defense thereof, the Indemnified Person shall
          have the right to undertake the defense, compromise or settlement
          of  such  action,  claim or proceeding for  the  account  of  the
          Indemnifying Person,  subject  to  the  right of the Indemnifying
          Person to assume the defense of such action,  claim or proceeding
          with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person at
          any   time   prior   to  the  settlement,  compromise  or   final
          determination thereof. Anything in this Article 7 to the contrary
          notwithstanding, the Indemnifying  Person  shall not, without the
          Indemnified  Person's  prior  consent, settle or  compromise  any
          action or claim or consent to the  entry  of  any  judgment  with
          respect  to  any  action,  claim or proceeding for anything other
          than  money  damages  paid  by  the   Indemnifying   Person.  The
          Indemnifying  Person may, without the Indemnified Person's  prior
          consent,  settle   or   compromise  any  such  action,  claim  or
          proceeding or consent to  entry  of  any judgment with respect to
          any  such action or claim that requires  solely  the  payment  of
          money  damages by the Indemnifying Person and that includes as an
          unconditional  term  thereof  the  release by the claimant or the
          plaintiff of the Indemnified Person from all liability in respect
          of such action, claim or proceeding.

               Section 7.4 Survival of Representations and Warranties.

                    (a)   The obligation of the Sellers to indemnify SESI's
          Indemnified Persons pursuant to Section  7.1  shall  survive  the
          consummation  of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
          as follows:

                         (i)  with   respect  to  the  representations  and
          warranties in Sections 2.1 and 2.7, indefinitely;

                         (ii) with  respect   to  the  representations  and
          warranties in Sections 2.17 and 2.19, until the expiration of the
          applicable statute of limitations period; and

                         (iii) with respect to  all  other  representations
          and  warranties of the Sellers and any other matters  covered  by
          Section 7.1, until the third anniversary of the Closing Date.

                    (b)    The  obligation  of  SESI  to indemnify Sellers'
          Indemnified  Persons  pursuant to Section 7.2 shall  survive  the
          consummation of the transactions  contemplated by this Agreement,
          as follows:

                         (i)  with  respect  to   the  representations  and
          warranties in Section 3.2, indefinitely; and

                         (ii) with respect to all other representations and
          warranties of SESI and any other matters  covered by Section 7.2,
          until the third anniversary of the Closing Date.

                    (c)      The    obligations   of   the   parties    for
          indemnification under this  Article  7  shall terminate after the
          expiration of the periods indicated in subsections (a) and (b) of
          this Section 7.4, except with respect to  any Loss which has been
          the  subject  of written notice to the party  against  whom  such
          claim of Loss is asserted prior to the expiration of such period,
          which notice will  preserve  such claim until it is liquidated or
          otherwise finally resolved pursuant  to  the procedures set forth
          in Sections 7.3 and 7.4 of this Agreement.

                    (d)   The provisions of this Article  7  shall apply to
          any  claim  of  Loss  resulting  or  arising from any untruth  or
          inaccuracy of any representation or warranty of any party to this
          Agreement  which gives rise to an indemnity  to  one  party  from
          another party  or  parties,  with the intent that all such claims
          shall  be  subject  to  the  procedures,  limitations  and  other
          provisions  contained  in this Article  7.   The  indemnification
          provided by Sections 7.1  and  Section  7.2 shall be the sole and
          exclusive remedy available to the parties  hereto  for any breach
          or  inaccuracy of any of the representations or warranties  by  a
          party   set   forth   in  this  Agreement.   Notwithstanding  the
          foregoing, the provisions  of  this Article 7 shall not be deemed
          to preclude an action by any party for, or a recovery pursuant to
          a final decision of a court of competent jurisdiction against any
          party for, actual, and not negligent or unintentional, fraud.


                                      ARTICLE 8
                                    DEFINED TERMS

               Section 8.1 Definitions. In  addition  to  the other defined
          terms used herein, as used in this Agreement, the following terms
          when capitalized have the meanings indicated.

               "Affiliate" shall have the meaning ascribed  by  Rule  12b-2
          promulgated  under  the  Securities  Exchange  Act  of  1934,  as
          amended.

               "Applicable  Law"  shall  mean  any  statute,  law,  rule or
          regulation or any judgement, order, writ, injunction or decree of
          any  Governmental  Entity  to  which  a  specified  Person or its
          property is subject.

               "Agreement"   shall  mean  this  Stock  Purchase  Agreement,
          including  the Exhibits  hereto,  all  as  amended  or  otherwise
          modified from time to time.

               "Benefit  Arrangement"  shall mean any employment, severance
          or  similar  contract, or any other  contract,  plan,  policy  or
          arrangement (whether  or not written) providing for compensation,
          bonus, profit-sharing, stock option or other stock related rights
          or other forms of incentive  or  deferred  compensation, vacation
          benefits,   insurance   coverage   (including  any   self-insured
          arrangement),  health or medical benefits,  disability  benefits,
          severance benefits  and  post-employment  or  retirement benefits
          (including  compensation,  pension,  health,  medical   or   life
          insurance  benefits),  other  than  the  Employee Plans, that  is
          maintained,  administered  or  contributed  to  by  the  employer
          and covers any employee or former employee of the employer.

               "Closing"  means the consummation of the  Purchase  and  the
          other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

               "Closing  Date"  shall  mean  the  date on which the Closing
          occurs.

               "Code"  shall mean the Internal Revenue  Code  of  1986,  as
          amended.

               "Disclosure  Schedule"  shall  mean the disclosure schedules
          and other documents attached hereto as  Exhibit  "C"  prepared by
          Sellers  in  accordance  with  the applicable provisions of  this
          Agreement.

               "Employee Plan" means a plan  or  arrangement  as defined in
          Section  3(3)  of ERISA, that (a) is subject to any provision  of
          ERISA, (b) is maintained,  administered  or contributed to by the
          employer and (c) covers any employee or former  employee  of  the
          employer.

               "Employment  Agreement"  shall mean the Employment Agreement
          in the form attached hereto as Exhibit "A".

               "ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of
          1974,  as  amended,  and the rules  and  regulations  promulgated
          thereunder.

               "Financial  Statements"  shall  mean,  as  the  context  may
          require, the balance  sheet  and related statements of income and
          retained earnings of Sub-Surface  as  of  and for the fiscal year
          ended July 31, 1997 and the unaudited balance  sheet  and related
          unaudited statement of income and retained earnings for  the  two
          month period ended September 30, 1997.

               "Governmental  Entity"  shall  mean any court or tribunal in
          any jurisdiction or any public, governmental  or regulatory body,
          agency, department, commission, board, bureau or  other authority
          or instrumentality.

               "Leases" shall mean any executory lease to which Sub-Surface
          is subject having future rental payments of more than  $25,000 in
          the aggregate.

               "Liens"   shall   mean   pledges,  liens,  defects,  leases,
          licenses, equities, conditional sales contracts, charges, claims,
          encumbrances,   security  interests,   easements,   restrictions,
          chattel mortgages,  mortgages  or  deeds of trust, of any kind or
          nature whatsoever.

               "Material Contract" means any executory  contract, agreement
          or other understanding, whether or not reduced  to  writing, that
          is  not  cancelable within 30 days, to which Sub-Surface  or  its
          property is  subject,  which  provides  for  future  payments  to
          another  Person  by  Sub-Surface  of  more  than  $25,000  in the
          aggregate.

               "Multiemployer  Plan" means a plan or arrangement as defined
          in Section 4001(a)(3) and 3(37) of ERISA.

               "Note" shall mean Non-Negotiable Promissory Note in the form
          attached hereto as Exhibit "B".

               "Person"  shall  mean   an  individual,  firm,  corporation,
          general  or  limited  partnership,   limited  liability  company,
          limited liability partnership, joint venture, trust, governmental
          authority  or body, association, unincorporated  organization  or
          other entity.

               "Proceedings"   means  any suit, action, proceeding, dispute
          or claim before or investigation by any Governmental Entity.

               "Purchase" shall mean the purchase by SESI of the Shares for
          the consideration specified in Section 2.2 of this Agreement.

               "Returns"   means   all   returns,    reports,    estimates,
          declarations  and  statements  of  any  nature  relating  to,  or
          required  to  be  filed  in connection with, any Taxes, including
          information returns or reports with respect to backup withholding
          and other payments to third parties.

               "Security Agreement"  shall  mean  the Security Agreement in
          the form attached hereto as Exhibit "D".

               "Shares" shall mean all of the issued and outstanding shares
          of both classes of common stock, no par value, of  Sub-Surface.

               "Subordination  Agreement"  shall  mean   the  Subordination
          Agreement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit "E".

               "Taxes" shall mean any federal, state, local  or other taxes
          (including,  without  limitation,  income,  alternative  minimum,
          franchise, property, sales, use, lease, excise, premium, payroll,
          wage,   employment   or   withholding   taxes),   fees,   duties,
          assessments,  withholdings  or governmental charges of  any  kind
          whatsoever (including interest, penalties and additions to tax).


                                      ARTICLE 9
                                    MISCELLANEOUS

               Section  9.1  Bonus  Pool.    SESI  will  cause  Sub-Surface
          following the Closing Date to establish  an  employee  bonus pool
          for  its  employees  for the 12 month periods ending October  31,
          1998, 1999 and 2000 in accordance with this Section 9.1.  If Sub-
          Surface's EBITDA (as defined  and  calculated  in accordance with
          the  Note)  exceeds $6,000,000 in any of these 12-month  periods,
          then a bonus  pool  of  20% of the amount over $6,000,000 will be
          established for that period  for  the  benefit  of  Sub-Surface's
          employees to be allocated as determined by the Sellers  and  paid
          on or prior to December 31 of each year.

               Section  9.2  Confidentiality.  Until  the  Closing Date and
          subsequent  to  the  termination  of  this Agreement pursuant  to
          Section 6.1, SESI will keep confidential and will not disclose to
          any third party any information obtained  by  it  from Sellers in
          connection with this Agreement except (a) that information may be
          disclosed  by  SESI  to  its  advisors  in  connection  with  the
          negotiation  of  and  the  activities  conducted pursuant to this
          Agreement,  or  (b)  to the extent that such  information  is  or
          becomes generally available  to  the  public  through  no  act or
          omission of SESI in violation of this Agreement.

               Section  9.3  Notices.  All  notices  hereunder  must  be in
          writing  and  shall  be deemed to have been given upon receipt of
          delivery by: (a) personal  delivery to the designated individual,
          (b) certified or registered mail, postage prepaid, return receipt
          requested, (c) a nationally  recognized overnight courier service
          (against a receipt therefor) or  (d)  facsimile transmission with
          confirmation of receipt. All such notices  must  be  addressed as
          follows  or  such other address as to which any party hereto  may
          have notified the other in writing:

               If to SESI, to:

                    1503 Engineers Road
                    Belle Chasse, LA 70037
                    Attention: Terence Hall
                    Facsimile transmission No.:  504-393-9904

               If to Sellers, to:

                    300 Avoca Road
                    Morgan City, Louisiana  70381
                    Facsimile transmission No.: 504-384-3791

               With a copy to:

                    Jerome J. Reso, Jr.
                    Baldwin & Haspel, L.L.C.
                    2200 Energy Centre
                    1100 Poydras Street
                    New Orleans, Louisiana  70163
                    Facsimile transmission No.:  504-585-7751

               Section 9.4  Headings;  Gender.  When a reference is made in
          this Agreement to a section, exhibit or  schedule, such reference
          shall  be  to a section, exhibit or schedule  of  this  Agreement
          unless otherwise  indicated.  The  table of contents and headings
          contained in this Agreement are for  reference  purposes only and
          shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this
          Agreement.  All  personal  pronouns used in this Agreement  shall
          include  the  other  genders,  whether  used  in  the  masculine,
          feminine or neuter gender, and the  singular  shall  include  the
          plural   and  vice  versa,  whenever  and  as  often  as  may  be
          appropriate.

               Section  9.5 Entire Agreement; No Third Party Beneficiaries.
          This Agreement (including the documents, exhibits and instruments
          referred to herein)  (a)  constitutes  the  entire  agreement and
          supersedes   all   prior   agreements,   and  understandings  and
          communications,  both written and oral, among  the  parties  with
          respect to the subject  matter hereof, and (b) is not intended to
          confer upon any person other  than  the parties hereto any rights
          or remedies hereunder.

               Section 9.6 Governing Law. This  Agreement shall be governed
          and  construed  in  accordance  with the laws  of  the  State  of
          Louisiana  without  regard  to  any  applicable   principles   of
          conflicts of law.

               Section  9.7  Assignment.  Neither this Agreement nor any of
          the rights, interests or obligations  hereunder shall be assigned
          by  any of the parties hereto (whether by  operation  of  law  or
          otherwise)  without  the  prior  written  consent  of  the  other
          parties.

               Section 9.8 Severability. If any term or other provision  of
          this Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced
          by  reason  of  any  rule  of  law  or  public  policy, all other
          conditions  and  provisions of this Agreement shall  nevertheless
          remain in full force  and effect so long as the economic or legal
          substance of the transactions contemplated hereby is not affected
          in any adverse manner to  either  party.  Upon such determination
          that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable
          of  being enforced, the parties hereto shall  negotiate  in  good
          faith  to  modify  this  Agreement  so  as to effect the original
          intent  of the parties as closely as possible  in  an  acceptable
          manner to  the  end that the transactions contemplated hereby are
          fulfilled to the  extent  possible,  and in any case such term or
          provision shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to make
          it no longer invalid, illegal or unenforceable.

               Section 9.9 Counterparts. This Agreement  may be executed in
          multiple counterparts, each of which shall be deemed  an original
          and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same
          document.

               IN  WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  parties hereto have caused  this
          Agreement to be signed themselves  or  by  their  respective duly
          authorized officers as of the date first written above.

                                        SUPERIOR ENERGY SERVICES, INC.



                                        By: /s/ Robert Taylor
                                         Robert  Taylor,  Chief   Financial
                                         Officer

                                        SELLERS:



                                                /s/ Kay S. Vinson
                                                   Kay S. Vinson

                                        JOE D. VINSON TESTAMENTARY TRUST



                                        By:  /s/ Kay S. Vinson, Trustee
                                                 Kay S. Vinson, Trustee



                                                /s/ Barry J. Vinson
                                                  Barry J. Vinson



                                                /s/ John H. Vinson
                                                   John H. Vinson



                                                /s/ Jo Ann Vinson
                                                   Jo Ann Vinson


                                         




The Board of Directors
Superior Energy Services, Inc.:


We consent to the use or our report incorporated by reference herein, dated
October 20, 1997, with respect to the balance sheet of Stabil Drill Specialties,
Inc. as of August 31, 1996 and 1997, and the related statements of income and
retained earnings and cash flows for the years then ended.

We also consent to the use of our report incorporated by reference herein, dated
October 15, 1997, with respect to the balance sheet of Sub-Surface Tools, Inc. 
as of July 31, 1997, and the related statements of income and retained earnings
and cash flows for the year then ended.

                                               /s/ KPMG Peat Marwick LLP
                                                   KPMG Peat Marwick LLP

New Orleans, Louisiana
November 11, 1997