The Houston Exploration Company and El Paso Production Company, a subsidiary of El Paso Corporation, announced that they have executed a letter of intent to conduct an exploration drilling joint venture in the Gulf of Mexico. Under the terms of the agreement, El Paso will contribute up to $50 million for land, seismic and drilling expenditures and pay 100 percent of the dry hole costs to earn 50 percent of Houston Exploration's working interest in up to six specified exploration wells to be drilled during the remainder of 2002 and early 2003. The wells to be drilled by the joint venture are comprised of exploration prospects developed by Houston Exploration on its leases located in the Central and Western Gulf of Mexico and in Texas state waters.