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HOUSTON, October 1, 2003 -- Boots & Coots International Well Control, Inc. (AMEX:WEL), is pleased to announce today that it has added two new members to its Board of Directors. The addition of Mr. Robert S. Herlin and Mr. E. J. (Jed) DiPaolo brings the Company’s total current Board membership to five.

Mr. Herlin is President and CEO of Natural Gas Systems, Inc., an independent oil and gas operating company focused on re-developing mature fields, and a partner with Tatum Partners, a provider of contract executive management to companies requiring a higher level of expertise for issues such as rapid growth, initial public offerings, strategic changes and financial distress. Mr. Herlin formerly served as CFO for Intercontinental Tower Corporation and was CEO / CFO for Benz Energy Inc., a publicly-held oil and gas company focused on high risk, 3D seismic-based exploration on the Gulf Coast of the United States. Mr. Herlin brings a strong background in finance, strategic planning, mergers and acquisitions.

Mr. DiPaolo is currently an Energy Partner with Growth Capital Partners, L.P. From 1976 to 2002, Mr. DiPaolo was with Halliburton Company, most recently as Group Senior Vice President of Global Business Development. Mr. DiPaolo was part of a four-man transition team responsible for integrating Halliburton Energy Services with Dresser Industries to form the industry’s largest oilfield service company. Mr. DiPaolo is also an owner and partner in Orbis Oil & Gas, an independent oil company operating in Texas.

Mr. Herlin and Mr. DiPaolo join current outside director Mr. W. Richard Anderson as well as Mr. Jerry Winchester, President and Chief Executive Office of the Company and Mr. K. Kirk Krist, Chairman of the Board. Mr. Anderson will continue to serve as the chairman of the Company’s audit committee which will now also include Mr. Herlin and Mr. DiPaolo.

Mr. Anderson, the President and Chief Financial Officer of Prime Natural Resources, Inc., formerly served as the Managing Partner for the Houston Office of Hein & Associates, LLP, a nationally recognized CPA firm focused on mergers and acquisitions. Prior to joining Boots and Coots in 1998, Mr. Winchester served as the Global Product Manager for Halliburton Energy Services’ Well Control, Hydraulic Workover, Coil Tubing and Nitrogen Product Service Lines. Mr. Krist’s background is as an independent businessman focused on the acquisition and trading of oil and gas properties. He has been a self-employed venture capitalist in the oil and gas industry since 1982.

Mr. Krist said, "We are extremely excited about the wealth of knowledge and expertise brought to our Board with the additions of Mr. Herlin and Mr. DiPaolo. Boots and Coots has come a long way over the last year and I am proud that we are able to bring in this caliber of industry leadership for our shareholders.”


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