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                                                                            99.1


                    CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER


I, Joseph L. Castle II, certify that:

1.     I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Castle Energy
       Corporation for the three months ended December 31, 2002.

2.     Based on my knowledge, this quarterly report does not contain any untrue
       statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary
       to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which
       such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period
       covered by this quarterly report.

3.     Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial
       information included in this quarterly report, fairly present in all
       material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash
       flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this
       quarterly report.

4.     The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for
       establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as
       defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant and
       we have:

       a)     Designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that
              material information relating to the registrant, including its
              consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within
              those entities, particularly during the period in which this
              quarterly report is being prepared;

       b)     Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure
              controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the
              filing date of this quarterly report (the "Evaluation Date"); and

       c)     Presented in this quarterly report our conclusions about the
              effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on
              our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date.

5.     The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on
       our most recent evaluation, to the registrant's auditors and the audit
       committee of the board of directors (or persons fulfilling the equivalent
       function):

       a)     All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design
              or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the
              registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report
              financial data and have identified for the registrant's auditors
              any material weaknesses in internal controls; and

       b)     Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or
              other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's
              internal controls.

6.     The registrant's other certifying officer and I have indicated in this
       quarterly report whether or not there were significant changes in
       internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect
       internal controls subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation,
       including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies
       and material weakness.



---------------------------
Joseph L. Castle II
Chief Executive Officer

February 13, 2003