EXHIBIT  10.18

                         TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT

     THIS  AGREEMENT  is  made  and entered into effective the 8th day of March,
1992,  by  and  between  YINKA  FOLAWIYO  PETROLEUM COMPANY LIMITED (hereinafter
referred  to  as  OPERATOR),  and  LIBERTY  TECHNICAL  SERVICES LTD., (hereafter
referred  to  as  "TECHNICAL Adviser"), both companies (hereinafter collectively
referred  to as "the Parties") being incorporated and existing under the lows of
the  Federal  Republic  of  Nigeria,  (hereinafter  referred  to  as "NIGERIA").

     WHEREAS  YINKA  FOLAWIYO  PRTROLEUM  COMPANY  LIMITED and LIBERTY TECHNICAL
SERVICES LTD. are Parties to that certain Joint Operating Agreement of even date
herewith,  covering  petroleum  operations  on  block  309, Nigeria (hereinafter
referred  to  as  "JOA").  wherein  YINKA  FOLAWIYO PETROLEUM COMPANY LIMITED is
designated  as the Operator and LIBERTY TECHNICAL SERVICES LTD. is designated as
the  Technical  Adviser,  and

     WHEREAS,  YINKA  FOLAWIYO  PETROLEUM  COMPANY  LIMITED  requires  certain
administrative  and  technical  assistance  in  carrying  out  its  duties  and
responsibilities  as  Operator  under  the  JOA;  and

     WHEREAS,  LIBERTY TECHNICAL and its affiliated companies have the necessary
qualified,  administrative  technical and professional personnel to assist YINKA
FOLAWIYO  PETROLEUM  COMPANY  LIMITED  in  carrying  out  its  duties  and
responsibilities  as  Operator.

     Now,  therefore,  in  consideration  of  the  premises and mutual covenants
contained  herein,  the  Parties  hereby  agree  as  follows:

     1.   DEFINITIONS

     Except  as  otherwise  defined herein, the teams used herein shall have the
same  meaning  as  set  forth  in  the  JOA.

     11.  TECHNICAL Adviser AND ASSISTANCE

2.1  Designation:   In  accordance  with  JOA,  the  Parties  designate  LIBERTY
     TECHNICAL  SERVICES  Technical  Adviser for OPL 309 and  LIBERTY  TECHNICAL
     SERVICES  agrees to accept  and  perform  the  responsibilities  and duties
     associated therewith.

2.2  Duties  and   Responsibilities:   The  Technical  Adviser  has  to  general
     responsibility  of assisting  YINKA FOLAWIYO  PETROLEUM  COMPANY LIMITED in
     carrying out is  responsibilities as Operator for OPL 309 and, in so doing,
     to further assist in  establishing  itself as a fully  competent  petroleum
     company holding international  recognition to fulfill its responsibilities,
     the Technical Adviser shall:

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     a)   In  accordance  with the JOA  establish a Technical  Transfer  Plan in
          conduction with YINKA FOLAWIYO PETROLEUM COMPANY LIMITED.

     b)   carry out the duties and  responsibilities  assigned to the  Technical
          Adviser in the JOA subject to the laws of Nigeria, and

     c)   in accordance  with the JOA hereof,  provide YINKA FOLAWIYO  PETROLEUM
          COMPANY  LIMITED with  assistance and guidance in the  development and
          execution of training plans and programs in order to develop competent
          Nigerian personnel, and

2.3     Working  Relationship:

     a)   In the conduct of the Joint  Operations  contemplated  in the JOA, the
          technical  Adviser and YINKA FOLAWIYO  PETROLEUM COMPANY LIMITED shall
          fully  consult  with each other on a regular  basis,  in a  harmonious
          manner  and as  frequently  as may be  required,  for the  purpose  of
          reviewing and scheduling  the activities  being carried out under this
          Agreement.

     b)   Nothing  contained  herein  shall be  construed  as  representing  any
          assignment  by  YINKA  FOLAWIYO   PETROLEUM  COMPANY  LIMITED  of  its
          responsibility as Operator of OPL 309. LIBERTY TECHNICAL SERVICES LTD.
          shall  always  fulfill  its  responsibilities  and  perform the duties
          described herein under the general direction of the Operator.

2.4     Training:

     1.   In providing the training assistance,  the Technical Adviser shall, in
          accordance with training plans and programs  approved by the Operating
          committee,  do all that can be  reasonable  required to result in each
          Nigerian employee of the Operator, reaching the highest possible level
          of qualification. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, it
          is contemplated that the Technical Adviser shall:

          a)   assist  YINKA   FOLAWIYO   PETROLEUM   COMPANY   LIMITED  in  the
               development of training programs,  both for separate  individuals
               and groups of trainees.

          2b.  such Technical Assistance and Training Committee shall operate in
               Advisery  capacity only and any decision or advice taken or given
               respectively  shall be subject to the  approval of the  Operating
               Committee.

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111.          ESTABLISHMENT  OF  PRESENCE  IN  NIGERIA

3.1  Offices  and   Employment:   YINKA  FOLAWIYO   PETROLEUM   COMPANY  LIMITED
     acknowledges  and  recognizes  that  the  services  to be  provided  by the
     Technical Adviser will require the Technical Adviser to establish  separate
     offices of its own in Nigeria,  the number of employees required to perform
     such  services will be at the sole  discretion  of the  Technical  Adviser;
     however,  the Technical  Adviser  warrants that it will employ no more that
     the number of employees  with may  reasonable be required to carry out such
     services.

3.2  Personnel:  Any of  LIBERTY  TECHNICAL  SERVICES  LTD.  or its  affiliates=
     personnel  performing  services  under this  Agreement  shall remain at all
     times the employees of LIBERTY  TECHNICAL  SERVICES LTD. or its  affiliates
     and shall not, for any purposes, be regarded as employees of YINKA FOLAWIYO
     PETROLEUM  COMPANY  LIMITED.   LIBERTY  TECHNICAL   SERVICES  LTD.  or  its
     affiliates  shall  remain  solely  responsible  for the  payment  of  their
     salaries and benefits.  LIBERTY  TECHNICAL  SERVICES LTD. may, at any time,
     transfer and replace any such personnel.

3.3  Visas  and Work  Permits:  In  those  cases  where  the  Technical  Adviser
     determines  it is necessary to fill a vacant  position in its  organization
     with an expatriate  employee,  YINKA  FOLAWIYO  PETROLEUM  COMPANY  LIMITED
     pledges,  if necessary,  to use its good offices to assist in obtaining any
     visas,  work  permits or other like  permits  which may be  required by the
     Government.

     V  -  CONFIDENTIALITY

5.1  confidential data and Information:  Each Party undertakes that, without the
     prior  written  consent  of  all  the  other  Parties,  it  will  treat  as
     confidential  and prevent  disclosure  to any third parties of all data and
     information relating to the License area or operations  undertaken pursuant
     to this agreement.  This obligation  shall continue  throughout the term of
     this Agreement or for five (5) years following  termination of the License,
     whichever  is the  later.  Consent  is  hereby  given for each  Party  such
     information  and  data to its  Affiliate  and to  persons  and  contractors
     engaged by the Operator and/or the Technical Adviser to the extent required
     for efficiently carrying out Joint Operations,  to counsellors of any party
     including legal counsel,  lending  organizations and external  professional
     consultants used by any Party to secure financing auditors, and prospective
     third party assignees  provided that such Affiliates and such other parties
     accept a strict obligation to maintain the confidential  nature of the date
     of  information  disclosed and not to divulge such data or  information  to
     other parties  without prior written  consent.  With respect to all parties
     other than  affiliates,  acceptance of the  confidentiality  obligation set
     forth in the the previous  sentence shall be in writing.  The provisions of
     this Article shall not apply to data or information which, through no fault
     of the  disclosing  Party,  has  become a part of the  public  domain.  The
     provisions of this Article have no application  to any disclosure  required
     by the  applicable  laws  and  regulations.  however,  prior  to  any  such
     disclosure,  the  disclosing  Party shall inform the other  Parties with as
     mush notice as possible  so that they may have the  opportunity  to contest
     the government=s right to require such disclosure.

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5.2  Trading Rights:  The Operator  and/or the Technical  Adviser nay, only with
     the prior written approval of the Operating Committee and on such terms and
     conditions as it may determine,  exchange any such data and information for
     other similar data and  information  and the Operator  and/or the Technical
     Adviser  shall  promptly  provide the Parties with a conformed  copy of the
     agreement relating to such exchange and all such data and information.

     VI  -  ASSIGNMENTS

6.1  Limitations  on  Assignments:  PARTIES may assign this  Agreement to any of
     their parents  affiliates or  subsidiaries,  and may  subcontract any other
     services to be provided hereunder to a parent, affiliate, subsidary o third
     party.  Provided that the consent of the other party is sought and obtained
     prior to any such assignment.

     ASSIGNMENT

6.1a)LIBERTY  TECHNICAL  SERVICES LTD hereby assigns its  obligations and duties
     rights as outlined in this agreement and the Joint Venture  Agreement along
     with  its  attached   operating   and   accounting   procedures  to  ABACAN
     International  Resource  Management  Inc., and its affiliated  companies in
     Nigeria.

     VII  -  TERM

7.1  Term:  Unless  otherwise  mutually  agreed  by  the  Parties  hereto,  this
     Agreement  shall  continue  enforce  until such time as  Liberty  Technical
     Services  limited  divests itself o fall its rights,  title and interest in
     OPL 309 or the Oil mining Lease  covering  OPL:309 upon its  termination or
     for a period of ten years, whichever occurs first.

     VIII  -  ARBITRATION

8.1  Any dispute arising out or in connection with this Agreement, including any
     question  regarding  its  existence,  validity  or  termination,  shall  be
     referred to and  finally  resolved  by  arbitration  under the Rules of the
     London  court or  international  Arbitration,  with  Rules are deemed to be
     Incorporated by reference into this clause;

     The governing law of the Agreement shall be the substantive law of NIGERIA.

     The tribunal shall consist of a three/member tribunal and two of them shall
be  nominated  by  the  parties  on  the  two  respective  sides.

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     The  place  of  arbitration  shall be London, England.  the language of the
arbitration  shall  be  English.

     IN  WITNESS  WHEREOF, the Parties have caused this Agreement to be executed
in  duplicate  by  their  authorized representatives effective as to the day and
year  first  above  written.

By:  /s/  T.B.  Folawiyo
______________________________
          T.B.  Folawiyo
          Executive  Director
          YINKA  FOLAWIYO  PETROLEUM  COMPANY  LIMITED



By:  /s/  Wade  G.  Cherwayko
_______________________________
          Wade  G.  Cherwayko
          President
          LIBERTY  TECHNICAL  SERVICES  LTD


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