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                                  EXHIBIT 99.1

               BAYARD DRILLING TECHNOLOGIES ANNOUNCES ACQUISITION
                        OF DRILLING ASSETS IN SOUTH TEXAS

         OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA, MAY 27, 1998: Bayard Drilling Technologies,
Inc. (AMEX:BDI) announced today that it had entered into a definitive agreement
to purchase the contract drilling assets of TransTexas Gas Corporation for $75
million. Bayard will also enter into a two and one half year drilling alliance
agreement with TransTexas which will allow Bayard the first right to provide up
to 15 rigs to TransTexas to meet its continuing land drilling requirements in
South Texas and along the Gulf Coast. Subject to certain conditions, closing is
expected to occur on or before July 20, 1998.

         TransTexas operates an integrated drilling business and during 1997 was
the fourth most active drilling contractor in South Texas. In the transaction,
Bayard will receive assets including: (i) 25 drilling rigs and related equipment
(including 325,000 feet of 3 1/2" drill pipe), (ii) a drilling support facility
located in Laredo and related maintenance and repair equipment, (iii) trucking
equipment used for rig hauling activities, and (iv) a significant inventory of
spare parts and equipment. All of the acquired rigs are mechanical rigs capable
of drilling to depths of 12,000 feet or greater, with 12 of the rigs capable of
drilling to depths of 20,000 feet or greater. TransTexas currently employs
approximately 200 people in its drilling and related operations, and Bayard
intends to offer positions to substantially all of these employees. 

         At closing, Bayard and TransTexas will enter into a two and one half
year drilling alliance agreement under which TransTexas will agree to utilize
Bayard rigs to meet its land drilling needs, for up to a maximum of 15 rigs, in
South Texas and the Gulf Coast. Bayard will agree to make such rigs available
for use by TransTexas at pre-agreed terms. Currently, eight of the rigs are on
location and drilling for TransTexas. During the 12 months ended March 31, 1998,
TransTexas utilized as many as 22 rigs. The Company anticipates that TransTexas
will utilize between five and ten rigs during the next 12 months. 

         Bayard intends to finance the acquisition with a private placement of
$100 million of senior notes of the Company under Rule 144A.



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o        Page 2            Bayard Drilling Technologies Announces Acquisition of
                                                Drilling Business in South Texas

         Jim Brown, Chief Executive Officer of Bayard, stated, "This acquisition
complements our existing business and meets Bayard's strategic goals. It
provides the Company with the necessary assets and personnel to create a third
core operating area in South Texas. The South Texas market has been one of the
most active deep gas drilling markets in recent years. This core area is already
fully staffed and will operate high quality mechanical rigs with deep drilling
capacity. The new South Texas area may also supply the Company with additional
utilization opportunities for its existing SCR rigs in the Gulf Coast. The
drilling alliance with TransTexas will create a long term relationship with one
of the most active operators in South Texas. Finally, the acquisition allows
Bayard to control and actively manage this currently under-utilized fleet to
optimize both utilization and cash flow."

         "As stated in our 1997 Annual Report, Bayard believes the fundamentals
remain strong in the land drilling business and that Bayard will continue to
actively participate in the consolidation of the industry. We are currently
experiencing low commodity prices and reduced drilling budgets in our core
areas, and this may continue for some time. However, the current weakness
provides an opportunity to grow our business at appropriate cost. I believe that
the South Texas acquisition will prove to be a well-timed acquisition that will
provide assets and personnel to pursue additional growth."

         The acquisition is subject to certain conditions, including the
expiration or termination of any waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino
Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended. The acquisition is not subject
to a financing condition, but does provide that if Bayard cannot complete the
acquisition because financing is not available, Bayard will pay an agreed upon
amount to TransTexas.

         Bayard Drilling Technologies, Inc. is a leading provider of land
drilling services to major and independent oil and gas companies. 

         The Company's operating results are substantially affected by industry
conditions such as the levels and volatility of market prices of oil and gas. In
recent months, the market prices of oil and



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o        Page 3            Bayard Drilling Technologies Announces Acquisition of
                                                Drilling Business in South Texas

gas have decreased significantly, which has affected demand for land drilling
rigs. Additionally, the industry has recently experienced both a shortage of
existing components and equipment used to refurbish rigs and increases in the
cost of drill pipe. These developments have the potential of adversely affecting
the Company's results in future periods.

         The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a "safe
harbor" for forward-looking statements. Certain information included in this
news release contains statements that are forward-looking in nature, such as
statements relating to the possibility of consummating the potential acquisition
and the possible types of sources of financing for the acquisition. Such
statements involve important risks and uncertainties that could significantly
affect anticipated results in the future and cause actual results to differ from
those expressed in any such forward-looking statements.

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