Lehman Brothers, for example, likes Chevron, Mobil, Murphy Oil and Total Petroleum.

Prosafe Production is responsible for the vessel operations and Murphy Oil is responsible for drilling.

Murphy Oil, a midsize oil-and-gas exploration company, based in El Dorado, Ark., is one of the fund's largest holdings.

He recommended the purchase of Unocal, Murphy Oil, Texaco and Amerada Hess.

One venture that some analysts find promising is Deltic Timber, which was spun off by Murphy Oil in December.

While building Murphy Oil, Charles Murphy did not forsake his heritage as a banker.

Mr. Crist has already subpoenaed Murphy Oil and Colonial Oil Industries, two independent oil companies with retail outlets in Florida.

His favorites include Murphy Oil, Kerr-McGee, Amerada Hess and the Apache Corporation.

John Kilduff, an analyst at Fimat USA, cited Murphy Oil as a potential buyout candidate.

Murphy Oil is a very good domestic oil company that has diversified successfully internationally, in Malaysia.