Meridian Resource Adjourns Special Meeting of Shareholders to a Date to be Announced

HOUSTON, April 6, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Meridian Resource Corporation
(NYSE:TMR) today announced that it has adjourned its special meeting of
shareholders to a date to be announced. The location of the meeting has not been
determined at this time. The special meeting had been called to consider and
vote on a proposal to adopt the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of
December 22, 2009, by and among Meridian, Alta Mesa Holdings, LP and Alta Mesa
Acquisition Sub, LLC. The Board of Directors of Meridian Resource unanimously
recommends that shareholders vote "FOR" the proposed merger with Alta Mesa
Holdings. The record date for shareholders entitled to vote at the meeting
remains February 8, 2010. Shareholders are encouraged to read Meridian's
definitive proxy materials in their entirety as they provide, among other
things, a detailed discussion of the process that led to the proposed merger and
the reasons behind the Board of Directors' unanimous recommendation that
shareholders vote FOR the proposal to adopt the merger agreement. The adoption
of the merger agreement requires the affirmative vote of the holders of at least
two-thirds of the outstanding shares of common stock entitled to vote. A failure
to vote will have the same effect as a vote "AGAINST" the adoption of the merger
agreement. If the merger is not completed, Meridian may be forced to seek
protection under federal bankruptcy laws.

Additional Information Regarding the Merger and Where to Find It

The proposed merger is being submitted to Meridian's shareholders for their
consideration, and Meridian has filed a proxy statement to solicit shareholder
approval of the proposal to adopt the merger agreement, as well as other
relevant documents concerning the proposed merger, with the SEC. Meridian's
shareholders are urged to read the proxy statement regarding the proposed merger
and any other relevant documents filed with the SEC, as well as any amendments
or supplements to those documents, because they contain important information.
You can obtain a free copy of the proxy statement, as well as other filings with
the SEC containing information about Meridian, at the SEC's website at
www.sec.gov. Copies of the proxy statement can also be obtained, without charge,
by directing a request to The Meridian Resource Corporation, Investor Relations,
1401 Enclave Parkway, Suite 300, Houston, Texas 77077 or at Meridian's Investor
Relations page on its corporate website at www.tmrx.com.

If you have additional questions about the merger, need assistance in submitting
your proxy or voting your shares of common stock, or need additional copies of
the proxy statement or the enclosed proxy card, you can also contact The Altman
Group, Inc., our proxy solicitor, toll-free at (877) 864-5052 or call (201)
806-7300 or e-mail questions to TMRinfo@altmangroup.com.

Forward-Looking Statement

Statements identified by the words "expects," "plans," and certain of the other
foregoing statements may be deemed "forward-looking statements." Although
Meridian believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking
statements are reasonable, these statements involve risks and uncertainties
regarding the transactions described that may cause actual future activities and
results to be materially different from those suggested or described in this
press release. Risks and uncertainties regarding the transactions include the
possibility that the closing of the merger does not occur, either due to the
failure of closing conditions, including the approval of the shareholders of
Meridian, rights of the parties to terminate the merger agreement, or other
reasons, risks that the merger disrupts current plans and operations and the
potential difficulties in employee retention as a result of the merger, the
outcome of legal proceedings that have been, or may be, initiated against
Meridian related to the merger and the amount of the costs, fees, expenses and
charges related to the merger. Other risks relating to Meridian are described in
Meridian's documents and reports, available from the U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission, including the report filed on Form 10-K, as amended, for
the year ended December 31, 2008 and any updates to those factors set forth in
our subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, including risks associated with
our default under our credit facility and other lending arrangements.

About Meridian

The Meridian Resource Corporation is an independent oil and natural gas company
that explores for, acquires and develops oil and natural gas properties. Through
its wholly owned subsidiaries, Meridian holds interests primarily in the onshore
oil and natural gas regions of south Louisiana and Texas and offshore in the
Gulf of Mexico.

Click here to join our email alert list:
http://www.b2i.us/irpass.asp?BzID=1440&to=ea&s=0

CONTACT: The Meridian Resource Corporation
Lance L. Weaver
(281) 597-7125
lweaver@tmrx.com
www.tmrc.com