HOUSTON, September 26, 2005 – Swift Energy Company (NYSE: SFY) announced today that its Toledo Bend Area was shut-in on Friday September 23, 2005, during the approach of Hurricane Rita. The Toledo Bend area consists of the Brookeland Field located in East Texas in Jasper and Newton Counties, and the Masters Creek Field located across the Sabine River in western Louisiana parishes of Rapides and Vernon. Due to regional hurricane damage, communications and logistics problems, inspections of Swift Energy properties by field personnel have been hampered. Combined production from the Toledo Bend area was approximately 15 million cubic feet per day for the two weeks immediately prior to Hurricane Rita.

Swift Energy will be assessing any damages in these fields as well as in its coastal Louisiana fields including Lake Washington in Plaquemines Parish, Bay de Chene in Jefferson and Lafourche Parishes, and Cote Blanche Island in St. Mary’s Parish, all of which were also shut-in as previously announced and remain shut-in. While no estimate can be made of the status of these fields at this time, the Company expects to begin receiving detailed information over the next several days. Approximately 55% to 60% of Swift Energy’s total production is shut-in.

The Company’s headquarters in Houston, Texas did not sustain any damage and are open for business on a limited basis under request of Houston government officials and pending the return of some personnel who evacuated while Hurricane Rita was threatening the area.

Swift Energy Company, founded in 1979 and headquartered in Houston, engages in developing, exploring, acquiring and operating oil and gas properties, with a focus on onshore and inland waters oil and natural gas reserves in Louisiana and Texas and oil and natural gas reserves in New Zealand. Over the Company’s 25-year history, Swift Energy has consistently shown long-term growth in its proved oil and gas reserves, production and cash flow through a disciplined program of acquisitions and drilling, while maintaining a strong financial position.

This material includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The opinions, forecasts, projections, or other statements other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to have been correct. Certain risks and uncertainties inherent in the Company’s business are set forth in the filings of the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission.