<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-24
<SEQUENCE>3
<FILENAME>gaut.txt
<DESCRIPTION>POWER OF ATTORNEY EXECUTED BY C. CHRISTOPHER GAUT
<TEXT>
                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


         KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE  PRESENTS,  that I, the  undersigned,  do  hereby
constitute and appoint  Margaret E. Carriere,  Bruce A. Metzinger and Michael A.
Weberpal, or any of them acting alone, my true and lawful  attorneys-in-fact and
agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution,  to prepare and sign
for me, and in my name, place and stead, in any and all capacities,  any and all
reports  as may  from  time to time  be  required  under  Section  16(a)  of the
Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,  as amended,  and the rules,  regulations  and
requirements of the Securities and Exchange  Commission in respect thereof,  and
to file the same with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said
attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do and perform each and
every act and thing  requisite and necessary to be done (with full power to each
of them to act alone),  as fully and to all  intents and  purposes as I might or
could  do  in  person,   hereby   ratifying   and   confirming   all  that  said
attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or their substitutes,  may lawfully
do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
         This Power of  Attorney  shall  remain in full  force and effect  until
revoked by me in writing.
         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I hereto set my hand this 5th day of January, 2004.

                                          /s/ C. Christopher Gaut
                                          -----------------------
                                              C. Christopher Gaut

</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
