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<TYPE>EX-99
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<FILENAME>ex99_30form40-f.txt
<DESCRIPTION>EXHIBIT 99.30
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                                                                   EXHIBIT 99.30
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[LOGO - VERMILION ENERGY TRUST]



                                  PRESS RELEASE
     VERMILION ENERGY TRUST ANNOUNCES ACQUISITION OF NETHERLANDS PRODUCTION
                                FEBRUARY 19, 2004


Vermilion Energy Trust ("Vermilion" or the "Trust") (TSX-VET.UN) announced today
the signing of an agreement to purchase 5,900 boe/d of production, 14.3 mmboe of
proven (P90) reserves and 17.4 mmboe of proven plus probable (P50) reserves in
the Netherlands by its wholly-owned subsidiary, Vermilion Oil & Gas Netherlands
B.V. ("Vermilion Netherlands") for (a)48.3 million (Cdn$80.5 million) effective
January 1, 2004. The transaction is subject to normal government and regulatory
approvals and is expected to close on or before May 1, 2004. Standard purchase
adjustments to be made at closing (cash flow received by the vendor over the
first four months of 2004 net of interest on the purchase price) are estimated
to be Cdn$12 million in favour of Vermilion. These properties are expected to
generate incremental cash flow to Vermilion of approximately Cdn$25 million for
the last eight months of 2004.

Acquisition Highlights

Vermilion is acquiring production at Cdn$13,644 per flowing barrel, Cdn$5.62 per
boe of proven (P90) reserves and Cdn$4.63 per boe of proven plus probable (P50)
reserves. Gilbert Laustsen Jung Associates Ltd., independent petroleum
engineering consultants of Calgary, evaluated the reserves using new NI 51-101
standards. The estimated reserve life index (P50) of these properties is over
eight years. On a combined basis with Vermilion's existing reserves effective
January 1, 2004, the reserve life index of the Trust is 10.5 years (P50). The
proposed transaction will increase the Trust's reserves per unit by more than
20% and will increase 2004 cash flow per unit basis by approximately 20%. The
transaction will be financed entirely through Vermilion's existing credit
facility. Following the acquisition, Vermilion's debt will total approximately
Cdn$210 million or less than 1.5 times annualized cash flow.

Benefits to Unitholders

The transaction will replace over two times the volumes produced by the Trust in
2003 and will increase Vermilion's 2004 production base after the transaction
closes by more than 25%. The Trust's gas production will climb from 42% to 57%
of total production and the deal will provide significant exposure to European
gas markets. Vermilion believes the transaction will enhance the Trust's ability
to deliver stable distributions to unit holders, while further strengthening the
asset base.

Property Description

The acquisition includes seven production licences with working interests
ranging from 42% to 93%, all of which will be operated by Vermilion Netherlands;
three state-of-the-art processing facilities with an extensive gas gathering
system; and a shallow, near-shore production platform. The Netherlands
properties are expected to produce a net 35 mmcf/d of sales gas from 50
producing wells with an average estimated decline rate of 15%. The primary
producing horizons include the Cretaceous and Permian reservoirs, with well
depths ranging from 1,900 to 2,300 metres. These licenses cover over 445,000
acres and include a number of exploration and development prospects. Most of the
lands are covered by 3D seismic. As part of the transaction, Vermilion has
agreed to participate in the drilling of an offshore well if the well receives
regulatory approval. This delineation well is testing a separate structure
adjacent to the Zuidwal gas field.


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Gas Marketing Arrangements

The natural gas produced from the acquired properties is contracted for the life
of the reserves to a domestic distributor. Gas pricing is energy based,
referenced off alternate fuel sources. The expected price range for this gas in
2004 is between Cdn$5.00 and Cdn$5.50 per mcf.

Attractive Netbacks

For 2004, market prices for this gas are budgeted to average over Cdn$5.00 per
mcf. No royalties are payable on this production and direct operating costs
associated with the assets are projected to be approximately Cdn$6.50 per boe in
2004. Vermilion anticipates that the effective income tax rate will be
approximately 15% over the life of the assets. The operating netback is budgeted
at Cdn$23.70 per boe. Cash taxes for 2004 are expected to be Cdn$3.90/boe while
general administrative costs will be in the order of Cdn$1.20/boe.

A comparison of the budgeted 2004 netbacks for the Trust's operations in Canada,
France and the Netherlands is shown below. Based on the pricing assumptions
shown, this comparison illustrates the attractive netbacks in the Netherlands
relative to our existing operations.

                                     CANADA          FRANCE        NETHERLANDS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Revenue, Cdn$/boe                    $31.51          $27.93             $30.20
Royalties                            $(8.37)         $(4.37)            $(0.00)
Operating costs                      $(5.81)         $(7.18)            $(6.50)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating Netback                    $17.33          $16.38             $23.70
G&A                                  $(1.86)         $(0.63)            $(1.20)
Taxes                                $(0.17)         $(1.93)            $(3.90)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash Flow (After Tax)                $15.30          $13.82             $18.60

Commodity Price and              Oil: WTI, US$26.50/bbl     Brent, US$25.00/bbl
                                 Gas: AECO, Cdn$5.00/mcf
Foreign Exchange Assumptions     CAD/US $0.75               CAD/(a)$0.64

Organizational Structure

Vermilion Netherlands plans to set up a regional office at its Harlingen,
Netherlands facility with a full complement of in-country employees to manage
its new operations. To ensure a smooth transfer of operations, Vermilion
Netherlands has also entered into a transitional arrangement with the vendor.
The Company expects to assume full control of activities prior to year-end.

Strategic Pursuit of Value

The proposed acquisition will expand the Trust's opportunity base in Western
Europe, reinforcing Vermilion's vision to be recognized as the premier Canadian
based international energy trust. The transaction also reflects Vermilion's
continuous efforts to add high quality properties at a reasonable cost.
Vermilion Netherlands will assume full operatorship of these properties,
consistent with the Trust's stated objectives, which will facilitate the control
of capital and operating costs. The Trust believes it will be able to minimize
production decline from these properties through the use of production
optimization efforts and, longer term, through future drilling. The proposed
acquisition of these high quality, high netback assets at an attractive price
demonstrates the advantage of Vermilion's commitment to a geographically
diverse, value-driven approach. The transaction will further enhance our role as
a competitive producer in Western Europe. Following this transaction, 45% of
Vermilion's production will be sourced from European operations with the balance
in Western Canada.


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Vermilion is an international energy trust that benefits from geographically
diverse production. The Trust also holds a 72.2% interest in Aventura Energy
Inc., a Trinidad-based operation. The Trust's objective is to deliver stable
distributions and maintain a strong balance sheet while reinvesting capital to
maximize production and asset value for unitholders.

For further information contact:

Lorenzo Donadeo, President & CEO
Curtis W. Hicks, VP Finance & CFO
or Paul Beique, Director, Investor Relations
2800, 400 - 4th Avenue S.W.
Calgary, Alberta  T2P 0J4
Phone:   (403) 269-4884
Fax:     (403) 264-6306
IR Toll Free:  1-866-895-8101
info@vermilionenergy.com
www.vermilionenergy.com


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