ATP Oil & Gas Corporation (NASDAQ:ATPG) announced that on September 30,
2009 it donated its Vermilion 318 “A” platform jacket to the Louisiana
Artificial Reef Program (Rigs-to-Reefs) for the creation of a new
artificial reef in the Gulf of Mexico in South Marsh Island 133. This
new reef structure is located in 204 feet of water to provide feeding
and living marine habitat for thousands of underwater species. In
addition to the donation of the platform jacket structure, ATP donated
$415,200 into the Louisiana Artificial Reef Trust Fund to provide for
research, development and management of artificial reefs.
Minerals Management Service’s (MMS) diving scientists have observed that
invertebrates and plants attach to petroleum platforms within weeks of
their initial placement in the marine environment. Within a year, the
platform can be completely covered with plants and sessile
invertebrates, attracting mobile invertebrates and fish species, and
forming a highly complex food chain. The openness of a platform
structure allows for water circulation and easy mobility for fish inside
the structure where it attracts not only bottom dwelling fish, but also
mid- to top-water dwellers.
T. Paul Bulmahn, Chairman and CEO of ATP, said, “The Rigs-to-Reef
program benefits both the industry and the environment. The industry
saves towing and demolition dollars, and a very real beneficiary is the
marine life that utilizes the structures for their new homes. This is
the first platform that ATP has donated to the Rigs-to-Reef program. For
2009 ATP has been the Premier Sponsor of the National Wildlife Refuge
Photography Contest. This latest donation continues to demonstrate our
support for our environment.” The Louisiana Artificial Reef Program was
established in 1986 to take advantage of retired oil and gas platforms
which were recognized as providing marine habitat important to many of
Louisiana’s coastal fisheries.
About ATP Oil & Gas Corporation
ATP Oil & Gas is an international offshore oil and gas development and
production company with operations in the Gulf of Mexico and the North
Sea. The company trades publicly as ATPG on the NASDAQ Global Select
Market. For more information about ATP Oil & Gas Corporation, visit www.atpog.com.
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