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OR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Kevin McPherson
(+1-972-952-9371, e-mail kmcpherson@otcnet.org)
RICHARDSON, Texas, U.S.A. (5 May 2002) - The
Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) recognized three agencies on
Wednesday for their part in the "Rigs to Reefs" Program,
a multi-agency project that converted unused offshore rigs into
permanent artificial reefs.
OTC presented a Special Citation to "Rigs
to Reefs" as part of the annual Awards Luncheon at the Reliant
Center in Reliant Park in Houston. Also recognized on Wednesday
were Bruce Collipp (Distinguished Achievement Awards for Individuals)
and ExxonMobil Development Company's Hoover Diana project (Distinguished
Achievement Award for Companies, Organizations, and Institutions).
The Minerals Management Service, the Texas Parks
and Wildlife Commission, and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife
and Fisheries were recognized for their leadership in the recycling
of decommissioned offshore structures into permanent artificial
reefs. The reefs serve as havens for marine life and as destinations
for thousands of divers and fishermen, creating a "positive
impact on the environment in the Gulf of Mexico," said Charlie
Richards, OTC 2002 Chairman. Accepting the Special Citation were
Dana Larson of the Rigs to Reefs Company, Paul Hammerschmidt with
the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission, Rick Kasprzak of the Louisiana
Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, and Johnnie Burton, Executive
Director of the Minerals Management Service.
To date, cooperating oil and gas companies have
donated 49 rigs. In addition to the rigs, these companies have also
donated half their realized savings from leaving the rigs offshore
to the Texas Artificial Reef Fund. These dedicated funds are used
to finance research, administration, maintenance, liability, and
construction of new artificial reefs. The funds also make the Texas
Artificial Reef Program self-sufficient, with no need for taxpayer
dollars.
Founded in 1969, the Offshore
Technology Conference is the world's foremost event for the development
of offshore resources in the fields of drilling, exploration, production
and environmental protection. OTC is held annually in May at Reliant
Center at Reliant Park in Houston. For more information, visit the
OTC 2002 Web site at www.OTCnet.org.
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