THE WOODLANDS, TEXAS – July 15, 2025 – Arena Energy, LLC (“Arena”), a leading independent oil and gas exploration company in the Gulf of America, in partnership with the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, premiered its documentary, Steel to Sanctuary: The Rigs to Reef Story, on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, at the historic Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in Washington, D.C. The event and film showcased the environmental and ecological benefits of converting decommissioned offshore oil platforms into artificial reefs.

Steel to Sanctuary: The Rigs to Reef Story explores the Rigs to Reefs program, created by the National Fishing Enhancement Act of 1984. Under this program, over 600 offshore platforms have been converted into artificial reefs in the Gulf of America, creating thriving marine sanctuaries. The film features underwater footage of the thriving marine sanctuaries and includes interviews with marine biologists, environmentalists, anglers, and policymakers from both sides of the aisle. The film underscores the urgent need for policy changes needed to ensure that the dwindling decommissioned oil platforms, once symbols of industrial activity, become thriving ecosystems that support diverse marine life, from coral formations to fish populations, contributing to both environmental preservation and sustainable fisheries.

“We were thrilled to partner with the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation to share this story in the nation’s capital,” said Mike Vallejo, CFO of Arena Energy. “The Rigs to Reef program is sustainability in action. We celebrate the collaborative efforts of industry, government, environmental groups, and conservation organizations like the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation to create a positive impact on marine ecosystems. The Rigs to Reefs program exemplifies how innovation and environmental stewardship can go hand in hand.”

Attendees heard from speakers, including Taylor Schmitz from the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, Congressman Mike Ezell, Representative Bruce Westerman, and Arena Energy President Mike Vallejo, who emphasized the importance of collaborative conservation efforts and the Rigs to Reefs program’s impact on marine ecosystems. The evening concluded with a powerful call to action from Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, who urged attendees to “tell your friends and your neighbors and anyone you can touch through social media that if you really care about the environment, what Mike Ezell and Bruce Westerman are going to do in congress will reshape fishing in America and in the Gulf Of America.”

For more information or to watch the film, visit www.rigstoreef.com.

About Arena Energy

Arena Energy, founded in 1999 and based in The Woodlands, Texas, is a privately held company specializing in lower-risk drilling opportunities in the Gulf of America. Through its participation in the Rigs to Reefs program, Arena contributed to the creation of over 500 artificial reefs, transforming decommissioned platforms into sanctuaries for marine life. For more information, visit www.arenaenergy.com.

Contact Information:
Kevin Bruce 
Vice President – Government Affairs 
kbruce@arenaoffshore.com 
281-210-0536