Arena Offshore Partners With FAA to Expand Coverage in the Gulf of Mexico

THE WOODLANDS, TEXAS, April 13, 2022 — Arena Offshore (“Arena”), a leading offshore oil and gas operator focused on the Gulf of Mexico Shelf and the exclusive operator for Arena Energy, LLC, today announced a partnership with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to utilize two of the company’s platforms to house equipment that will provide critical weather and flight data to the Houston Air Route Traffic Control Center.

Through this partnership, the FAA recently installed Automatic Dependent Surveillance– Broadcast technology, a Remote Communications Air/Ground facility, and an Automated Weather Observation System at Arena Offshore’s platforms located at Eugene Island 251A and Galveston 209. The equipment will help the FAA provide air traffic controllers with accurate real-time position information on aircraft flying over the Gulf.

The FAA also installed VHF air/ground communications equipment and Automated Weather Observation System (AWOS) – critical equipment for aviation safety – on the platform. AWOS increases situational awareness of takeoff and landing while providing real-time weather information to pilots.

In a letter of appreciation to Arena, Rana Obeid, the FAA’s Project Lead for the Gulf of Mexico, said, “These efforts result in expanded aviation weather reporting services that fill a significant gap in coverage in the western and central coastal regions. It also increases coverage and reliability of surveillance and VHF communications in a dense helicopter traffic area in the Gulf. These aviation enhancements will greatly benefit the Gulf oil and gas community, high-altitude aircraft, countless passengers as well as the National Weather Service.”

“Arena’s longstanding commitment to the FAA’s Aviation Safety Program serves as a model of outstanding government-industry collaboration. We are deeply indebted to Arena,” Obeid added. “Arena is a proud member of the Gulf of Mexico oil and gas community, and we’re honored to help the FAA expand its aviation and weather reporting services to fill a significant gap. We look forward to this continued partnership and for future opportunities to work with the FAA in strengthening America’s world-class aviation industry,” Arena Offshore Co-Founder and CEO Mike Minarovic said. 

About Arena Offshore
Arena Offshore is an oil and gas operator offering production, drilling, and construction management services focused on executing development opportunities on the Gulf of Mexico Shelf. Arena Offshore is the exclusive operator for Arena Energy as well as a preferred operator for a range of E&P companies—including some of the Gulf’s largest. Our highly skilled offshore production operations and engineering teams rank among the best in this world-class basin and have established a strong track record of efficiency and safety. 

About Arena Energy
Arena Energy, LLC is an upstream exploration and production company focused on the Gulf of Mexico Shelf. Arena Energy was founded in 1999 on the belief that mature producing areas of the Gulf of Mexico Shelf still held vast potential—and that with the right technology, talented oil and gas finders could unlock these drilling opportunities. Today, that vision has been realized many times over. Since its founding, Arena has grown into one of the largest private offshore oil and natural gas companies, having invested more than $4 billion of capital in the Gulf of Mexico, paid $1.4 billion in royalties to the federal government, and decommissioned over 300 wells and 45 platforms and other structures. Arena takes pride in safely and responsibly developing the energy that powers the United States and the world.

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