METAIRIE, La., March 14, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- The Offshore Oil Scouts Association (OOSA) announced today that 2005 is its 50th Anniversary as an organization. Six major operators formed the association in January 1955, just three short months after the first OCS Gulf of Mexico sale, which was held in October 1954. OOSA is dedicated to providing the most comprehensive well information of the (U.S.) Offshore Gulf of Mexico and surrounding waters to its member companies. The association maintains a Historical Well File of approximately 57,000 wells dating back to the first discovery well drilled in the Gulf by Kerr McGee in Ship Shoal, block 32, OCS-335. The well produced 600 barrels of oil per day, and to date OCS-335 is still an active/producing lease. Presently OOSA's membership consists of 54 Active and five Associate Member companies.
The organization will also be providing a live audio web cast of the upcoming MMS OCS Central Gulf of Mexico Lease Sale 194 and Eastern Gulf of Mexico Lease Sale 197, marking 19 years of broadcasting the offshore sales. The sales will be held on Wednesday, March 16th 2005, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, 500 Poydras Street, New Orleans, Louisiana. The bid reading will begin at 9:00am Central Time. To access the web cast, please log on to www.oosa.com and click on the "Lease Sale" icon. There is no pre-registration required.