HOUSTON, March 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Mariner Energy, Inc. (NYSE:ME) announced today that it was the apparent high bidder on ten blocks in the Minerals Management Service (MMS) OCS Oil and Gas Lease Sale 198 held on March 15. Two of the blocks are located in deepwater areas of the Gulf (depths greater than 400 meters). Mariner's net cost exposure for the ten blocks is approximately $18 million. The MMS will evaluate the bids and is expected to give notice of the blocks being awarded in the coming weeks. Mariner Energy, Inc. is an independent oil and gas exploration, development and production company with principal operations in the Gulf of Mexico and the Permian Basin in West Texas. For more information about Mariner, please visit its website at http://www.mariner-energy.com/ . FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This news release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, that address activities that Mariner assumes, plans, expects, believes, projects, estimates or anticipates (and other similar expressions) will, should or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements provided in this press release are based on the current belief of Mariner based on currently available information, as to the outcome and timing of future events. Mariners caution that its future natural gas and liquids production, revenues and expenses and other forward-looking statements are subject to all of the risks and uncertainties normally incident to the exploration for and development and production and sale of oil and gas. These risks include, but are not limited to, price volatility, inflation or lack of availability of goods and services, environmental risks, drilling and other operating risks, regulatory changes, the uncertainty inherent in estimating future oil and gas production or reserves, and other risks as described in the Form S-1 and Form S-4 registration statements as filed by Mariner with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any of these factors could cause the actual results and plans of Mariner to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Investors are urged to read the Form S-1 and Form S-4 registration statements filed by Mariner which contain important information, including detailed risk factors, and other documents filed by Mariner with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These documents are available free of charge at the SEC's website, http://www.sec.gov/, or by directing a request to Mariner Energy, Inc., 2000 West Sam Houston Parkway South, Suite 2000, Houston, TX 77042, Attention: Investor Relations. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any shares of Mariner common stock. DATASOURCE: Mariner Energy, Inc. CONTACT: Rick G. Lester, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Mariner Energy, Inc., +1-713-954-5551 Web site: http://www.mariner-energy.com/

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