ARD Ardagh Group SA

Arena Resources, Inc. (NYSE: ARD) (�Company�)(�Arena�) announced effective, May 20, 2008, that Mr. Phil Terry has been appointed to the position of Chief Executive Officer (�CEO�). Mr. Terry has been the President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company since February 1, 2007, and manager of all engineering and field operations since April 2003. Mr. Terry received his Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Oklahoma State University in 1970, and is a registered Professional Petroleum Engineer with over 36 years of oil and gas experience in engineering, production, drilling, completions, reservoir engineering, property evaluations and corporate management in Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Wyoming and Kansas. The Company also announced that Mr. Tim Rochford, co-founder and former CEO of Arena, has accepted the position of Chairman of the Board (�Chairman�), also effective May 20, 2008. Mr. Tim Rochford, Chairman of Arena, stated, �It is with great pleasure and confidence that the board of directors has offered and Phil Terry has accepted the position of Chief Executive Officer. Stan McCabe, former Chairman, and I, as the original co-founders of Arena, could not be more pleased. Phil has demonstrated from day one a complete understanding of what is required in building a young, rapidly growing company. Our growth and success to date is directly related to Phil�s knowledge of the areas where our properties are located, the ongoing strategy for the development of those properties, and because of his personal reputation within the industry, ability to attract experienced, quality personnel. Although I won�t be as active in the day-to-day operations, I intend to be very involved in the continued development and growth of the Company, expansion of strategic industry relationships and the ongoing development of acquisition opportunities.� About Arena Resources, Inc. Arena Resources, Inc. is an oil and gas exploration, development and production company with current operations in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and New Mexico. This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the �safe-harbor� provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve a wide variety of risks and uncertainties, including, without limitations, statements with respect to the Company�s strategy and prospects. Readers and investors are cautioned that the Company�s actual results may differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including, but not limited to, the Company�s ability to acquire productive oil and/or gas properties or to successfully drill and complete oil and/or gas wells on such properties, general economic conditions both domestically and abroad, and the conduct of business by the Company, and other factors that may be more fully described in additional documents set forth by the Company.