Petroleum Structures as Artificial Reefs: A Compendium, released by the Minerals Management Service, is a 176-page compilation of 18 papers and summary comments presented in a special session on Rigs-to-Reefs at the Fourth International Conference on Artificial Habitats for Fisheries held November 2-6, 1987, in Miami, Florida.  These papers provide information on legal, administrative, technical, social, economic, and biological factors associated with planning and converting oil and gas structures to permitted artificial reefs.  Major emphasis is focused on artificial reef development from obsolete petroleum structures in the Gulf of Mexico; however, the report includes a description of marine life and a developing mariculture enterprise from active petroleum structures located offshore California and of emerging efforts to assess the artificial reef potential of oil and gas structures in the North Sea.

Copies of this report can be obtained from the National Technical Service (NTIS) by ordering No. PB 90-114620/AS (paper, A08; microfiche, A01) from the following address: