Sep. 21, 2009 (PR Newswire) -- NEW ORLEANS, Sept. 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Energy Partners, Ltd. ("EPL" or, the "Company") (Pink Sheets: ERPLQ) (NYSE: EPL) today announced that, in connection with the Company's emergence from bankruptcy, five individuals have been appointed to serve as the Company's Board of Directors, effective immediately. In addition, the Board has named Gary C. Hanna as EPL's Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately.

As outlined in the Company's Second Amended Joint Plan of Reorganization as modified as of September 16, 2009, filed with the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, the Board members were designated by the new equity owners of EPL. The Board is comprised of Messrs. Charles O. Buckner, Scott A. Griffiths, Marc McCarthy, Steven J. Pully and John F. Schwarz. Biographies for the Board members and for Mr. Hanna are included below.

"I speak for the entire Board when I express my excitement about joining the team at Energy Partners," said Mr. McCarthy, the new Chairman of EPL's Board of Directors. "I am confident in EPL's bright future and the Board and management team are looking forward to working to make it even stronger. We are also pleased to welcome Gary to the Company and believe he is an excellent addition to EPL. Gary is well respected in the industry and his proven and versatile leadership skills make him well-suited to lead EPL."

"I am very pleased to be joining EPL as we begin this new chapter," said Gary C. Hanna, Chief Executive Officer. "I believe that the Company's improved capital structure and enhanced financial flexibility positions us well within our industry. EPL's strong management team and dedicated employees provide a solid platform for future growth, and I look forward to working closely with them to achieve that goal."

Biographies

Gary C. Hanna - Chief Executive Officer Mr. Hanna has nearly 30 years of executive experience in the energy sector. From 2008 to 2009, Mr. Hanna served as President and Chief Executive Officer for Admiral Energy Services, a startup company focused on the development of offshore energy services. Mr. Hanna served in various capacities at an international oil and gas services production company, Tetra Technologies, Inc., from 1999 to 2007. At Tetra, Mr. Hanna served in the role of Senior Vice President. Mr. Hanna also served as President and Chief Executive Officer for Tetra's affiliate, Maritech Resources, Inc., and President of Tetra Applied Technologies, Inc., another Tetra affiliate. From 1996 to 1998, Mr. Hanna served as the President and Chief Executive Officer for Gulfport Energy Corporation, a public oil and gas exploration company. From 1995 to 1998, he served as the Chief Operations Officer for DLB Oil & Gas, Inc., a mid-continent exploration public company. From 1982 to 1995, Mr. Hanna served as President and CEO of Hanna Oil Properties, Inc., a company engaged in the development of mid-continent oil and gas prospects. Mr. Hanna holds a B.B.A. in Economics from the University of Oklahoma.

Charles O. Buckner - Director Mr. Buckner is a private investor, retired from the public accounting firm of Ernst & Young LLP in 2002 after 35 years of service in a variety of client service and administrative roles, including chairmanship of Ernst & Young's United States energy practice. Mr.