Ridgewood energy NAMES FRANK LAWATSCH,

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF LEGAL AFFAIRS

Renowned advisor in securities and financial services law joins leadership team

MONTVALE, NEW JERSEY (May 17, 2010) – Ridgewood Energy (http://www.ridgewoodenergy.com), a leading energy private equity firm, today announced the appointment of Frank Lawatsch, Jr. as executive vice president of legal affairs. Lawatsch will be responsible for overseeing legal matters associated with the offering and management of Ridgewood Energy’s investment funds. He brings with him more than 35 years experience as a senior corporate lawyer and business advisor to the securities and financial services industries.

“We recruited Frank, in large part, because of his robust prior experience as a senior manager within the financial services industry,” said Bob Swanson, Ridgewood Energy founder and CEO. “Frank is a great asset to our legal department and brings valuable strategic thinking to our team as we expand our business and pursue exciting new growth opportunities presented by the current energy market environment.”

Lawatsch comes to Ridgewood Energy after 9 years with Day Pitney LLP where he is a senior partner. Prior to that time, Lawatsch served as managing director, general counsel and secretary to the National Discount Brokers Group, Inc. (NSE: NDB), which was then acquired by Deutsche Bank AG, where he was managing director and senior counsel. Lawatsch also was general counsel for Midlantic Corporation and PNC Financial Services Group.

“I am excited to be a part of the talented Ridgewood Energy team and look forward to serving the firm’s existing client base,” said Frank Lawatsch. “We will also actively seek new opportunities to position the firm’s portfolio with new investors in Ridgewood Energy oil and gas investments.”

A resident of Montclair, New Jersey, Lawatsch will be based out of Ridgewood Energy’s new Montvale, New Jersey office. He holds a B.A. from Colgate University and a J.D. from Cornell Law School.

About Ridgewood Energy

Ridgewood Energy Corporation (http://www.ridgewoodenergy.com), founded in 1982, manages private equity funds for high net-worth individual and institutional investors that invest in major oil and gas projects in the U.S. waters of the Gulf of Mexico in partnership with industry leading energy companies, such as Newfield Exploration, Apache Corp., Chevron, BHP Billiton, LLOG Exploration, Devon Energy, Deep Gulf Energy and Walter Oil and Gas.  Ridgewood Energy and its joint venture partners seek to develop and produce significant new oil and gas reserves in projects with multi-billion dollar revenue potential.

Ridgewood Energy is part of the Ridgewood Companies, along with Ridgewood Capital and Ridgewood Renewable Power. Ridgewood Capital manages funds that invest in early to late stage technology companies, with a focus on energy and “green” technologies.  Ridgewood Renewable Power invests in, develops and operates renewable power facilities in the United States.