Arena Resources Inc. Provides First Quarter 2006 Operations Update; First Quarter 2006 Production Increases 111% Over First Quarter 2005.

TULSA, Okla. -- Arena Resources Inc. (AMEX: ARD) ("Arena" or the "company") today announced its operations update for the first quarter of 2006. During the first quarter, Arena drilled 16 wells on its Fuhrman-Mascho lease, making a total of 52 new wells drilled since securing a rig in mid-April 2005, and re-stimulated 13 existing wells. The company continues to have a 100% success rate on wells drilled and completed on this lease, with flush production ranging from 50 BOEPD (Barrels of Oil Equivalent Per Day) to more than 200 BOEPD. Additionally, the company continued to improve the infrastructure on selected properties and acquired additional acreage in Kansas.

Sales as a result of production for the quarter ended March 31, 2006, were approximately 192,000 BOE, as compared to production of 91,000 BOE for the same quarter in 2005, a 111% increase, and a 12% increase over the 172,000 BOE produced in the fourth quarter of 2005. Average net daily production increased from 1,874 BOEPD in the fourth quarter of 2005 to 2,133 BOEPD. Oil and gas revenues for the first quarter of 2006 are estimated to be $10.4 million, as compared to $3.9 million for the same period in 2005, a 167% increase, and an 11% increase over the $9.36 million generated in the fourth quarter of 2005.

Tim Rochford, president & CEO, stated, "With the delivery of the rig we acquired in December 2005, and a second contract rig, we will for the first time have three rigs drilling at the same time in the Permian Basin. The new contract rig is to drill six development wells on our Seven Rivers Queen Unit and five new wells on our East Hobbs Unit in the second quarter. Our new rig will be added to the contract rig currently drilling on the Fuhrman-Mascho lease, where we expect to drill a total of 20 wells in the second quarter. We continue to add acreage in Kansas where we now have approximately 34,000 acres leased and where we are evaluating a drilling program for the second half of 2006."

First Quarter Operations Update

PERMIAN BASIN:

Fuhrman-Mascho, Andrews County, Texas -- The company drilled 16 new development wells in the first quarter. Fourteen wells have been completed and placed in production and the remaining two are in various stages of completion. Additionally, four development wells which were drilled in the fourth quarter of 2005 were successfully completed and placed in production. The company has now drilled a total of 52 new development wells since initiating its developmental drilling program in mid-April 2005. The company performed a re-frac on 13 wells during the quarter. The company has now re-fraced a total of 35 wells on this lease since initiating its development program. The company is currently taking delivery of the drilling rig it purchased in December 2005, and expects it to be fully operational by early May. With two rigs operating, the company has estimated it will drill 20 new development wells in the second quarter. The company has budgeted to drill 85 new development wells and re-frac 36 existing wells on this property in 2006.

East Hobbs Unit, Lea County, N.M. -- The company converted one existing well into a water injection well, increasing the total number of injection wells to five. Eight additional existing wells are scheduled to be converted to injection wells by year-end 2006. In addition, one development well drilled in the fourth quarter of 2005 was completed and placed in production. The company has scheduled five additional development wells to be drilled in the second quarter of 2006.

Seven Rivers Queen, Lea County, N.M. -- The company has moved a rig in and has scheduled six new development wells to be drilled and six existing wells to be re-stimulated in the second quarter.

TEXAS:

Y-6 Canyon Unit, Fisher County, Texas -- The company has scheduled the conversion of three existing wells into water injection wells in the second quarter. Two additional development wells are scheduled to be drilled by year-end 2006.

OKLAHOMA:

Eva South, Texas County, Okla. -- The company completed and placed in production one development well drilled in the fourth quarter of 2005. One additional development well is scheduled to be drilled in 2006.

KANSAS:

Auntie Em, Haskell County, Kan. -- The company completed and placed in production two development wells drilled in the fourth quarter of 2005. Four additional development wells are scheduled to be drilled prior to year-end 2006. In addition, the company has acquired approximately 9,000 additional acres, making the total acreage on the Auntie Em property more than 13,000 acres.

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.