DENVER, Feb. 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Venoco, Inc. (NYSE: VQ) announced today that Donna Lucas has been appointed to its board of directors and to the board's corporate governance committee. Ms. Lucas is the founder, CEO and President of Lucas Public Affairs based in Sacramento, California.

"We are pleased to welcome Donna to our board of directors," Tim Marquez, Chairman and CEO of Venoco said. "She brings a wealth of experience in California public affairs along with her business acumen."

Ms. Lucas began Lucas Public Affairs in 2006 after serving as deputy chief of staff for strategic planning and initiatives for California Governor Schwarzenegger and as chief of staff to First Lady Shriver. Prior to that, she was global public affairs leader for Porter Novelli, an international PR firm, after Porter Novelli acquired Nelson Communications Group, where Ms. Lucas served as CEO and president for many years.

"I am very excited about joining Venoco's board and contributing to this dynamic energy company," said Ms. Lucas. "The energy challenges facing the country and California create unique partnership opportunities for Venoco, to which I bring diverse experience."

Ms. Lucas graduated from the University of Southern California, School of Journalism and previously served as deputy press secretary for Governor Deukmejian, and as California press secretary for President George H.W. Bush. She currently serves on the board of the Public Policy Institute of California and on the Governor and First Lady's Conference on Women.

Venoco is an independent energy company primarily engaged in the acquisition, exploitation and development of oil and natural gas properties in California and Texas. Venoco operates three offshore platforms in the Santa Barbara Channel, has non-operated interests in three other platforms, operates four onshore properties in Southern California, has extensive operations in Northern California's Sacramento Basin and operates fifteen fields in Texas.

http://www.venocoinc.com

SOURCE Venoco, Inc.