Each year since 2004, the editors of Oil and Gas Investor have been pleased to recognize outstanding individuals and companies that have had a significant impact on company results, the community in which they work, or indeed, the entire industry. Nominations are submitted by our readers. Here, we honor our winners for their 2011 activities. It was a year in which crude oil prices soared and U.S. production rose dramatically, while natural gas prices tanked on the back of a gas surplus. The Mississippi Lime and new Permian Basin plays came to the fore, and in Ohio, the Utica shale joined other unconventional plays in creating excitement among E&P companies and investors. Talk grew of exporting liquefied natural gas (LNG), and even the petrochemical and manufacturing industries took notice of America's new surplus of energy.

First, we are pleased to recognize as Executive of the Year Tom L. Ward, chairman and chief executive of Sand Ridge Energy Inc. Under Ward's leadership, the Oklahoma City company has grown significantly while leading the Mississippi Lime play in Oklahoma, one of the highest-return oil and liquids plays in the U.S. In addition, the company has taken public three royalty trusts (two based on Mississippian production), and created two joint ventures, one with Repsol and one with Atinum Partners, to fund more drilling.

Best Discovery goes to Chesapeake Energy Corp. for opening the Utica shale play in Ohio. In July 2011, Chesapeake unveiled its significant Utica presence. Good well results and a joint venture with Total have followed. Although it is still early days in this promising play—about 70 horizontal wells have been drilled so far by the industry—several majors and large independents have been leasing and drilling. The play compares favorably to the Eagle Ford shale and will revitalize Ohio's economy.

M&A Deal of the Year is awarded to Petrohawk Energy Corp. for its sale to BHP Billiton Petroleum Ltd. for $15 billion. This spectacular exit capped "the Hawk's" seven-year run of savvy acquisitions, drilling and portfolio June 2012 OilandGasInvestor.com ? management focused on emerging shale plays such as the Haynesville and Eagle Ford. This transaction gave BHP 3.4 trillion cubic feet equivalent of proved reserves, vaulting BHP into the ranks of the largest shale players.

Our annual Financing of the Year award goes to Kodiak Oil & Gas Corp. The Denver company issued common stock and senior notes during 2011, enabling it to make a nearly $1-billion acquisition in the Bakken shale. This doubled the size of the company, creating double-digit production growth, and positioned it for further growth.

The Best Field Rejuvenation award could be given to most onshore plays these days, but let's not forget the opportunities offshore. The award goes to Energy XXI for its work in nine fields in the shallow-water Gulf of Mexico. It acquired these assets for $1 billion from ExxonMobil in late 2010. Throughout 2011, via workovers and new drilling, it steadily increased production and has uncovered many more prospects to drill. This has vaulted Energy XXI to third place among the top oil producers on the Gulf of Mexico shelf, with interests in seven of the top 11 oilfields.

Apache Corp. is our Corporate Citizen of the Year, for its many community and sustainability programs under way around the globe. In particular, we recognize the Apache Foundation's Trees campaign. Since 2005, Apache has donated more than 2 million trees to 218 nonprofit and community groups in 14 states. Its goal is to give away 3 million. Most recently, Apache joined with the Memorial Park Conservancy in Houston to fast-forward a 2010 plan to plant thousands of trees in the largest park in Houston, which was devastated by a 100-year drought in 2011.

The Turnaround of the Year winner is Saratoga Resources Inc. After emerging from Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2010 (paying 100 cents on the dollar owed), Saratoga, under chairman and chief executive Thomas Cooke, has regained momentum. Its stock has risen to nearly $7 from about $2, increasing the market cap tenfold since emerging from bankruptcy. Production reached a new high of 4,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day, all in Louisiana state waters. Shareholders' equity rose impressively to $42 million at year-end 2011, up from a deficit of $4.1 million in December 2010. Also, the company has successfully tapped the capital markets, raising $35 million of common stock and warrants, and $127.5 million in senior secured notes.