Deep Down Awarded Patent for New Subsea J-Plate Design

HOUSTON, March 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Deep Down, Inc. (OTC Bulletin
Board: DPDW) today announced that it has been awarded a patent [number
7,467,662 B2] by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. This new
patent relates generally to undersea wells and more particularly to a method
and apparatus for installing a subsea umbilical.

Traditional installation of an undersea umbilical involves a J-plate on the
termination end of the umbilical which includes center locking mechanisms such
as drive screws, collet connectors or tri-locks, located on the J-plate.
These locking mechanisms are expensive and complicated. In the Company's
continuing quest to provide the offshore industry with quicker, safer and more
cost-efficient solutions, Deep Down has designed a simpler J-plate
installation procedure utilizing a ROV manipulator-held running tool called
the flying-lead-installation-running-tool (FLIRT). The newly patented design
eliminates the damage prone acme screw thread and collet locking mechanisms
and associated complex mechanical override systems of traditional J-plates.
The simpler, easy-to-operate, and highly reliable ROV-enabled locking
mechanism in Deep Down's J-plate yields significant cost savings compared to
traditional designs. The new design has interconnectivity with all
manufacturers of umbilical and subsea distribution systems. This makes subsea
reconfiguration possible without retrieving the flying lead. This is
accomplished by inserting an intermediate plate between the inboard and
outboard J-plates. In addition to significant savings for the cost of the
Company's new J-plates, Deep Down management believes its customers can
experience a reduction in installation time for J-plate connections of up to
50%.

"We believe simpler, more effective engineering designs naturally reduce
component costs, improve useful service-life, and are inherently more reliable
during installation and operation. As we move into deeper water, system
reliability can drop as costs increase exponentially. Our quest for offshore
solutions is driven by the 'simpler-is-better' philosophy," said Ronald E.
Smith, Deep Down's President and CEO. "Demand for our distribution system
product and service solutions has grown tremendously, as our clients recognize
the superior handling characteristics of our flying leads, associated subsea
hardware, and installation equipment used in the delivery of our subsea
solutions. We remain committed to providing the most efficient, cost
effective, and reliable subsea solutions in the industry," Smith concluded.

About Deep Down, Inc.
Deep Down, Inc. is an oilfield services company serving the worldwide offshore
exploration and production industry. Deep Down's proven services and
technological solutions include distribution system installation support and
engineering services, umbilical terminations, loose-tube steel flying leads,
distributed and drill riser buoyancy, ROVs and ROV tooling, as well as marine
vessel automation, control, and ballast systems. Deep Down supports subsea
engineering, installation, commissioning, and maintenance projects through
specialized, highly experienced service teams and engineered technological
solutions. The company's primary focus is on more complex deepwater and
ultra-deepwater oil production distribution system support services and
technologies, used between the platform and the wellhead. Deep Down provides
these services through its four subsidiaries. More information about Deep Down
is available at www.deepdowncorp.com, by contacting the company at (281)
517-5000, or ir@deepdowninc.com.

One of our most important responsibilities is to communicate with shareholders
in an open and direct manner. Comments are based on current management
expectations, and are considered "forward-looking statements," generally
preceded by words such as "plans," "expects," "believes," "anticipates," or
"intends." We cannot promise future returns. Our statements reflect our best
judgment at the time they are issued, and we disclaim any obligation to update
or alter forward-looking statements as the result of new information or future
events. Deep Down urges investors to review the risks and uncertainties
contained within its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

SOURCE Deep Down, Inc.

Steven Haag, Investor Relations of Deep Down, Inc., +1-281-517-5000,
ir@deepdowninc.com