**Exhibit 31.1**

 

Certification of Principal Executive Officer

Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) of theSecurities Exchange Act of 1934

 

I, Michael J. Mauceli, certifythat:

 

1.     I have reviewed this AnnualReport on Form 10-K of Reef Global Energy VII, L.P. for the fiscal yearended December 31, 2008;

 

2.     Based on my knowledge, thisannual report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omitto state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of thecircumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading withrespect to the period covered by this report;

 

3.     Based on my knowledge, thefinancial statements, and other financial information included in this report,fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results ofoperations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periodspresented in this report;

 

4.     The registrant’s othercertifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing andmaintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and15d-15(e)), and internal control over financial reporting (as defined inExchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) for the registrantand have:

 

a)     Designed such disclosurecontrols and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures tobe designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relatingto the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to usby others within those entities, particularly during the period in which thisreport is being prepared;

 

b)    Designed such internal controlover financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financialreporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assuranceregarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation offinancial statements for external purposes in accordance with generallyaccepted accounting principles;

 

c)     Evaluated the effectivenessof the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in thisreport our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls andprocedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on suchevaluation; and

 

d)    Disclosed in this report anychange in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting thatoccurred during the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter that has materiallyaffected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’sinternal control over financial reporting.

 

5.     The registrant’s other certifyingofficer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internalcontrol over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the auditcommittee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing theequivalent functions):

 

a)     All significant deficienciesand material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control overfinancial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect theregistrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information;and

 

b)    Any fraud, whether or notmaterial, that involves management or other employees who have a significantrole in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

 
| Date: April 15, 2009 |   | By: Reef Oil & Gas Partners, L.P.    |
|---------------------------|--------|-----------------------------------------------|
|                      |   | Managing General Partner                      |
|                      |   |                                          |
|                      |   | By: Reef Oil & Gas Partners, GP, LLC |
|                      |   | By:                                           | /s/ Michael J. Mauceli |
|                      |   | Michael J. Mauceli                            |
|                      |   | Manager and Member                            |
|                      |   | (principal executive officer)                 |

 

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