In September 2004, Hurricane Ivan, a full category-4 storm, moved through the U.S. Gulf of Mexico (GOM) with extreme winds and large waves exceeding or matching the 100-year design criteria of the facilities in its path. Of the 4,000 offshore oil and gas facilities and 33,000 miles of pipelines in Federal waters of the GOM, approximately 150 facilities and 10,000 miles of pipelines were in the direct path of Hurricane Ivan. The oil and gas industry submitted numerous damage reports to MMS. The range of damaged facilities included mobile drilling rigs, offshore platforms, producing wells, topside systems including wellheads and production and processing equipment, risers, and pipeline systems that transport oil and gas ashore from offshore facilities. 

The MMS conducted and commissioned
several studies that assessed the actual
wind, wave and current forces that were
present in Hurricane Ivan, analyzed and
assessed the consequential damage to
structures and pipelines, determined the
effectiveness of current design standards
and pollution-prevention systems and developed recommendations for changes to industry standards and MMS regulations.

For more information, please email Sharon
Buffington.

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Last Updated: 08/08/2008, 01:30 PM