Tropical Storm Dolly Activity
Statistics Update
MMS Activates its Continuity of Operations Plan to Monitor Activities
NEW ORLEANS —
Offshore oil and gas operators in the Gulf of Mexico are evacuating
platforms and rigs in the path of Tropical Storm Dolly. The Minerals
Management Service has activated its Continuity of Operations Plan
team to monitor the operators’ activities. This team will be activated
until operations return to normal and the storm is no longer a threat
to the Gulf of Mexico oil and gas activities.
Based on data from offshore operator
reports submitted as of 11:30 a.m. CST today, personnel have been
evacuated from a total of 4 production platforms, equivalent to 0.6 %
of the 717 manned platforms in the Gulf of Mexico. Production
platforms are the structures located offshore from which oil and
natural gas are produced. These structures remain in the same location
throughout a project’s duration unlike drilling rigs which typically
move from location to location.
Personnel from 1 rig have also been
evacuated; this is equivalent to 0.8 % of the 123 rigs currently
operating in the Gulf. Rigs can include several types of
self-contained offshore drilling facilities including jackups,
submersibles and semisubmersibles.
From the operators’ reports, it is
estimated that approximately 0 % of the oil production in the Gulf has
been shut-in. Estimated oil production from the Gulf of Mexico as of
January 2008 was 1.3 million barrels of oil per day. It is also
estimated that approximately 0 % of the natural gas production in the
Gulf has been shut-in. Estimated natural gas production from the Gulf
of Mexico as of January 2008 was 7.7 billion cubic feet of gas per
day.
As part of the evacuation process,
personnel activate the shut-in procedure, which can also be
accomplished from a remote location. This involves closing the safety
valves located below the surface of the ocean to prevent the release
of oil or gas. During Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the shut-in valves
functioned 100 percent of the time, efficiently closing in production
from wells and resulting in no major spills from the Outer Continental
Shelf. Shutting-in oil and gas production is a standard procedure
conducted by industry for safety and environmental reasons.
The production percentages are
calculated using information submitted by offshore operators in daily
reports. Shut-in production information included in these reports is
based on what the operator expected to produce that day. The shut-in
production figures therefore are estimates, which the MMS compares to
historical production reports to ensure the estimates follow a logical
pattern.
After the hurricane has passed,
facilities will be inspected. Once all standard checks have been
completed, production from undamaged facilities will be brought back
on line immediately. Facilities sustaining damage may take longer to
bring back on line. The MMS will continue to update the evacuation and
shut-in statistics at 1:00 p.m. CST each day until these statistics
are no longer significant.
Districts |
Lake
Jackson |
Lake
Charles |
Lafayette |
Houma |
New
Orleans |
Total |
Platforms
Evacuated |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
Rigs
Evacuated |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Oil, BOPD
Shut-in |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Gas, MMCF/D
Shut-in |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
This survey information is reflective of 2
companies’ reports as of 11:30 a.m. CST.
Contact:
Eileen Angelico
504-736-2595
Caryl Fagot
504-736-2590
MMS: Securing Ocean Energy & Economic Value for America
U.S. Department of the Interior
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Last Updated:
07/23/2008,
01:17 PM
Central Time