The NewsRoom
Release: #3837
Date: July 23, 2008
Hurricane
Dolly Activity Statistics Update
Minerals
Management Service Monitors Activities through its Continuity of
Operations Plan
NEW
ORLEANS
—
Offshore oil and gas operators in the Gulf of Mexico are evacuating
platforms and rigs in the path of Hurricane 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 62 production platforms, equivalent to 8.6 % 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 8 rigs have also been evacuated;
this is equivalent to 6.5 % 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 4.47 % 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 7.87 % 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 |
48 |
13 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
62 |
Rigs
Evacuated |
6 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
8 |
|
Oil, BOPD
Shut-in |
55,607 |
2,515 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
58,122 |
Gas,
MMCF/D
Shut-in |
592 |
14 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
606 |
This survey information is reflective of 24 companies’ reports as of
11:30 a.m. CST.
Contact:
Eileen Angelico
504-654-7840
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,
01:29 PM
Central Time
|