HOUSTON In
preparation for Hurricane Season 2008, which begins June 1, the U.S.
Department of the Interior’s Minerals Management Service (MMS) today
discussed actions to reduce risk of severe damage to oil and gas
infrastructure in the Gulf of Mexico in the event of hurricanes this
season. Key goals of the preparations are to enhance the nation’s
energy security, provide environmental protection, and continue the
emphasis on personnel safety.
MMS officials participated in a media
forum with representatives from the U.S. Coast Guard and the American
Petroleum Institute (API), to discuss new final rules regarding
enhanced information on hurricane conditions and the design of
offshore structures. Officials also provided updates on the continued
recovery efforts from the 2005 Hurricane Season.
"Energy production from the Gulf is
vital to our Nation’s energy supply, and it’s imperative that MMS
continues our strong emphasis on preparations to reduce the risk of an
extended disruption of energy production from the Gulf," said MMS
Deputy Director Walter Cruickshank. "By working with all involved
parties, including the U.S. Coast Guard, the API, and the oil and gas
industry, MMS remains steadfast in our goal to improve the protection
of oil and gas production in the Gulf from disruptions during this
hurricane season."
Building on improvements made prior to
the 2007 hurricane season, such as new guidance documents focusing on
enhanced design standards and a Web site dedicated to hurricane
information, MMS incorporated three API bulletins containing the
enhanced design standards as well as assessment criteria for both new
and existing structures in the Gulf of Mexico into a final rule that
becomes effective today, May 15, 2008. The new criteria will increase
platform survivability during hurricane conditions and result in fewer
damaged platforms.
"Incorporating these new criteria into
the final rule will improve the protection of critical oil and gas
infrastructure and allow oil and gas operators to restore production
sooner following an hurricane event," explained Cruickshank.
The 2005 hurricane season saw a depth
and breadth of destruction and disruption in the waters of the Gulf of
Mexico unlike ever experienced before. Two major hurricanes,
Katrina and Rita, sliced through the heart of the offshore oil and gas
activity, damaging about 75 percent of the offshore facilities with
hurricane force winds. In spite of the destruction there were no
significant oil spills from wells, no evidence that oil from OCS
facilities reached shore or impacted birds or mammals, and, perhaps
most important, all offshore personnel were evacuated safely. That success resulted from extensive planning and preparation overseen
by MMS and implemented by the oil and gas industry. The aim is to
further improve that performance this year.
Relevant Web Site:
Hurricane Season 2008
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:
06/05/2008,
08:04 AM
Central Time