The NewsRoom
Release: #3859
Date: September 7, 2008
Hurricane Gustav/Hurricane Ike Activity
Statistics Update –
September 7, 2008
Minerals Management Service monitors
activities for both storms through its
Continuity of Operations Plan.
NEW ORLEANS — Offshore oil and gas operators in
the Gulf of Mexico who are re-boarding platforms and rigs and
restoring production following Hurricane Gustav are now starting to
take precautions for Hurricane Ike. The Minerals Management Service
is monitoring activities for both hurricanes through its Continuity
of Operations Plan team. This team will be activated until
operations return to normal.
Based on data from offshore operator reports submitted as of 11:30
a.m. CDT today, personnel have been evacuated from a total of 202
production platforms, equivalent to 28.2 % 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 10 rigs have also been evacuated; this is equivalent
to 8.3 % of the 121 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 79.8
% of the oil production in the Gulf has been shut-in. Estimated
current oil production from the Gulf of Mexico is 1.3 million
barrels of oil per day. It is also estimated that approximately 70.0
% of the natural gas production in the Gulf has been shut-in.
Estimated current natural gas production from the Gulf of Mexico is
7.4 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. CDT each day until these statistics are no longer
significant.
Districts
|
Lake
Jackson |
Lake
Charles |
Lafayette |
Houma |
New
Orleans |
Total |
Platforms
Evacuated |
17 |
33 |
25 |
58 |
69 |
202 |
Rigs
Evacuated |
1 |
1 |
0 |
5 |
3 |
10 |
|
Oil, BOPD
Shut-in |
2,651 |
16,620 |
128,607 |
331,925 |
557,663 |
1,037,466 |
Gas,
MMCF/D
Shut-in |
80 |
284 |
925 |
745 |
3,143 |
5,177 |
This survey information is
reflective of 58 companies’ reports as of 11:30 a.m. CST.
Contact:
Caryl Fagot 504-736-2590 / 504-650-7060
Eileen Angelico
504-654-7840
MMS: Securing Ocean Energy & Economic Value for America
U.S. Department of the Interior
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Last Updated:
09/07/2008,
01:00 PM
Central Time
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