The NewsRoom
Release: #3860
Date: September 8, 2008
Hurricane Gustav/Hurricane Ike Activity
Statistics Update:
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 working to restore production following Hurricane
Gustav have begun preparations for Hurricane Ike. The Minerals
Management Service (MMS) 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 200
production platforms, equivalent to 27.9 % 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 15 rigs have also been evacuated; this is equivalent
to 12.4 % 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 79.4
% of the oil production in the Gulf has been shut-in. As of June
2008, estimated oil production from the Gulf of Mexico was 1.3
million barrels of oil per day. It is also estimated that
approximately 64.2 % of the natural gas production in the Gulf has
been shut-in. As of June 2008, estimated natural gas production from
the Gulf of Mexico was 7.0 billion cubic feet of gas per day. Since
that time, gas production from the Independence Hub facility has
increased and current gas production from the Gulf is estimated at
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 |
16 |
31 |
22 |
50 |
81 |
200 |
Rigs
Evacuated |
1 |
2 |
0 |
7 |
5 |
15 |
|
Oil, BOPD
Shut-in |
676 |
22,044 |
143,698 |
265,186 |
601,008 |
1,032,612 |
Gas,
MMCF/D
Shut-in |
41 |
211 |
813 |
644 |
3039 |
4,748 |
This survey information is
reflective of 62 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:
09/10/2008,
06:16 AM
Central Time
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