FOR RELEASE:  January 27, 1994             CONTACT:   Dena Winham
                                                   (805) 389-7520

          MMS RELEASES PRELIMINARY OFFSHORE DAMAGE ASSESSMENT
                      FROM NORTHRIDGE EARTHQUAKE (#40004)


      The Interior Department's Minerals Management Service (MMS)
today released a preliminary, post-earthquake seismic damage
assessment of natural gas and oil facilities in federal waters
offshore southern and central California.  Despite severe damage
onshore, the report shows no structural harm or significant oil
spills from the network of offshore installations.

      Preliminary MMS damage assessments from the January 17
Northridge earthquake found that the 23 platforms located in
federal waters offshore California sustained the earthquake with
no structural damage.

      "The offshore safety standards regulated by the MMS were
designed for natural seismic occurrences,"  said MMS Director Tom
Fry.  "Safety systems on platforms offshore Los Angeles and
Ventura Counties were activated once seismic activity started on
the morning of January 17 and production operations were
suspended without major incident."

      Following the quake, MMS inspectors conducted aerial
inspections of all offshore pipelines and surveyed the structural
and operational integrity of offshore facilities during onsite
platform inspections.  Further seismic-related monitoring of
offshore facilities will continue as a component of the MMS
offshore inspection program.       
                    
      MMS issued a directive to all offshore leasees and
operators requiring formal inspection and damage assessment of
all platforms,  pipelines and related structures in federal
waters.  Formal reports on survey findings are due to the MMS for
evaluation by February 7, 1994.    

      A minor oil spill occurred off Pacific Operators' Platform
Hogan as a result of an onshore disposal system failure due to a
power outage shortly following the initial quake.  The spill
released an estimated 1,260 gallons of treated process saltwater
contaminated with about two barrels of oil into the ocean.  The
spill was immediately contained and recovered.

      Texaco's Platform Habitat,  which produces approximately 28
million cubic feet of natural gas per day,  was brought back on
line shortly after the initial quake at the request of Southern
California Gas Co. to accommodate southland household energy
demands.  After structural assessment of the platform,  MMS
approved continued production.  The platform is located about
eight miles off Carpenteria, California, in 290 feet of water.

      Offshore production platforms contain numerous safety
devices required by Government regulation as well as by voluntary
industry procedures.  Safety devices include shut-in controls
which close surface and subsurface valves to immediately suspend
platform production operations in the event of an emergency.  In
addition, fire and spill response,  first aid,  and personnel
evacuation procedures are identified and routinely tested to
ensure emergency preparedness. 

      "We are pleased to see that safety shut-off systems
performed well," said Fry. "In the immensity of human suffering
and structural damage onshore, it is heartening to know that the
safety of workers and the environment at our offshore oil
platforms was assured."

      The Minerals Management Service is the agency within the
U.S. Department of the Interior responsible for administering the
federal offshore natural gas, oil, and mineral management
programs. 

                                 -MMS-

Subject: PR-1/27/94 Earthquake/Preliminary Earthquake Damage
Assessment (#40004)