Hurricane
Gustav/Hurricane Ike Activity Statistics Update – October 21, 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 are reboarding platforms and restoring production following
both Hurricane Gustav and 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 are evacuated from a total of 72 production
platforms, equivalent to 10.4% of the 694 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.
There
are no longer any evacuated rigs in the Gulf. Rigs can include
several types of self-contained offshore drilling facilities
including backups, submersibles and semi submersibles.
From
the operators’ reports, it is estimated that approximately 38.6 % of
the oil production in the Gulf is shut-in. As of June 2008,
estimated oil production from the Gulf of Mexico is 1.3 million
barrels of oil per day. It is also estimated that approximately 36.7
% of the natural gas production in the Gulf is 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 Tuesday and Thursday.
Districts |
Lake
Jackson |
Lake
Charles |
Lafayette |
Houma |
New
Orleans |
Total |
Platforms
Evacuated |
2 |
24 |
29 |
11 |
6 |
72 |
Rigs
Evacuated |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Oil, BOPD
Shut-in |
2,963 |
17,811 |
123,344 |
214,307 |
143,714 |
502,139 |
Gas,
MMCF/D
Shut-in |
439 |
475 |
803 |
622 |
378 |
2,717 |
This survey information is reflective of 62
companies’ reports as of 11:30 a.m. CST. Beginning the week of
October 13, 2008, the Activity Statistics Update will be issued on
Tuesdays and Thursdays of each week.
Contact:
Robin Cacy
907-334-5208
MMS: Securing Ocean Energy & Economic Value for America
U.S. Department of the Interior
Privacy |
Disclaimers |
Accessibility |
Topic Index | FOIA
Last Updated:
10/27/2008,
08:13 AM
Central Time