NEW ORLEANS
— Offshore oil and gas operators in the Gulf
of Mexico are evacuating platforms and rigs in the path of Tropical
Storm Dolly. The Minerals Management Service has activated its
Continuity of Operations Plan team to monitor the operators’
activities. This team will be activated until operations return to
normal and the storm is no longer a threat to the Gulf of Mexico oil
and gas activities.
Based on data from offshore operator reports submitted as of 11:30
a.m. CST today, personnel have been evacuated from a total of 49
production platforms, equivalent to 6.8 % 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 6 rigs have also been evacuated; this is equivalent to
4.9 % of the 123 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 4.66 %
of the oil production in the Gulf has been shut-in. Estimated oil
production from the Gulf of Mexico as of January 2008 was 1.3
million barrels of oil per day. It is also
estimated that approximately 5.13 % of the natural gas production in
the Gulf has been shut-in. Estimated natural gas production from the
Gulf of Mexico as of January 2008 was 7.7 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.
CST each day until these statistics are no longer significant.
Districts
|
Lake
Jackson |
Lake
Charles |
Lafayette |
Houma |
New
Orleans |
Total |
Platforms
Evacuated |
36 |
11 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
49 |
Rigs
Evacuated |
5 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
|
Oil, BOPD
Shut-in |
60,621 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
60,621 |
Gas,
MMCF/D
Shut-in |
395 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
395 |
This survey
information is reflective of 21 companies’ reports as of 11:30 a.m.
CST.
Contact:
Eileen Angelico 504-736-2595
Caryl Fagot
504-736-2590