HOUSTON
– In a press conference today at the 2009
Offshore Technology Conference the Minerals Management Service (MMS)
announced the release of the Gulf of Mexico Oil and Gas
Production Forecast: 2009-2018 and the Deepwater Gulf of
Mexico 2009: Interim Report of 2008 Highlights.
In the forecast
report, Gulf of Mexico (GOM) oil production is forecasted to
increase substantially over the next several years, possibly
reaching 1.8 million barrels of oil per day. GOM gas production is
forecasted to continue its decline over the next four years due to
aging projects in shallow water. Future increases depend on the
successful development of undiscovered resources in the Gulf.
“The Gulf of Mexico
is one of the single largest suppliers of oil and gas to the U.S.
market,” explained GOM Regional Director, Lars Herbst. “With
continued interest and activity in deepwater areas of the Gulf of
Mexico, we anticipate that oil production will continue to be strong
with a large portion of production coming from projects in deeper
water depths.”
In 2008, GOM oil
and gas operators announced that 15 deepwater discoveries and seven
new projects began production in 1,000 feet (305 meters) of water or
greater, the measurement used to describe deepwater activity.
Current leasing, exploration and production activities are detailed
in the latest deepwater report, which presents a synopsis of
deepwater oil and gas industry activities in the Gulf of Mexico over
the past 17 years.
“The offshore
energy industry continues to confront and overcome technological
challenges as energy production moves into deeper waters in the Gulf
of Mexico,” said Regional Director Herbst. “As the trend to
deepwater continues, our emphasis is focused on safe and
environmentally responsible energy development, which remains a
central part of the mission at MMS.”
In 2008, 57 percent
of all GOM leases were located in water depths greater than 1,000
feet with 141 producing deepwater projects. Additionally, 73% of the
tracts receiving bids in the three lease sales held in 2008 were in
deepwater areas of the GOM.
Publicly Announced Deepwater Discoveries for 2008 |
Prospect Name |
Area/Block |
Water Depth (feet) |
Operator |
Diamond |
LLoyd Ridge
370 |
9,975 |
Murphy |
Hal |
Walker
Ridge 848 |
7,657 |
Statoil/ExxonMobil |
Tortuga |
Mississippi
Canyon 561 |
6,302 |
Noble
Energy |
Freedom |
Mississippi
Canyon 948 |
6,095 |
British
Petroleum/Noble Energy |
Dalmatian |
Desoto
Canyon 48 |
5,876 |
Murphy |
Kodiak |
Mississippi
Canyon 771 |
4,986 |
British
Petroleum |
(unnamed) |
Green
Canyon 448 |
3,266 |
LLOG |
Gladden |
Mississippi
Canyon 800 |
3,116 |
Newfield
Exploration |
(unnamed) |
Mississippi
Canyon 503 |
3,099 |
LLOG |
Geauxpher |
Garden
Banks 462 |
2,820 |
Mariner
Energy |
Anduin West |
Mississippi
Canyon 754 |
2,696 |
Newfield
Exploration |
Sargent |
Garden
Banks 339 |
2,180 |
Deep Gulf
Energy |
(unnamed) |
Mississippi
Canyon 72 |
2,013 |
LLOG |
(unnamed) |
Viosca
Knoll 821 |
1,030 |
Walter Oil
& Gas |
Shaft |
Green
Canyon 141 |
1,003 |
LLOG |
Copies of the GOM
energy forecast and deepwater report can be found at
Gulf of Mexico Oil and Gas Production Forecast: 2009-2018 and
Deepwater Gulf of Mexico 2009: Interim Report of 2008 Highlights.
For more information, please call 1-800-200-GULF.