The Gulf of Mexico OCS Region is a major focus of the oil and gas industry. BSEE's Gulf of Mexico Region, which is located in DOI Regions 4 and 6, oversees nearly 2,000 facilities and about 13,135 miles of active pipeline in the Gulf of Mexico.
Through the many functions and program areas within the Regional office, offshore oil and gas activities from the very beginning of exploration through infrastructure decommissioning are managed with a focus on promoting safety, protecting the environment, and conserving energy resources. The Gulf of Mexico Region is responsible for reviewing applications for activity permits (well permits, production safety permits, commingling requests, decommissioning plans) to ensure all regulations are met, for conducting inspections of drilling rigs and production platforms using multi-person, multi-disciplinary inspection teams, pre-production inspections of platforms prior to installation, helping to develop and enforce standards and regulations, and enforcing environmental compliance. A newly developed section within the Region oversees decommissioning activities and helps to ensure appropriate decommissioning costs are assessed to every offshore asset. Regional and field operations personnel also investigate incidents that result in injuries and/or pollution.
The Gulf of Mexico Region uses a number of enforcement tools such as the issuance of Incidents of Non-Compliance (INC) citations to require operators to correct violations, issuing civil penalties, and conducting Annual Performance Reviews (APR) of operators.
Within the Region, the Office of Safety Management reviews and audits each operator’s safety program using Safety and Environmental Management Systems (SEMS), incident data, INC data, and safety reports. There is also a continued effort to assess new technology within deepwater operations. This effort is also supported by BSEE’s Emerging Technology Assessment Center in Houston, TX.
- Data Center
- Resource Estimates
- Gulf of Mexico Deepwater Information
- Gulf of Mexico Well Permits
- Performance Based Risk Inspections
Contact Info:
1201 Elmwood Park Blvd
New Orleans LA 70123-2394
Main Switchboard: 504-736-0557
Public Information Office: 1-800-200-4853 (504-736-2519)
Media Inquiries: 504-736-2595
Public Affairs: Mike O'Berry
Office: 504-731-7847
Mobile: 504-432-5508