BSEE Reports Tropical Storm Gordon Activity Statistics: Sept. 5, 2018

The BSEE Hurricane Response Team continues to monitor Gulf of Mexico oil and gas activities.

NEW ORLEANS — The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) Hurricane Response Team is monitoring offshore oil and gas operators in the Gulf as they respond to Tropical Storm Gordon. The Response Team works with offshore operators and other state and federal agencies until operations return to normal and the storm is no longer a threat to Gulf of Mexico oil and gas activities.

Based on data from offshore operator reports submitted as of 11:30 a.m. CDT Tuesday, personnel have been evacuated from a total of 48 production platforms, 6.99 percent of the 687 manned platforms in the Gulf of Mexico. Production platforms are structures located offshore from which oil and natural gas are produced. Unlike drilling rigs, which typically move from location to location, production facilities remain in the same location throughout a project’s duration. 

All of the 20 rigs (non-dynamically positioned), currently operating in the Gulf, including several types of offshore drilling facilities including jackup rigs, platform rigs, submersibles and moored semisubmersibles are in operation.

Further, all of the 19 dynamically positioned rigs are on location.

As part of the evacuation process, personnel activate the applicable shut-in procedure, which can frequently be accomplished from a remote location. This involves closing the sub-surface safety valves located below the surface of the ocean floor to prevent the release of oil or gas. During previous hurricane seasons, the shut-in valves functioned 100 percent of the time, efficiently shutting in production from wells on the Outer Continental Shelf and protecting the marine and coastal environments. Shutting-in oil and gas production is a standard procedure conducted by industry for safety and environmental reasons.

From operator reports, it is estimated that approximately 9.36 percent of the current oil production in the Gulf of Mexico has been shut-in. It is also estimated that approximately 10.39 percent of the natural gas production in the Gulf of Mexico has been shut-in. 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 the amount of oil and gas the operator expected to produce that day. The shut-in production figures therefore are estimates, which BSEE compares to historical production reports to ensure the estimates follow a logical pattern.  

After the storm 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. BSEE will continue to update the evacuation and shut-in statistics at 1:00 p.m. CDT each day, as appropriate.

This survey information is reflective of 26 companies’ reports as of 11:30 a.m. CDT today. 

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