The Offshore Federal Oil & Gas infrastructure includes over 33, 000 miles of pipeline that provides the means to service and transport approximately 30% of our nation's domestically produced oil and gas from offshore wells to onshore refineries. As the U.S. grows increasingly dependent on the steady supply of energy from offshore oil and gas reserves, MMS remains attentive to the destructive forces of hurricanes and the extensive challenges to protect pipelines in advance of and to re-start pipeline production following these catastrophic natural events. The objective of the study is to determine the extent cause of damage to the GOM pipeline infrastructure during hurricanes Katrina/Rita and how to be better prepared in the future to reduce and/or prevent damage.
In addition to gathering and assessing the pipeline damage data reported by operators and pipeline owners in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, DNV held a series of meetings with MMS to assist in the development of a web-based pipeline damage reporting system in conjunction with MMS's eWell system.
Research study completed and final deliverable accepted on March 22, 2007.