U.S. Gulf oil and gas production starts to recover

Written by Nick Blenkey
offshore production platform

Image: BSEE

U.S. Gulf offshore oil and gas production is ticking back up again. The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) reports that, in the wake of Hurricane Ida, as of 11:30 a.m. CDT today, personnel are still evacuated from a total of 36 production platforms, 6.43 percent of the 560 manned platforms in the Gulf of Mexico.

All non-dynamically positioned rigs are currently operating in the Gulf. Rigs can include several types of offshore drilling facilities including jackup rigs, platform rigs, all submersibles and moored semisubmersibles.

Two dynamically positioned rigs remain off location. This number represents 13.33 percent of the 15 DP rigs currently operating in the Gulf.

From operator reports, it is estimated that approximately 29.52 percent of the current oil production in the Gulf of Mexico is shut in. BSEE estimates that approximately 39.40 percent of the gas production in the Gulf of Mexico is 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.

Facilities are currently being inspected, says BSEE. Once all standard checks have been completed, production from undamaged facilities will be brought back online immediately. Facilities sustaining damage may take longer to bring back online.

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