The US Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) has provided its final update on oil and gas operations in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM). Following the continued response to Hurricane Helene, the US BSEE has estimated that 3.35% of GOM oil activities are shut-in, down from 30% reported on 26 September.
The BSEE has also confirmed that only 0.91% of natural gas production in the offshore region is closed, decreasing from a reported 17% on 26 September.
On 24 September, major oil companies including Chevron, Shell and Equinor began evacuating staff from their offshore facilities.
As of 29 September, a total of three production platforms have been evacuated, or 0.81% of the total 371 manned platforms in the area.
Additionally, one non-dynamically positioned (DP) rig has been moved from Hurricane Helene’s path, representing 4.76% of the 21 DP rigs currently operating in the Gulf.
The BSEE stated that personnel will remain on board and return to the original location once the storm has completely passed.
The organisation, which oversees improving safety and ensuring environmental protection relating to the offshore energy industry, said: “Now that the storm has passed, facilities will be inspected. 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.”
It is currently unclear how Hurricane Helene has impacted the GOM’s overall output, as it produces 97% of the US’ offshore oil and gas. The region was also marked by Hurricane Francine in early September, which took almost a fifth of its oil production out of action.
The US Energy Information Administration’s most recent forecast for GOM’s oil and gas production showed 1.8 million bpd of crude oil and 1.8 billion ft3/d of natural gas in 2024.
Decreasing oil and gas prices in US have also stalled production this year as companies turn their focus to efficient drilling operations.
Read the latest issue of World Pipelines magazine for pipeline news, project stories, industry insight and technical articles.
World Pipelines’ Americas 2024 issue
The special Americas 2024 issue of World Pipelines reports on oil and gas pipeline activity in North America, Latin America, the Caribbean and South America. Articles cover pipeline safety and standards in the US, pipeline risk in the Americas, pipeline logistics in the Caribbean, natural gas and hydrogen learnings in the US, and technical case studies from across the region.
Read the article online at: https://www.oilfieldtechnology.com/drilling-and-production/02102024/hurricane-helene-update-gulf-of-mexicos-oil-and-gas-operations-recover/