Operators evacuating personnel as Harvey develops in the Gulf of Mexico

Aug. 24, 2017
Offshore oil and gas operators in the Gulf of Mexico are evacuating platforms and rigs in preparation for Tropical Storm Harvey, according to the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement.

Offshore staff

NEW ORLEANS– Offshore oil and gas operators in the Gulf of Mexico are evacuating platforms and rigs in preparation for Tropical Storm Harvey, according to the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE).

The BSEE Hurricane Response Team is activated and monitoring the operators’ activities.

Based on data from offshore operator reports submitted as of 11:30 CDT today, personnel have been evacuated from a total of 39 production platforms, 5.29% percent of the 737 manned platforms in theGulf of Mexico.

Personnel have been evacuated from one rig (non-dynamically positioned (DP) rig), equivalent to 10% of the 10 rigs of this type currently operating in the Gulf. No DP rigs have moved off location out of the storm’s path as a precaution.

From operator reports, it is estimated that about 9.56% of the current oil production in the Gulf of Mexico has been shut-in, which equates to 167,231 b/d of oil. It is also estimated that approximately 0.04% of the natural gas production, or 1.135 MMcf/d, in the Gulf of Mexico has been shut-in.

On Wednesday, Anadarko reported that it removed all personnel and temporarily shut in production at its operated Boomvang, Gunnison, Lucius, and Nansen facilities. The company added that these facilities will remain shut in until the weather has cleared, and it is safe for its people to return to these offshore locations.

Shell said that it safely shut in production and secured its Perdido asset and is in the process of returning all personnel working on Perdido to shore.

08/24/2017