Offshore GOM Operators Returning to Normal

Offshore oil and gas operators in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) are resuming normal operations following tropical storm Barry, according to the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE).

Of the 669 manned platforms in the GOM, a total of 20, or 2.99 percent, remained evacuated as of Saturday, BSEE revealed, citing data from offshore operator reports. This figure stood as high as 42.3 percent, or 283 platforms, on July 14.

Personnel have returned to all previously evacuated non-dynamically positioned DP rigs in the region, according to BSEE. The organization estimates that approximately 3.32 percent of oil production and 7.35 percent of gas production in the GOM remained shut-in as of Saturday.

On July 14, BSEE estimated that approximately 72.82 percent of GOM oil production and approximately 61.68 percent of GOM gas production was shut-in.

“Now that the storm has passed, facilities will continue to be inspected,” BSEE said in a statement posted on its website on July 20.

“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 on line,” BSEE added.

On July 19, Shell revealed that oil and gas production had resumed on all of the company’s GOM assets. Chevron revealed on July 14 that it had begun to redeploy personnel and restore production at its Big Foot, Blind Faith, Genesis, Jack St. Malo, Petronius and Tahiti platforms that were shut-in as a result of Barry.