Minerals Management Service Prepares for Hurricane Season 2007

With the 2007 hurricane season upon us, it’s an appropriate time to discuss the preparations the Minerals Management Service (MMS) has made to secure our energy resources in the Gulf of Mexico.  In a press conference held May 30, 2007, the MMS, the Department of Energy (DOE), the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) and the American Petroleum Institute (API) came together to discuss many of the operational changes and improvements made in preparation for the 2007 hurricane season.

Designed to ensure greater security for our nation’s energy resources in the Gulf of Mexico, these operational and administrative improvements are being implemented to also ensure enhanced environmental protection and personnel safety.

"By working with all involved parties, including the Department of Energy, the U.S. Coast Guard, the American Petroleum Institute and the oil and gas industry, MMS has made significant progress in our efforts to improve the protection of oil and gas production in the Gulf from disruptions during this Hurricane Season," said MMS Acting Director Walter Cruickshank, at the press conference.

This cooperative effort has led to the improvement of existing guidance and the development of new guidance, which is being implemented by the oil and gas industry. Improvements for the 2007 hurricane season include:

Higher standards for offshore operators to follow, including:

	Additional inspections of pipelines, risers, pipeline crossings and leak testing;
	Detailed inspections of mooring lines used on offshore equipment, including an increase in the number of lines used from eight to 12 and in some cases, 16 lines;
	Increased anchor and mooring line strength used on Mobile Offshore Drilling Units (MODUs);
	Site assessment of the subsea floor infrastructure within a 10-mile radius of offshore equipment, in order to understand soil conditions for improved safety of jack-up rig operations during the hurricane season.

	Stricter guidelines for improved tie-down procedures for securing equipment on offshore facilities.
	The continued use and installation of downhole safety valves, to isolate well pressure and fluids in the event of an emergency or failure of surface equipment.
	Continued MMS inspections and enforcement of regulations to ensure operators have the necessary tools and resources available to respond and successfully contain any unexpected discharges.
	Improved communication and cooperation between the oil and gas industries and federal agencies, including:   Cooperative training with the USCG, DOE, and MMS; Conducting additional company-led emergency and evacuation drills.
	Installation of GPS locators and black box information storage systems on MODUs that will monitor onsite conditions after an evacuation and track the rig’s location in the event of loss of station and drift.
	Improved external communication and sharing of information among MMS, the USCG, and other federal partners.
	Activation of the MMS Hurricane Web site, which will provide a broad overview of hurricane-related information, including:

	Updated evacuation information;
	Production statistics;
	Historical information; and,
	Links to other federal agencies.

Relevant Topics:
     Threshold Omissions Generate Concerns
     Estimated Oil Spills As a Result of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita
     Audit Review Report Released by DOI Inspector General
     MMS Prepares for 2007 Hurricane Season

Media Contact:
   Gary Strasburg (202) 208-3985

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