U.S. Department of the Interior
Minerals Management Service
Office of Public Affairs

NEWS RELEASE

The Minerals Management Service is partnering with the Department of Energy to help further the development of technology for ultra-deepwater oil and gas production in the Gulf of Mexico. The agencies signed a memorandum of understanding in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 4, 2000.

This initiative comes at an important time as the nation faces increasing demands for energy in the future. Today, oil and gas production from federal waters in the Gulf of Mexico contributes approximately 25 percent of the total U.S. domestic oil and natural gas production. Demand for energy is expected to increase substantially in the future, particularly with respect to natural gas.

"A secure energy future for our nation depends upon increased exploration, development and production of domestic sources of oil and gas. By partnering with DOE, we have the opportunity to take an in-depth look at technologies that can increase domestic reserves in the ultra-deepwater in the Gulf of Mexico," said MMS Director Walt Rosenbusch.

The oil and natural gas technology partnership could help reduce America’s dependence on imported sources of oil and better meet the increasing demands of domestic gas consumption by:

• Promoting the development, commercialization and implementation of new or existing technologies to lower the cost of ultra-deepwater (greater than 5,000 feet) exploration and production of oil and gas while maintaining safety of operations and protection of the marine environment.

• Promoting the increase of revenue available to government and private research facilities for additional research and development of ultra-deepwater oil and gas production technologies and

• Identifying areas where technology gaps exist to enhance and assist future deepwater operations and make recommendations for future research and development;

MMS will continue to:

• Promote the conservation and protection of offshore resources to ensure wise use;

• Set standards for sustainable and safe production of oil and natural gas from the ultra-deepwater outer continental shelf and

• Promote increasing revenues collected for the U.S. Treasury through greater production of oil and natural gas production from deepwater sites.

Working closely with the DOE’s Office of Natural Gas and Petroleum Technology, MMS will be responsible for research initiatives regarding safety of operations, conservation of oil and gas resources, oil spill research and protection of the marine environment.

The MMS, a bureau in the U.S. Department of the Interior, is the federal agency that manages the nation's natural gas, oil and other mineral resources on the outer continental shelf. The agency also collects, accounts for and disburses more than $5 billion per year in revenues from federal offshore mineral leases and from onshore mineral leases on federal and Indian lands.

 

-MMS-

MMS Internet website address: http://www.mms.gov