MMS Press Release

The NewsRoom
Release: #3486
Date: May 1, 2006

MMS Updates Hurricanes Katrina and Rita Damage

NEW ORLEANS – Minerals Management Service (MMS) today released an update of the assessment of damage to offshore oil and gas infrastructure caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

MMS Gulf of Mexico Regional Director Chris Oynes noted that “Today’s assessment of damage updates the assessment MMS released on January 19, 2006. Based on additional industry assessments, investigations, and reports, the number of pipelines damaged has risen to 457 from 183. The number of larger diameter pipelines (10 inches or greater) that were damaged has risen to 101 from 64. Thirty-two have returned to service versus the previous number of 22.” Table 1 and Table 2 list the major pipelines that were damaged.

MMS has also revised the number of platforms destroyed from 115 down to 113 (one well was mistaken for a platform and one platform was damaged not destroyed). Table 3 and Table 4 list the destroyed platforms. Of these 113, four replacement platforms have been proposed by the operators and approved by MMS to date. These replacement platforms will take the place of eight destroyed platforms with a pre-hurricane daily production of 16,700 barrels per day.

MMS has canvassed the operators of the facilities with largest amount of production still shut-in to provide an estimate of when they might return to production. These are:

Operator Company	Facility Name	Area	Projected Date
Shell	Mars	Mississippi Canyon Block 208	Mid year 2006
TOTAL	Matterhorn	Mississippi Canyon Block 243	Imminent
Shell	Cognac	Mississippi Canyon Block 194	4th Quarter 2006
Kerr-McGee	Red Hawk	Garden Banks Block 876	Imminent

MMS also is releasing the following tally of hurricane-related oil/condensate/chemical spills in Federal offshore OCS waters as reported to MMS and the National Response Center. Six spills of 1,000 barrels or greater were reported; the largest of these was 3,625 barrels of condensate reported by the Gulf South Pipeline Company in the Eugene Island Block 51 area. A total of 146 spills of 1 barrel or greater have been reported in the Federal OCS waters; 37 of these were 50 barrels or greater. No shoreline or wildlife impacts were noted from these spills.

Oynes explained that, “Assessments of pipeline and facility damages are still ongoing, and any updates will be reflected in future announcements. It is likely that additional damage will be reported as underwater damage assessments are completed. These have been delayed because of overwhelmed support resources, such as diving equipment, support vessels, and remotely operated vehicles, but we are moving ahead as expeditiously as possible under the circumstances.”

Relevant Web Sites:
MMS Main Website
Gulf of Mexico Website

Media Contacts:
Debra Winbush (281) 873-1858
Caryl Fagot (281) 873-1859

MMS: Securing Ocean Energy & Economic Value for America
U.S. Department of the Interior

Table 1 – Pipelines Damaged by Hurricane Katrina

Large Diameter Pipelines with Damage (10” or greater) in Federal Waters Only
Operator	Map Area	Block Number (starting point)	Diameter (inches)	Product	Status
Destin Pipeline Company, LLC	MP	260	36	Gas	In Service
Venice Energy Services Co	ST	151	26	G/C	In Service
Southern Natural Gas Co	MP	298	26	Gas	In Service
Tennessee Gas Pipeline Co	SS	198	26	Gas	Shut-in
Venice Gathering System LLC	WD	41	26	Gas	In Service
Tennessee Gas Pipeline Co	SS	145	26	Gas	Shut-in
Trunkline Gas Company LLC	GI	94	24	Gas	In Service
Venice Gathering System, LLC	WD	79	20-22	Gas	In Service
Tennessee Gas Pipeline Co	ST	37	20	Gas	Shut in
Equilon Pipeline Company, LLC	GC	19	20	Oil	In Service
Enterprise Field Services LLC	VK	817	20	Gas	Shut-in
Southern Natural Gas Co	SP	62	20	Gas	Shut in
Tennessee Gas Pipeline Co	SS	168	20	Gas	Shut in
Southern Natural Gas Co	MP	306	18	Gas	In Service
Equilon Pipeline Company LLC	MC	807	18	Oil	Shut-in
Equilon Pipeline Company LLC	MC	809	18	Oil	In Service
Equilon pipeline Company LLC	MC	809	18	Gas	In Service
Centana Gathering LLC	EI	313	16	G/C	Shut-in
BP America Production Co	WD	69	16	GasH	Shut-in
Chandeleur Pipeline Co	MP	42	16	Gas	In Service
Equilon Pipeline Company LLC	MC	807	14	Gas	Shut in
Southern Natural Gas Co	SP	62	14	Gas	Shut in
Marlin Energy Offshore LLC	ST	20	14	Gas	Shut in
Southern Natural Gas Co	MP	291	12-24	Gas	In Service
Chandeleur Pipeline Co	MP	41	12	Gas	In Service
BP America Production Co	WD	94	12	GasH	Shut-in
Equilon Pipeline Company LLC	WD	104	12	Oil	Shut in
Shell Offshore, Inc	MP	290	12	Oil	In Service
Southern Natural Gas Co	MP	298	12	Gas	In Service
Chandeleur Pipeline Co	MO	908	12	Gas	In Service
Apache Corporation	WD	122	12	Bulk oil	Shut-in
Shell Oil Company	SP	62	12	Oil	In Service
Noble Energy Inc	MP	305	12	Oil	Shut-in
SPN Resources LLC	SP	60	12	Gas	In Service
BP America Production Co	WD	70	12	GasH	Shut-in
Noble Energy Inc	MC	365	12	G/C	Shut-in
Chevron USA Inc	MC	292	12	Bulk Gas	In Service
Chevron USA Inc.	MC	292	12	Bulk Gas	In Service
Southern Natural Gas Co	WD	133	12	Gas	Shut-in
Tennessee Gas Pipeline Co	ST	55	12	Gas	Shut in
Tennessee Gas Pipeline Co	GI	47	12	Gas	Shut-in
Gulf South Pipeline Co LP	ST	26	12	Gas	In Service
BP America Production Co	WD	70	10	Gas	Shut-in
Noble Energy Inc	MP	305	10	Gas	Shut-in
Chevron USA Inc.	ST	176	10	Bulk Gas	In Service
SPN Resources LLC	SP	60	10	Gas	In Service
Apache Corporation	ST	160	10	Gas	Shut-in
Exxon Mobil Corporation	SP	93	10	Gas	Shut-in
Transcontinental Gas Pipeline	SS	169	10	Gas	In Service
BP America Production Co	WD	69	10