Following the ongoing response to Hurricane Helene, the US BSEE estimates that 3.35% of GOM oil operations are now shut down, up from the 30% reported on September 26.
The BSEE also confirmed that only 0.91% of natural gas production in the offshore region has been shut, down from the reported 17% on September 26.
On September 24, major oil companies, including Chevron, Shell and Equinor, began evacuating staff from their offshore facilities.
As of September 29, a total of three production platforms have been evacuated, or 0.81% of the total 371 manned platforms in the area.
In addition, one non-dynamically positioned (DP) drilling rig has been moved from the path of Hurricane Helene, representing 4.76% of the 21 DP drilling rigs currently operating in the Gulf.
The BSEE stated that personnel will remain on board and return to their original location once the storm has completely passed.
The organisation, which oversees improving safety and ensuring environmental protection in relation to the offshore energy industry, said: “Now that the storm has passed, the facilities will be inspected. After all standard checks have been carried out, production from undamaged facilities is immediately brought back online. Facilities that sustain damage may take longer to come back online.”
It is currently unclear how Hurricane Helene has affected the GOM’s overall production, as it produces 97% of U.S. offshore oil and gas. The region was also marked by Hurricane Francine in early September, which knocked out almost a fifth of oil production.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration’s latest forecast for GOM oil and gas production showed 1.8 million barrels of crude oil per day and 1.8 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day in 2024.
Falling oil and gas prices in the US have also brought production to a standstill this year as companies shift their focus to efficient drilling operations.
“Gulf of Mexico oil and gas activity recovers as Hurricane Helene moves north” was originally created and published by Offshore Technology, a brand owned by GlobalData.
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