By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, June 6 -- The US Minerals Management Service has awarded four research contracts worth a total of $350,000 to research the impact that Hurricane Lili had upon offshore oil and natural gas facilities.
In September 2002, the category 4 storm swept across the gulf, generating wind and waves that exceeded or matched the 100-year design criteria of the 1,200 facilities in its path across gulf federal waters (OGJ Online, Oct. 22, 2002).
MMS received numerous damage reports various facilities including mobile drilling rigs, offshore platforms, producing wells, subsea wellheads, topside systems (including wellheads and production and processing equipment), risers, and pipelines systems.
The hurricane caused no fatalities or injuries, and there were no fires or major pollution.
"Assessment and analysis of the damage to offshore facilities as a result of Hurricane Lili, combined with the knowledge gained from the MMS Hurricane Andrew Research Program conducted in 1992, will provide an opportunity to evaluate the reliability of current industry standards and MMS regulations in mitigating future damage to oil and gas facilities," an MMS release said (OGJ, Oct. 12, 1992, p. 38).
The following Hurricane Lili research projects are being funded through MMS's Technology Assessment & Research Program:
--OceanWeather Inc. Cos., Cob, Conn., will develop a consistent set of data to be used in the analysis and assessment of the performance of offshore facilities.
--ABS Group Inc., Houston, will study the performance of offshore steel jackets.
--Global Maritime, Houston, will assess the performance of tension leg platforms and spars subject to actual hurricane conditions.
--Offshore Risk and Technology, Houston, will assess the damage to drilling rigs.