BSEE: 71% of US gulf oil production shut as Tropical Storm Nate advances

Some 1.2 million b/d of crude oil production from the US Gulf of Mexico has been shut-in by operators as they brace for Tropical Storm Nate’s passage.

Based on data from offshore operator reports submitted as of 11:30 a.m. CDT on Oct. 6, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) estimates that 71% of US gulf oil output has been taken offline. During Hurricane Harvey, just 25% of production was shut-in at peak.

BSEE also estimates that 53% of US gulf natural gas production, or 1.7 bcfd, has been shut.

Personnel have been evacuated from 66 production platforms, or 9% of the 737 manned platforms in US gulf.

Five of the 20 nondynamically positioned rigs previously operating in the US gulf have been evacuated. Eleven of 18 dynamically position rigs have been moved off location and out of the storm’s path as a precaution.

BP PLC said it has begun removing all its remaining offshore personnel and shutting-in production at its Atlantis, Mad Dog, Na Kika, and Thunder Horse operated platforms. BHP Billiton Ltd. is doing the same from its Shenzi and Neptune platforms.

Chevron Corp. is evacuating and shutting output from its Blind Faith, Genesis, Jack-St.Malo, Petronius, and Tahiti facilities.

Royal Dutch Shell PLC said production is being shut-in, drilling operations have been suspended, and all personnel are returning to shore from its Mars, Ursa, Olympus, and Ram Powell production hubs.

Anadarko Petroleum Corp. is removing staff and shutting output from its Horn Mountain and Marlin facilities. ConocoPhillips is evacuating nonessential personnel from its Magnolia platform.

ExxonMobil is evacuating its Lena platform, while Statoil ASA has removed staff from its Titan platform.