Offshore oil and gas operators in the US Gulf of Mexico continue to evacuate platforms and rigs as Hurricane Zeta approaches the US Gulf Coast. The storm has strengthened and is expected to make landfall in southeast Louisiana as a strong Category 1 storm or Category 2 storm on Oct. 28.
Based on data from offshore operator reports submitted to the US Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement as of 11:30 CDT on Oct. 28, personnel have been evacuated from 288 of the 643 manned platforms in the US gulf.
BSEE estimates that 66.6% of current gulf crude oil production, or 1,231,305 b/d, and 44.5% of natural gas production, or 1,205 MMcfd, have been shut in.
Personnel have been evacuated from three of the 10 nondynamically positioned rigs working in the gulf. Six of the 16 dynamically positioned rigs have moved off location out of the projected path of the storm.
This survey is reflective of 42 companies’ reports as of 11:30 CDT Oct. 28.
