BSEE: Nearly 59% of current Gulf of Mexico oil production shut-in ahead of Hurricane Ida

Offshore oil and gas operators in the US Gulf of Mexico are evacuating platforms and rigs ahead of Hurricane Ida.

Tropical Storm Ida strengthened to hurricane status Friday afternoon, Aug. 27. Ida continues to strengthen. It is moving northwest at 15 mph and has winds of 75 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center. It is expected to become a major hurricane ahead of a Louisiana coast landfall Sunday, Aug. 29.

Based on data from offshore operator reports submitted to the US Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement as of 11:30 CDT on Aug. 27, personnel have been evacuated from 89 production platforms, 15.89% of the 560 manned platforms in the US gulf.

BSEE estimates that 58.51% of current gulf crude oil production and 48.79% of natural gas production have been shut in.

Personnel have been evacuated from 1 of the 11 nondynamically positioned rigs working in the gulf. Eleven of the 15 dynamically positioned rigs have moved off location out of the path of the storm.

This survey is reflective of 25 companies’ reports as of 11:30 CDT Aug. 27.