The first lease sale in the natural gas-rich “181 South Area” in the Central Gulf of Mexico Planning Area in two decades is proposed to be held on March 18, 2009, according to the Minerals Management Service (MMS). After the last lease sale in 1988, the 181 South Area was withdrawn as a potential drilling site and the area was included in the congressional moratorium on offshore exploration and production. In December 2006 President Bush signed into law legislation lifting the congressional moratorium on 8.3 million acres in the Lease Sale 181 area and in a tract south of Lease Sale 181 (see NGI, Dec. 25, 2006). He then quickly removed the separate presidential restrictions on leasing in the area. The proposed Lease Sale 208 encompasses 6,200 blocks covering more than 33.5 million acres offshore Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. MMS estimates that the proposed lease sale could result in production of approximately 0.807 billion to 1.336 billion bbl of crude oil and 3.365 to 5.405 Tcf of natural gas. The acreage is located from three to 230 miles offshore in water depths of about 10 feet to more than 11,200 feet, the agency said. For further information about the terms and conditions of the lease sale, contact the MMS office in New Orleans at (504) 736-2519.
Mexico
Articles from Mexico
MMS Eyes Lease Sale in Gas-Prone ‘181 South Area’
The first lease sale in the natural gas-rich “181 South Area” in the Central Gulf of Mexico Planning Area in two decades is proposed to be held on March 18, 2009, according to the Interior Department’s Minerals Management Service (MMS).
Gulf Post-Storm Production Returning Slowly
As of about noon CDT Friday 44.6% of the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) natural gas production was shut in out of normal production of 7.4 Bcf/d, and 48.2% of oil production was shut in out of normal production of 1.3 million b/d, following the ravages of hurricanes Gustav and Ike in late August and mid-September, the Minerals Management Service (MMS) said.
Gulf of Mexico Production Slowly Trickles Back
As of about noon CDT Friday 44.6% of the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) natural gas production was shut in out of normal production of 7.4 Bcf/d, and 48.2% of oil production was shut in out of normal production of 1.3 million b/d, following the ravages of hurricanes Gustav and Ike, the Minerals Management Service (MMS) said.
MMS: Nearly 48% of GOM Gas Production Still Shut In
Approximately 47.7% of Gulf of Mexico (GOM) gas production is shut in out of normal production of 7.4 Bcf/d, and it is estimated that 58.8% of oil production in the GOM is shut in out of regular production of 1.3 million b/d, Minerals Management Service (MMS) reported Wednesday.
Post-Hurricane Gulf of Mexico Gas Production Inches Forward
Gulf of Mexico (GOM) operators notched another small advance in efforts to restore natural gas production following hurricanes Gustav and Ike, according to a Tuesday report from the Minerals Management Service (MMS). However, the estimate of oil production restoration took a big step back compared to Monday’s estimate, which turned out to be erroneous.
MMS: Post-Hurricane ‘Glass Half Full’ for GOM Production
For the first time since hurricanes Gustav and Ike swept through the Gulf of Mexico (GOM), the Minerals Management Service (MMS) Monday reported that natural gas and oil production restoration passed the halfway mark.
GOM Gas Output Inches Forward
Another producer that operates in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) said Thursday that hurricanes Gustav and Ike cut into its projected 2008 oil and natural gas production forecasts. Meanwhile, the Minerals Management Service (MMS) reported that 56.4% of the GOM’s usual gas output of 7.4 Bcf/d still was shut in, which is a gain of less than 1% in 24 hours.
MMS: Ike Destroyed 52 Platforms, Four Rigs
Hurricane Ike destroyed 52 of the 3,800 oil and natural gas platforms in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM), along with three jack-up drilling rigs and one platform drilling rig, the Minerals Management Service (MMS) said late Wednesday. Overall, 1,450 offshore structures were pounded by winds of more than 74 mph during the storm.
Small Gains Reported In GOM Gas Production Restoration
About 61.6% of the usual 7.4 Bcf/d of Gulf of Mexico (GOM) natural gas production remained shut in Tuesday, the Minerals Management Service (MMS) reported. Eleven of the 26 major gas pipelines and seven gas processors in the Gulf Coast area also remained shuttered, but offshore operators were reporting some success in restoring production to pre-hurricane levels.
