A review of shallow water structures in the U. S. Gulf of Mexico circa 2016. (3rd October 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kaiser, Mark J.
• Is Part Of: Ships and offshore structures. Volume 13:Number 7(2018)
• Page Start: 677
• Page End: 695
• Publication Date: 2018-10-03
• Subjects: Activity review -- empirical statistics -- offshore structures -- inventory trends; Ships -- Periodicals; Offshore structures -- Periodicals; Marine engineering -- Periodicals; Marine engineering -- Technological innovations -- Periodicals; Ocean engineering -- Periodicals; Ocean engineering -- Technological innovations -- Periodicals; 623.8
• DOI: 10.1080/17445302.2018.1458548
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1744-5302

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The shallow water Gulf of Mexico is a mature oil and gas province that has produced about 97% of its proved oil and gas reserves circa 2016, so it should come as no surprise that structure inventories in the region have been declining at a rapid rate. Shallow water oil and gas production last peaked in the mid-1990s and the maximum number of standing structures totalled 3972 in 2001, while circa 2016 number 2009. Record levels of decommissioning in recent years are the result of the maturity of field production, sustained low oil and gas prices, and tougher regulatory conditions and oversight. The purpose of this paper is to review structure inventory data, statistics and trends in the Gulf of Mexico in water depth less than 400 ft (122 m) and provide detailed examination of producing, idle and auxiliary structures circa 2016. The paper concludes with decommissioning and installation trends.