Status of Gulf of Mexico Well Permits
The permit to drill gives an operator approval to begin the process of drilling a well. Before a Permit to Drill can be granted, there are many direct and related approvals (including environmental compliance) that must be in place. There are several different types of permits that may be approved by BSEE.
New safeguards to protect offshore personnel and the environment took effect October of 2010. BSEE's Drilling Safety Rule significantly improves drilling safety by strengthening requirements. Operators must demonstrate that they are prepared to deal with the potential for a blowout and worst-case discharge and permit applications for drilling projects must meet new standards for well-design, casing, and cementing, and be independently certified by a professional engineer.
For more information on new applicable regulations and standards for both shallow and deep water drilling operations, see Offshore Drilling Safety Reforms.
The tables below demonstrate aggregate permitting statistics for both shallow water and deep water. The table for deep water includes both those permits that are subject to containment requirements and those that are not.
To download copies of approved permits see the eWell Online Query.
To download copies of the presentation from the Permitting Workshop which took place Tuesday, August 30, 2011, click here.
Status of Exploration and Development Plans Subject to Enhanced Safety and Environmental Requirements in the Gulf of Mexico has been moved to its own page and can be found by clicking here.
Well Permits StatisticsUpdated Monthly
Data last updated on 12/01/2018 11:00 AM (CST) |
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|
Permit Type |
Water Depth Less than 500ft1 |
Water Depth Greater than 500ft2 |
Total Approved *all water depths |
||||
|
Permits Approved |
Returned3 |
Pending |
Permits Approved |
Returned3 |
Pending |
||
|
New Well |
1 |
3 |
4 |
7 |
3 |
7 |
8 |
|
Revised New Well |
7 |
0 |
2 |
42 |
0 |
9 |
49 |
|
Bypass |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
3 |
|
Revised Bypass |
2 |
0 |
0 |
9 |
0 |
0 |
11 |
|
Sidetrack |
1 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
5 |
3 |
|
Revised Sidetrack |
1 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
0 |
0 |
7 |
1Shallow water drilling operations became subject to new rules and information requirements as of June 2010.
2Deep water drilling operations became subject to new rules and information requirements as of October 2010
3Submitted permit applications may be returned for further information or clarification.
|
Approved Permits By Water Depth For All Types |
Shallow Water (< 500 ft) |
Deep Water (> 500 ft) |
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| New Well | Revised New Well | Bypass | Revised Bypass | Sidetrack | Revised Sidetrack | New Well | Revised New Well | Bypass | Revised Bypass | Sidetrack | Revised Sidetrack | ||
| Total for 2018 | 16 | 60 | 4 | 4 | 33 | 51 | 61 | 312 | 37 | 95 | 33 | 134 | |
| 2018 | Nov | 1 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 42 | 2 | 9 | 2 | 6 |
| Oct | 3 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 22 | 5 | 15 | 4 | 12 | |
| Sep | 3 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 26 | 1 | 9 | 1 | 15 | |
| Aug | 3 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 33 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 15 | |
| Jul | 2 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 14 | 2 | 9 | 1 | 10 | |
| Jun | 2 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 28 | 4 | 13 | 6 | 10 | |
| May | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 40 | 9 | 8 | 1 | 4 | |
| Apr | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 6 | 15 | 32 | 5 | 12 | 1 | 17 | |
| Mar | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 21 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 14 | |
| Feb | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 25 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 14 | |
| Jan | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 29 | 3 | 8 | 5 | 17 | |
| Total for 2017 | 13 | 60 | 9 | 6 | 31 | 39 | 52 | 424 | 24 | 55 | 25 | 47 | |
| 2017 | Dec | 0 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 34 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 3 |
| Nov | 1 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 43 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | |
| Oct | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 30 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 9 | |
| Sep | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 38 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | |
| Aug | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 30 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 3 | |
| Jul | 1 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 7 | 2 | 47 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | |
| Jun | 1 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 40 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 4 | |
| May | 3 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 6 | 47 | 3 | 11 | 0 | 1 | |
| Apr | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 24 | 4 | 9 | 1 | 2 | |
| Mar | 0 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 27 | 6 | 10 | 3 | 9 | |
| Feb | 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 28 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 6 | |
| Jan | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 36 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | |
| Total for 2016 | 10 | 20 | 5 | 4 | 13 | 24 | 65 | 437 | 28 | 61 | 20 | 64 | |
| 2016 | Dec | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 37 | 3 | 10 | 1 | 3 |
| Nov | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 28 | 1 | 8 | 2 | 11 | |
| Oct | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 34 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 9 | |
| Sep | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 47 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 5 | |
| Aug | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 30 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 5 | |
| Jul | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 43 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | |
| Jun | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 45 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 2 | |
| May | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 10 | 33 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 3 | |
| Apr | 1 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 33 | 3 | 11 | 2 | 2 | |
| Mar | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 28 | 7 | 12 | 0 | 2 | |
| Feb | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 42 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 10 | |
| Jan | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 37 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 8 | |
| Total for 2015 | 12 | 33 | 7 | 9 | 52 | 57 | 69 | 445 | 33 | 67 | 34 | 61 | |
| 2015 | Dec | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 26 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 9 |
| Nov | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 30 | 6 | 13 | 6 | 10 | |
| Oct | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 31 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 6 | |
| Sep | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 40 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 4 | |
| Aug | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 8 | 40 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | |
| Jul | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 11 | 7 | 46 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 | |
| Jun | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 53 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 5 | |
| May | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 10 | 6 | 37 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 2 | |
| Apr | 1 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 11 | 36 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 5 | |
| Mar | 2 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 34 | 2 | 11 | 3 | 5 | |
| Feb | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 30 | 4 | 8 | 3 | 5 | |
| Jan | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 6 | 2 | 42 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | |
| Total for 2014 | 65 | 117 | 35 | 34 | 82 | 101 | 68 | 406 | 38 | 65 | 29 | 63 | |
| 2014 | Dec | 5 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 45 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 2 |
| Nov | 9 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 42 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 5 | |
| Oct | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 32 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 7 | |
| Sep | 4 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 32 | 3 | 11 | 3 | 5 | |
| Aug | 5 | 18 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 18 | 4 | 33 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 5 | |
| Jul | 6 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 12 | 20 | 12 | 28 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 11 | |
| Jun | 8 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 7 | 8 | 3 | 33 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 6 | |
| May | 4 | 13 | 5 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 31 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 8 | |
| Apr | 6 | 17 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 52 | 2 | 9 | 0 | 8 | |
| Mar | 6 | 19 | 1 | 8 | 5 | 9 | 5 | 32 | 5 | 8 | 4 | 6 | |
| Feb | 5 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 19 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | |
| Jan | 5 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 8 | 5 | 27 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 0 | |
| Total for 2013 | 72 | 108 | 51 | 46 | 120 | 110 | 57 | 337 | 34 | 44 | 23 | 50 | |
| 2013 | Dec | 8 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 14 | 10 | 8 | 18 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 3 |
| Nov | 5 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 29 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | |
| Oct | 7 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 13 | 5 | 4 | 28 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 1 | |
| Sep | 5 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 11 | 8 | 25 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 4 | |
| Aug | 4 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 11 | 14 | 5 | 26 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 3 | |
| July | 4 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 13 | 8 | 4 | 20 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 7 | |
| June | 3 | 18 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 11 | 5 | 34 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 6 | |
| May | 10 | 17 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 14 | 3 | 26 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 8 | |
| Apr | 4 | 10 | 4 | 5 | 12 | 9 | 4 | 40 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 9 | |
| Mar | 8 | 7 | 9 | 5 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 36 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 2 | |
| Feb | 1 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 15 | 7 | 3 | 21 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 4 | |
| Jan | 13 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 3 | 34 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 2 | |
| Total for 2012 | 67 | 104 | 42 | 41 | 108 | 84 | 112 | 283 | 25 | 41 | 23 | 36 | |
| 2012 | Dec | 4 | 11 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 22 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| Nov | 7 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 15 | 5 | 11 | 33 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 5 | |
| Oct | 6 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 13 | 2 | 9 | 24 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 2 | |
| Sept | 3 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 9 | 7 | 25 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| Aug | 7 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 11 | 7 | 3 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | |
| July | 3 | 13 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 31 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 6 | |
| June | 4 | 11 | 3 | 5 | 12 | 7 | 9 | 21 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 3 | |
| May | 2 | 15 | 2 | 4 | 10 | 11 | 15 | 18 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 2 | |
| April | 7 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 8 | 13 | 27 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 3 | |
| Mar | 7 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 23 | 4 | 7 | 4 | 3 | |
| Feb | 0 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 4 | 22 | 20 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 7 | |
| Jan | 7 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 20 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 3 | |
| Total for 2011 | 71 | 99 | 40 | 33 | 87 | 88 | 38 | 127 | 19 | 26 | 22 | 42 | |
| 2011 | Dec | 2 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 13 | 2 | 3 | 16 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 4 |
| Nov | 5 | 11 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 8 | |
| Oct | 11 | 9 | 7 | 1 | 7 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 3 | |
| Sept | 9 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | |
| Aug | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 6 | 15 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 7 | |
| July | 5 | 12 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 11 | 4 | 10 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 3 | |
| June | 7 | 11 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 3 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 2 | |
| May | 4 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 12 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | |
| April | 9 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 12 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | |
| Mar | 5 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 13 | 12 | 2 | 9 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 1 | |
| Feb | 9 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Jan | 2 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| Total for 2010 | 28 | 67 | 13 | 6 | 53 | 62 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 5 | |
| 2010 | Dec | 7 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Nov | 6 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
| Oct2 | 6 | 13 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1< | 1 | |
| Sept1 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 11 | |||||||
| Aug1 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 14 | |||||||
| July1 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 13 | |||||||
| Jun1 | 2 | 14 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 9 |
|
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1Shallow water drilling operations became subject to new rules and information requirements as of June 2010.
2Deep water drilling operations became subject to new rules and information requirements as of October 2010
3Submitted permit applications may be returned for further information or clarification.