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U.S. Department of the Interior
Minerals Management Service
Office of Public Affairs


For Release:  September 3, 2004 Contact:  Debra Winbush
(504) 736-2597

Caryl Fagot
(504) 736-2590

MMS to Hold Workshop on Deepwater Current Monitoring Program

Minerals Management Service will hold a workshop on September 30, 2004, in Houston, Texas, to present a pioneering monitoring program to improve the nation’s understanding of powerful ocean currents that have the potential to affect deepwater operations across the Gulf of Mexico.

Under the program, operating companies will collect and share comprehensive current data from deepwater drilling and production sites.  The monitoring program will ensure that operators and drilling contractors have appropriate available data on existing and forecasted current conditions.  The data and predictive information will enable operators to curtail drilling operations before currents build to threatening levels.  The monitoring program will also enhance capabilities for the design of deepwater production structures.

During the workshop, details of the current monitoring program as described in the attached draft Notice to Lessees (NTL), will be discussed.  The draft NTL applies to floating production facilities and drilling rigs in water depths greater than 400 meters (1,312 feet) and will ensure that the current data are gathered and reported in a consistent manner.

The draft NTL proposes a two-year pilot program, with a mid-term evaluation workshop to assess the program.  Data are already being collected at numerous sites and the pilot program will be fully operational by March 1, 2005.

Workshop Information

Date: Thursday, September 30, 2004
Time: 8:30a.m. to 4:30p.m.
Location:  Sheraton North Houston Hotel
                    Amphitheatre- First Floor
Address:    15700 John F. Kennedy Blvd.
                    Houston, Texas

Please see the attached agenda for the particulars on the times for different discussions.

Registration will be at the door or you can send an E-mail to o@mms.gov to preregister.  

The Minerals Management Service is the federal agency in the U.S. Department of the Interior that manages the nation’s oil, natural gas, and other mineral resources on the Outer Continental Shelf in Federal offshore waters.  The agency also collects, accounts for, and disburses mineral revenues from Federal and American Indian lands.  MMS disbursed more than $8 billion in FY 2003 and more than $135 billion since the agency was created in 1982.  Nearly $1 billion from those revenues go into the Land and Water Conservation Fund annually for the acquisition and development of state and Federal park and recreation lands.

MMS Main Website:  www.mms.gov
MMS Gulf of Mexico Website:  www.gomr.mms.gov

* * * MMS:  Securing Ocean Energy and Economic Value for America * * *

Deepwater Current Monitoring Workshop
September 30, 2004

8:00 – 8:30  Registration

Minerals Management Service Session

8:30 – 8:40 Welcome/Introduction
8:40 – 9:15 NTL Background
9:15 – 9:30 Questions and Answer Period
9:30 – 10:30 NTL Overview
10:30 – 11: 00 Break
11:00 – 11:20 Path Forward
11:20 – 11:40 Question and Answer Period
11:40 – 13:30 Lunch

Offshore Operators Session

13:30 – 13:45 Background of OOC efforts on NTL
13:45 – 14:45 Ongoing Industry Efforts
(EddyNet, Eddywatch, etc.)
14:15 – 1430 How Industry uses Data
14:30 – 14:45 How Can the NTL Data be Used
14:45 – 15:10 Break
15:10 – 15:40 Industry Strawman for Data Collection
15:40 - Question and Answer Period

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