Welcome to the Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Region of the Minerals
Management Service (MMS). MMS is a bureau of the Department of the Interior. Our mission
is to manage the mineral resources of the Outer Continental Shelf in an environmentally
sound and safe manner. Please read the
Director's Page for a brief overview
of activities in the Gulf of Mexico.
The Gulf Region's Homepage also contains information about activities
offshore the Atlantic coast.
MMS to Hold Structural
Assessment Process Dissemination Meeting
The Minerals
Management Service (MMS) will hold a Structural Assessment Process Dissemination
Meeting on the proposed changes to American Petroleum Institute Recommended
Practice (API RP) 2A Section 17 on October 14, 2004. The meeting will be held
from 8:00 a.m. to 12 noon at the MMS Gulf of Mexico Regional Office, 1201
Elmwood Park Blvd, New Orleans.
(09/29/2004)
MMS Provides New
Encouragement for Deep Gas
MMS has issued a
new Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) to further encourage the exploration
for deep gas on the shelf area of the Gulf of Mexico at ultra-deep depths, “NTL
2004-G16, Suspension of Operations (SOO’s) for Drilling Ultra-Deep Wells
Under Salt Sheets.”
(08/19/2004)
Western Gulf of Mexico
Sale 192 Attracts $171,387,285 in High Bids
Deep
gas remained an important focus of Western Gulf of Mexico Sale 192 held in New
Orleans today. The offshore oil and natural gas lease sale, held by the
Department of the Interior’s Minerals Management Service, attracted
$171,387,285 in high bids. Fifty-four companies participated in the sale,
which offered 3,907 tracts comprising approximately 21.2 million acres
offshore Texas and Louisiana. The MMS received 421 bids on 351 tracts. Bids
totaled $197,395,164. (08/18/2004)
MMS
Completes Environmental Review of Seismic Activities and Effects on Marine
Mammals
The Minerals Management Service has announced the
completion of an environmental assessment (EA) evaluating the potential
environmental impacts of geological and geophysical (G&G) activities in the Gulf
of Mexico. The EA
analyzed the best available information on the effects of seismic surveys on
marine resources, and in particular marine mammals, including sperm whales.
Hundreds of documents were reviewed from around the world.
(08/03/2004)
WWII
Shipwrecks May Hold Key to Biological Mysteries of the Deep -
MMS and NOAA Scientists Team Up with Academic and Industry Professionals
to Study Gulf Shipwrecks
A
team of world-renowned, multidisciplinary scientists representing the federal
government, academia, and industry will soon begin a biological and
archaeological investigation of World War II shipwrecks in the deep waters of
the Gulf. (07/22/2004)
Click on the news release for a link to
the PAST Foundation for
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Interior of the conning
tower of the WWII German submarine U-166 |
Online Photo Gallery
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Coastal Marine Institute
Now Available
A Cooperative Agreement between Minerals Management Service and
Louisiana State University (LSU) was established in 1993 to allow for partnering
between the State and MMS on scientific research of interest to both. The
agreement takes advantage of local scientific expertise at LSU as well as
providing a source of funding for graduate student projects. Thus far, over 100
research projects have been funded through this program. The website describes
the program and lists all ongoing and completed projects.
(08/05/2004)
Deepwater Gulf of Mexico 2004: America’s Expanding Frontier
The latest
edition of the biennial publication Deepwater Gulf of Mexico 2004: America’s
Expanding Frontier (OCS Report MMS
2004-021) has been released. The report details the
extraordinary growth of oil and gas industry activity in the deepwater (1,000 ft
of water or more) Gulf over the past twelve years. (05/05/2004)
MMS Ocean Science Magazine Explores the Depths of Ocean Research
In
this issue you will learn about the study of the movement of water, i.e.
physical oceanography. The research funded
through MMS’ Environmental Studies Program includes more than $200 million just
to understand ocean currents, both at the surface and at depth.
You will learn about one project by high school
students, that examined surface currents using drifters. What
is a drifter? You can find out in this issue.
(09/29/2004)
If this is your first visit to the Gulf of Mexico
Region web, be sure to check out the Navigation Tips page.
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sign our Guest Book.
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