The number of rigs drilling in deepwater in the Gulf of Mexico rose to
a record high of 34 this week, according to the Department of the Interiors Minerals
Management Service (MMS).
MMS Director Walt Rosenbusch commented that "This level of
deepwater oil and gas activity has never been reached before. It illustrates the
tremendous level of economic activity that is flowing into the deepwater portion of the
Gulf of Mexico. Just last year, there were only 26 rigs working in deepwater." MMS
defines deepwater as 1,000 feet of water or greater.
Independent oil and gas companies are drilling thirteen of the
thirty-four wells. These include Conoco in 5,898 of water, Marathon in 5,620,
Anadarko in 4,320, Kerr-McGee in 3,678, and Mariner Energy in 3,462.
Others include EEX, McMoRan, Amerada Hess, Union Pacific, Walter Oil and Gas, and Elf.
Director Rosenbusch also noted, "Several companies have filed
plans for additional deepwater drilling later this year, so it is possible that the record
will soon be broken again. We have seen the level of drilling and production continue to
rise, and this confirms that the deepwater Gulf of Mexico is Americas emerging
frontier."
For additional information about deepwater activity, MMS has published
an 89-page report describing Deepwater Gulf of Mexico: Americas Emerging Frontier
(OCS Report MMS 2000-022). The report is available online through the MMS Gulf of Mexico
OCS Region website at www.gomr.mms.gov/homepg/whatsnew/techann/000022.html.
The report can also be ordered from the Gulf of Mexico OCS Region Public Information at
1-800-200-GULF.
MMS is the Federal agency that manages the Nation's natural gas, oil
and other mineral resources on the OCS, and collects, accounts for and disburses about $4
billion yearly in revenues from offshore Federal mineral leases and from onshore mineral
leases on Federal and Indian lands.