Publication Date:
May 2012
Print Run:
5,000 copies
Main Event:
Offshore Technology Conference, Gastech, Subsea Tiebacks Forum
Other Events:
Arctic Technology Conference, Offshore South East Asia, Offshore Europe, Offshore Northern Seas, Subsea Aberdeen
Advertising:
Advertising for the current edition has closed. However, if you are interested in the next edition being planned publication April 2014; please contact Steve Adams to register your interest.
The US Gulf of Mexico offshore oil and gas industry was born off the coast of Louisiana in November 1947, when Kerr McGee brought on the first oil production well, what is now the Ship Shoal 32. From that point on Louisiana's relatively isolated coastal communities became significant contributors to the U.S. and the world's oil and gas industries. The US Gulf of Mexico was also the first location for offshore well structures to be built in open waters, whereas before they were located in sight of land or built out from the shore via piers.
The discovery of large quantities of oil and gas in the US Gulf of Mexico has been one of the most dramatic events in the post-war history of the US.
From these early platforms the Gulf of Mexico has developed into an area of extensive installed operational infrastructure with 3,456 platforms, 636 subsea units and 6,908 pipelines equating to 48,064km. Over 37% of these operational units are 25 years old or older with a significant number expected to remain in operation for many years into the future.
Oil production has grown rapidly from negligible levels in 1950 to 1.638 mbd in 2010. However, today's oil and gas industry and its development rely on what is now an aging infrastructure. Infield Systems Ltd, the world's leading offshore oil and gas market analysts, has charted the infrastructure of the US Gulf of Mexico from the earliest developments – most of which are now past peak production – starting from the 1940s to all future projects planned for development by 2016, on one full colour wall map.
This wall map will again provide an insight into how even modern field developments may grow to rely on an ageing infrastructure for the transportation of production. While the use of existing infrastructure in improving project economics may lead to reduced costs and faster development times, the current network of fields and platforms could lead to the consequences of product loss through 'leakage,' increased Opex costs and transit fees, and increased environmental risk.
According to Infield data 13.4bn barrels of oil and gas reserves are forecast to come onstream offshore North America between the years 2012 and 2016. With platforms and fields coming to the end of their productive life, information on which fields will close and those which will have to continue is crucially important to all major players in the offshore oil and gas industry. The US Gulf of Mexico Oil & Gas Infrastructure Map will go a considerable way to informing industry players of the future ahead.
For details about this map and when and where copies can be obtained at an event or purchased from the Infield Shop please visit the Gulf of Mexico Infrastructure & Integrity Map home page.