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Are drilling rigs safe during hurricanes

Ten years later: Oil rig safety lessons learned from

Every day nearly 10,000 people wake up on a platform or a drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico and go to work. The oil and gas industry says its

The Risks to Offshore Workers Posed by Hurricane Helene

Hurricanes are among the most dangerous threats to offshore workers, and Hurricane Helene is no exception. As the storm approaches, workers on oil rigs, drilling

Safety Concerns During Hurricanes in the Oil and Gas Industry

High winds, rough seas, and strong currents can damage or even destroy rigs and platforms. Equipment can be torn from its moorings, and drilling operations may be compromised.

2025 HURRICANE FACT SHEET

The oil and natural gas industry has developed standards to ensure the safety of personnel on drilling rigs and platforms leading up to and following a hurricane.

Severe weather is inevitable, so planning is essential

"During a hurricane, for example, the current offshore operating approach requires personnel evacuation before the latest safe departure time and most production and drilling activities to

New Storm Avoidance Rules for Offshore Rigs | Arnold & Itkin

Offshore drillers face new storm avoidance rules, thanks to near misses in past hurricane seasons. Learn more in this blog by Arnold & Itkin''s offshore injury lawyers.

Chevron Shuts In Gulf of Mexico Oil and Gas Platform

Chevron shut down its Blind Faith platform and evacuated personnel in preparation for Hurricane Milton, while other Gulf of Mexico

What happens to oil rigs during hurricanes?

Every single safety valve held during the 2005 hurricane season. Do they evacuate oil rigs during hurricanes? Days in advance of a tropical storm or hurricane moving toward or near their

Hurricane Warnings & Offshore Worker Safety | Maritime Injury

When hurricanes and other storms strike, who is responsible for keeping the crews of offshore rigs safe? Learn about evacuations, hurricane preparedness, and more in this blog by Arnold & Itkin.

Exclusive: 2020''s Hurricane Zeta Nearly Caused

It was Thursday, October 22, 2020, when the crew aboard the Transocean Deepwater Asgard, an ultra-deepwater rig in the Gulf of Mexico,

Why Oil Rig Safety Should be Taken More Seriously

Environmental and Weather-Related Hazards Oil rig operations are uniquely susceptible to environmental and weather-related hazards, with

More US Gulf oil platforms shut-in, Port of Tampa closed as Hurricane

HOUSTON (ICIS)–Hurricane Ian gained strength during the day on Tuesday, leading more oil and gas producers to evacuate offshore drilling platforms in the US Gulf as

Storm center | News & Stories | bp America

About bp''s storm response activities bp is committed to safe and reliable operations in the deepwater Gulf of America, where it operates four large

HURRICANES AND THE OFFSHORE OIL AND NATURAL

An UNDERSTANDING THE TECHNOLOGY: RIGS VS. PLATFORMS also natural offshore used to gas drilling is a facility housing equipment involved complete from underground reservoirs.

Hurricane Season Information

3. Role of the U.S. Coast Guard: The U.S. Coast Guard is the lead federal agency for coordinating evacuations during a hurricane or other emergency situations.

The Importance of Hurricane Preparedness in Oil and Gas

Likewise, securing assets, such as drilling rigs, platforms, and production facilities, is critical to prevent damage or destruction. Preparing for a hurricane requires effective

What Happens To Oil Rigs During Hurricanes?

In preparation for hurricanes, and in accordance with API standards, oil and gas companies must have several contingency plans in place to prevent costly business

After near-misses in 2020 and 2021, offshore oil rigs have new

After near-misses in 2020 and 2021, offshore oil rigs have new rules to avoid hurricanes They must report time needed to evacuate for a storm, and progress getting out

BSEE Hurricane Ida Activity Final Report: September 23, 2021

Rigs can include several types of offshore drilling facilities including jackup rigs, platform rigs, all submersibles and moored semisubmersibles. One dynamically positioned rig

Mooring Systems Reduce the Risk of Hurricane

With circumstances demanding stronger mooring systems to keep rigs on location in extreme weather conditions, companies may look to use

How is the Natural Gas And Oil Industry Preparing?

In addition to causing serious flooding and power outages, the hurricane could deal a major blow to the country''s oil and gas operations.

Final Update: BSEE Monitors Gulf of Mexico Oil and

Rigs can include several types of offshore drilling facilities including jackup rigs, platform rigs, all submersibles, and moored

New storm avoidance rules for offshore drillers after near-misses

But the larger concern is whether drilling rigs are following proper safety protocols in the face of stronger and more common hurricanes.

HURRICANES AND THE OFFSHORE OIL AND NATURAL

For example, Shell''s Mars platform sustained serious damage during Hurricane Katrina (above), but dedicated and talented crews were able to repair the facility (below).

Shell and Chevron getting back to drilling and oil

Two oil majors, UK-headquartered energy giant Shell and its U.S.-based rival, Chevron, are returning personnel to their offshore assets in the

Hurricane One Pagers

GPS locator systems allow drillers and regulators to remotely monitor the location of offshore rigs before, during and after a hurricane. If a rig is pulled offsite by the storm, locator systems allow

Hurricane threat prompts US oil companies to evacuate Gulf of

The weather system west of Cuba could become a Category 4 hurricane by Thursday, posing a direct threat to regional energy infrastructures.

5 Ways Hurricanes Affect Offshore Workers & Their Families

Hurricanes have a harsher impact on offshore workers than anyone else, and they make life even tougher for their families. Read more today.

BSEE Monitors Gulf of Mexico Oil and Gas Activities

The BSEE Hurricane Response Team continues to monitor Gulf of Mexico oil and gas activities. NEW ORLEANS — The Bureau of Safety and

How a Rig Prepares for a Hurricane

Despite being built to withstand the ocean''s fury, hurricanes can be disastrous for oil rigs and offshore oil platforms. In the Gulf of Mexico alone, the industry relies on hundreds of rigs to

The Risks to Offshore Workers Posed by Hurricane Helene

As the storm approaches, workers on oil rigs, drilling platforms, and supply vessels face significant risks of accidents, injuries, or even fatalities. The harsh conditions of offshore

Offshore Energy and the Risks of Weather

About 20 mobile drilling rigs experienced total failure, including nearly a dozen newer semi-submersible floating drilling units." Hurricanes are

Are drilling rigs safe during hurricanes [PDF]

6 FAQs about [Are drilling rigs safe during hurricanes]

What is America's oil & natural gas industry doing after a hurricane?

After a hurricane or tropical storm, America's oil and natural gas industry works to return to full operations as quickly and as safely as possible. The industry is committed to protecting the environment and continuously improving its hurricane preparation and response plans.

Where should jack-up rigs be located during hurricane season?

According to API RP 95J, published in 2006 and reaffirmed since then, jack-up rigs should be located on more stable areas of the sea floor and positioned platform decks higher above the sea surface during hurricane season.

How many oil & natural gas production platforms were affected by hurricanes?

Approximately 2,127 of the 3,800 total oil and natural gas production platforms in the Gulf of Mexico were exposed to hurricane conditions, with winds greater than 74 miles per hour, from Hurricanes Gustav and Ike.

How did Hurricane Katrina affect oil & gas?

“The overall damage caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita has shown them to be the greatest natural disasters to oil and gas development in the history of the Gulf of Mexico,” a government official said some months later. The 2005 hurricane season did force the industry to take hurricane preparations more seriously.

Do offshore drilling rigs have a GPS locator system?

Offshore drilling rigs are equipped with GPS locator systems, which allow federal officials and drilling contractors to remotely monitor the rigs' location. If a rig is moved by a storm, locator systems help crews find and recover the rig as quickly and safely as possible.

How will Hurricane Harvey affect oil & gas?

So here we are in August, with Hurricane Harvey heading toward the coast of Texas. In addition to causing serious flooding and power outages, the hurricane could deal a major blow to the country’s oil and gas operations.