The following are general descriptions of duties and responsibilities of engineers in the various program offices of the Minerals Management Service (MMS) Gulf of Mexico OCS Region:

Office of Field Operations

Field Operations engineers are responsible for ensuring that offshore Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) operations are performed in a safe and environmentally sound manner. This is accomplished through two main programs: a rigorous planning, permitting, and reporting program; and an inspection, investigation, and enforcement program. Plans and permit requests are reviewed to verify that the proposed procedures and technology comply with industry standards and MMS regulations. Part of this process also involves reviewing MMS regulations to make certain that they allow the best available and safest new technology. The engineers verify that operations are conducted in accordance with the approved plans and permits by reviewing reports and visiting and inspecting offshore rigs and facilities. Violations are subject to MMS citations and civil penalties. Through the work of the Field Operations engineers, the MMS is assured that offshore personnel, the environment, and the public are protected.

Office of Resource Evaluation

Engineers in the Geological and Geophysical Section apply engineering and economic data, together with geological and geophysical information, to generate resource estimates, infrastructure, and exploration and development scenarios for inclusion in the Agency’s Natural Gas and Oil Leasing Program, environmental impact statements, and for the Assessment of Oil and Gas Resources in the Gulf of Mexico. These same data and information are used to ensure receipt of fair market value for offshore tracts receiving bids in the Agency’s Oil and Gas Leasing Program through the use of discounted cash flow simulation models. Reserves Section engineers complete oil and gas field studies through the analysis, evaluation, and interpretation of reservoir engineering data and geological and geophysical information to estimate the volume of hydrocarbon reserves and resources on the Federal OCS. An extensive database of reservoir properties is maintained to ensure accuracy in reporting hydrocarbon reserve estimates for nearly 1,000 oil and gas fields containing over 22,000 reservoirs in the Gulf of Mexico OCS.

Office of Production and Development

Engineers in the Office of Production and Development perform duties that are focused on the conservation of natural resources, prevention of hydrocarbon waste, and/or the protection of correlative rights including Federal royalty interests. The Surface Commingling and Production Measurement Section approves applications for leases to commence production in accordance with the principle that Federal oil and gas royalties will be properly measured. The Development and Unitization Section ensures the proper development of the oil, gas, sulphur and salt resources through unitization, suspensions of production and suspensions of operation, royalty relief, and secondary and enhanced recovery projects. The Rate Control Section ensures maximization of hydrocarbon recovery through regulatory enforcement of production rates, gas flaring, downhole commingling, gas cap production, and conservation reviews for deepwater projects.

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