U.S. Department of the Interior Minerals Management Service Gulf of Mexico OCS Region

Test of Massive Emergency Response Goes Well, Says MMS

The Minerals Management Service (MMS), a bureau of the Department of the Interior, conducted a full-scale test this past Thursday, July 15, of emergency preparedness of oil and gas companies to respond to oil spill events caused by a simulated hurricane.

MMS Director Walt Rosenbusch termed the drill a success. "This drill simulated three virtually simultaneous oil and gas spill events that severely tested the capacity of the oil spill response organization (OSRO) and three oil and gas operators or pipeline companies to respond. While some improvements will be necessary, the operators and OSRO handled the multiple demands in a satisfactory manner."

The simulated drill by MMS involved an oil spill at a Taylor Energy Company facility, a gas and condensate spill from a Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company facility, and an oil spill at a W&T Offshore, Inc., facility.

MMS has a routine program of testing operators’ ability to respond to an oil spill. The Gulf of Mexico Region has conducted 11 drills this year, not including the 3 held on July 15.

MMS is the Federal Agency that manages the Nation’s oil and gas and other mineral resources on the OCS and collects, accounts for, and last year disbursed about $6 billion in revenues from Federal offshore mineral leases and from onshore mineral leases on Federal and Indian lands.

-MMS-GOM-

MMS's Website Address: www.mms.gov
24 Hour Fax-on-Demand Service: 202-219-1703