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

Rigs Drilling in Deepwater Gulf Reaches Record High

The number of rigs drilling in deepwater in the Gulf of Mexico rose to a record high of 40 this week, according to the Department of the Interior’s Minerals Management Service.

MMS Director Walt Rosenbusch commented that "This level of deepwater oil and gas activity illustrates the tremendous level of economic activity in the deepwater portion of the Gulf of Mexico.  Just last year, there were only 26 rigs working in deepwater, but that number continued to rise, making 2000 a record-setting year."  MMS defines deepwater as 1,000 feet of water or greater.  Of the 40 wells drilling in deepwater, 33 of them were in 1,500 feet of water or greater.

Director Rosenbusch also noted that "the number of wells being drilled in the so called ultradeep water -- those in 5,000 feet of water or greater -- continues to grow significantly.  Currently there are seven wells being drilled in water depths of 5,000 feet or greater; three in excess of 7,500 feet.  "The seven wells and the company operating the well and the water depth are

For additional information about deepwater activity, visit the MMS Gulf of Mexico regional website at www.gomr.mms.gov/homepg/offshore/deepwtr.html.

The MMS, a bureau in the U.S. Department of the Interior, is the federal agency that manages the nation's natural gas, oil and other mineral resources on the outer continental shelf.  The agency also collects, accounts for and disburses more than $5 billion per year in revenues from federal offshore mineral leases and from onshore mineral leases on federal and Indian lands.

-MMS-GOM-

MMS's Website Address: http://www.mms.gov