Offshore staff
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) has developed a web-based offshore infrastructure dashboard (OID) for sharing data with stakeholders who have diverse interests in the Gulf of Mexico.
The OID is said to provide a single online location for federal and state partners along with non-governmental organizations and the public to access information on Gulf of Mexico oil and gas platforms and infrastructure eligible for the Rigs-to-Reefs program.
BSEE Director Scott Angelle said: “The dashboard makes retrieving facility data easier for everyone with an interest in the Gulf of Mexico. Although the information was always available on BSEE.gov, it was challenging to access and understand it.”
Mike McDonough, Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries Artificial Reef Coordinator, said: “The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement’s new offshore infrastructure dashboard is a helpful addition to Louisiana’s effort to create offshore artificial reefs.”
Over the last decade, about 200 platforms were decommissioned annually in the Gulf of Mexico. This trend is expected to continue. BSEE said it developed the OID to increase engagement with federal and state partners, facility owners, outer continental shelf (OCS) user groups, and coastal communities. This dashboard ensures that information is available to everyone with an interest in the Gulf of Mexico.
David Cresson, Executive Director of Coastal Conservation Association of Louisiana, said: “The required removal of structures has been a concern to anglers for many years, and we appreciate the agency working with us to find common-sense solutions. Giving states, operators, and anglers more opportunities to explore reefing instead of total removal is a win-win for all involved, most importantly, the marine species who call these structures their home.”
The Gulf of Mexico, historically a tremendous fisheries producer, contributes millions of dollars to the economy every year. With some research suggesting that more than half of Gulf of Mexico recreational fishing is directly related to offshore oil and natural gas structures, the OID provides necessary data, charting the number and location of offshore energy facilities as they currently exist, to ensure holistic decision making before structures are decommissioned.
With about 15% of all US oil production also coming from the Gulf of Mexico, American jobs and coastal economies are directly linked to offshore facilities. “Finding ways to enable the coexistence of these diverse groups is important,” said Angelle. “This dashboard delivers critical information regarding structures that can be used to benefit marine life and the economies of states and coastal communities.”
01/21/2021
