Offshore operators continue to report damage from Hurricane Ike to the Minerals Management Service (MMS) Gulf of Mexico Regional Office. This information is compiled and used by MMS staff in reviewing and approving repair plans submitted by the oil and gas operators in order to resume oil and gas production from the Gulf of Mexico.

MMS estimates that from September 13, 2008 through September 14, 2008, approximately 1,450 oil and gas production platforms in the Gulf of Mexico were exposed to hurricane conditions, winds greater than 74 miles per hour. As of August 2008, there were more than 3,800 production platforms in the Gulf of Mexico; these structures range in size from single well caissons in water depths of ten feet to a large complex facility in water depth greater than 7,000 feet.

As of October 6, 2008, 54 of the 3,800 offshore oil and gas production platforms have been confirmed as destroyed. Initial estimates are that the 54 destroyed production platforms produced a total of 13,300 barrels of oil per day and 90 million cubic feet of gas per day.

Currently, MMS has no information on whether any of the destroyed platforms will be rebuilt by any operator. As MMS continues to verify damage assessment reports, some platforms originally designated as having extensive damage may be determined destroyed. These will be reflected in future damage assessments.