Oil-spill risk analysis: Central and western Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf lease sales 157 and 161. Final report

The Federal Government has proposed to offer Outer Continental Shelf lands in Central and Western Gulf of Mexico for oil and gas leasing. Because oil spills may occur from activities associated with offshore oil production, the Minerals Management Service conducts a formal risk assessment. In evaluating the significance of accidental oil spills, it is important to remember that occurrence of such spills is fundamentally probabilistic. The effects of oil spills that could occur during oil and gas production must be considered. The report summarizes results of an oil-spill risk analysis conducted for the proposed Central and Western Gulf of Mexico OCS Lease Sales 157 and 161. The objective of this analysis was to estimate relative risks associated with oil and gas production for the proposed lease sales.