History of the Offshore Oil and Gas Industry in Southern Louisiana
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OCS Study MMS 2008-042 History of the Offshore Oil and Gas Industry in Southern Louisiana Volume I: Papers on the Evolving Offshore Industry U.S. Department of the Interior Minerals Management Service Gulf of Mexico OCS Region OCS Study MMS 2008-042 History of the Offshore Oil and Gas Industry in Southern Louisiana Volume I: Papers on the Evolving Offshore Industry Authors Diane Austin Tyler Priest Lauren Penney Joseph Pratt Allan G. Pulsipher Joseph Abel Jennifer Taylor Prepared under MMS Contract 1435-01-02-CA-85169 by Louisiana State University Center for Energy Studies Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803 Published by U.S. Department of the Interior New Orleans Minerals Management Service Gulf of Mexico OCS Region September 2008 DISCLAIMER This report was prepared under contract between the Minerals Management Service (MMS) and Louisiana State University’s Center for Energy Studies. This report has not been technically reviewed by MMS. Approval does not signify that the contents necessarily reflect the view and policies of the Service, nor does mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation for use. It is, however, exempt from review and compliance with MMS editorial standards. REPORT AVAILABILITY Extra copies of the report may be obtained from the Public Information Office (Mail Stop 5034) at the following address: U.S. Department of the Interior Minerals Management Service Gulf of Mexico OCS Region Public Information Office (MS 5034) 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard New Orleans, Louisiana 70123-2394 Telephone Number: 1-800-200-GULF 1-504-736-2519 CITATION Suggested citation: Austin, D. E., T. Priest, L. Penney, J. Pratt, A. G. Pulsipher, J. Abel and J. Taylor. 2008. History of the offshore oil and gas industry in southern Louisiana. Volume I: Papers on the evolving offshore industry. U.S. Dept. of the Interior, Minerals Management Service, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, New Orleans, LA. OCS Study MMS 2008-042. 264 pp. ABOUT THE COVER Offshore rig, vessels, and barge in the Gulf of Mexico, May 1956, Jesse Grice Collection (photo number 242-16), Morgan City Archives. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page LIST OF FIGURES ....................................................................................................................... ix LIST OF TABLES......................................................................................................................... xi PREFACE.................................................................................................................................... xiii 1. INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND (Diane Austin, Tyler Priest, Allan G. Pulsipher).....................................................................................................1 1.1. Project Objectives......................................................................................................2 1.2. Rationale.....................................................................................................................2 1.3. Organization of the Project ........................................................................................4 1.4. Methods......................................................................................................................5 1.5. Organization of Volume I ..........................................................................................7 2. TECHNOLOGY AND STRATEGY OF PETROLEUM EXPLORATION IN COASTAL AND OFFSHORE GULF OF MEXICO (Tyler Priest)........................11 2.1. Introduction..............................................................................................................11 2.2. Grand Entrance of Geophysics.................................................................................13 2.3. Pirogues, “Pack Mules,” and Marsh Buggies ..........................................................25 2.4. Exploratory Drilling from Wetlands to Open Water................................................29 2.5. References................................................................................................................32 3. IN THE WAKE OF WAR: WORLD WAR II AND THE OFFSHORE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY (Lauren Penney) ...............................................................37 3.1. Method.....................................................................................................................37 3.2. The Setting before the War ......................................................................................38 3.3. The Beginnings of the Oil Industry in Louisiana.....................................................40 3.4. The Oil and Gas Industry during World War II .......................................................42 3.5. Joining Up................................................................................................................46 3.6. The Home Front .......................................................................................................48 3.7. In the Service............................................................................................................50 3.8. After the War............................................................................................................51 3.9. Moving Offshore......................................................................................................55 3.10. Comparing Experiences in the War and the Oilfield ...............................................60 3.11. Conclusion................................................................................................................63 3.12. References................................................................................................................65 4. CLAIMING THE COASTAL SEA: THE BATTLES FOR THE “TIDELANDS,” 1937-1953 (Tyler Priest) ..............................................................67 4.1. Introduction..............................................................................................................67 4.2. Executive Action......................................................................................................68 4.3. Judicial Action..........................................................................................................73 v TABLE OF CONTENTS (continued) Page 4.4. Failed Compromises.................................................................................................77 4.5. Legislative Action....................................................................................................83 4.6. References................................................................................................................90 5. AUCTIONING THE OCEAN: THE CREATION OF THE FEDERAL OFFSHORE LEASING PROGRAM, 1954-1962 (Tyler Priest).............................93 5.1. Introduction..............................................................................................................93 5.2. Early Federal OCS Leasing and the “Interim Agreement” ......................................94 5.3. The Sales that Revived the Gulf.............................................................................105 5.4. References..............................................................................................................113 6. THE BRAVE AND THE FOOLHARDY: HURRICANES AND THE EARLY OFFSHORE OIL INDUSTRY (Joseph A. Pratt)...................................................117 6.1. Introduction............................................................................................................117 6.2. Early Platforms.......................................................................................................119 6.3. Postwar Developments in Platform Technology....................................................121 6.4. Reevaluating Wave Forces and Heights.................................................................124 6.5. The “Gulf of Mexico System” ...............................................................................125 6.6. Monster Hurricanes of the 1960s ...........................................................................130 6.7. A New Consensus ..................................................................................................134 6.8. References..............................................................................................................135 7. WAKE-UP CALL: ACCIDENTS AND SAFETY PROVISION IN THE GULF OF MEXICO OFFSHORE INDUSTRY (Tyler Priest) .............................139 7.1. Introduction............................................................................................................139 7.2. The Dangers of Offshore Work..............................................................................140 7.3. Status Quo in the 1960s..........................................................................................144 7.4. Wake-up Calls........................................................................................................146 7.5. The New Religion of Safety...................................................................................147 7.6. References..............................................................................................................152 8. COMMERCIAL DIVING AND THE ROLE OF PEOPLE, TECHNOLOGY, AND THE ORGANIZATION OF WORK (Diane Austin)...................................157 8.1. Introduction............................................................................................................157 8.2. Construction Diving...............................................................................................157