Apache joins Marine Well Containment Company

Apache Corporation announced that its subsidiary, Apache Deepwater LLC, has agreed to join the Marine Well Containment Company (MWCC), a not-for-profit, independent organization consisting of ExxonMobil, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, Shell, and BP, among others.  The MWCC pledges to remain committed and ready to respond to a well control incident in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico.

“We are happy to have Apache as a member of the Marine Well Containment Company.  It is an active Gulf of Mexico operator and a key participant in offshore deepwater development,” said Marty Massey, MWCC chief executive officer. “We have been working with Gulf of Mexico operators since last year to inform potential members about MWCC. The membership formation period started in the middle of February. Each member will have equal ownership, as well as share in the development and operating costs.”

In the event of an incident, MWCC will support equipment mobilization. An interim containment system is ready for deployment with the capacity to contain up to 60,000 barrels per day of fluid in up to 8,000 feet of water. Work is also underway on an expanded containment system for delivery in 2012 to handle up to 100,000 barrels per day of fluid in up to 10,000 feet of water.

Photo: An Apache rig in the Gulf of Mexico courtesy Apache Corp.