Oklahoma oil and gas firms prepare to resume Gulf operations

Wednesday, August 31st 2005, 5:28 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Oklahoma oil and gas producers are preparing to restart operations in the Gulf of Mexico after inspectors at offshore oil and gas rigs found little or no damage from Hurricane Katrina.

Brian Engel, manager of public affairs at Oklahoma City-based Devon Energy Corporation says although damage is light it's still too early to tell when the company will be back up to full production.

Devon operates 308 manned and unmanned oil and gas facilities in the gulf.

Kerr-McGee Corporation returned workers to the gulf and restarted production and drilling activities after inspectors found no structural damage from the powerful storm.

Kerr-McGee, also based in Oklahoma City, already has restarted production of about 55,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day in the gulf.