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Are there maps of GOM capped well heads out there anywhere?

Posted on 9/14/20 at 11:08 am
Posted by bamarep
Member since Nov 2013
52363 posts
Posted on 9/14/20 at 11:08 am
The only ones I can find are of active platforms and not older inactive well heads.

A buddy said he ran across one that lit up his finder like a Christmas tree but the dumbass didn't waypoint it.

Thanks for any guidance.
Posted by 34venture
Buffer Zone
Member since Mar 2010
11369 posts
Posted on 9/14/20 at 2:24 pm to
LINK


This shows everything, it may help ya.
This post was edited on 9/14/20 at 2:26 pm
Posted by mylsuhat
Mandeville, LA
Member since Mar 2008
49840 posts
Posted on 9/14/20 at 2:28 pm to
A capped subsea wellhead by itself is unlikely to hold much for fish.

A cut off or reefed platform on the other hand will have tons
Posted by AutoYes_Clown
Baton Rouge, LA
Member since Oct 2012
5343 posts
Posted on 9/14/20 at 2:36 pm to
Posted by DownshiftAndFloorIt
Here
Member since Jan 2011
71076 posts
Posted on 9/14/20 at 2:42 pm to
Navionics kinda pisses me off. I went to a marked wreck one day and there wasn't shite there that I could find
Posted by 72LATraveler
Member since Aug 2014
136 posts
Posted on 9/14/20 at 3:43 pm to
Navionics app. I always check them if I’m passing by. Also don’t be afraid to check where pipelines cross. Sometimes there is a wellhead or valve at that point that holds fish. Found quite a few that stay loaded
Posted by fishfighter
RIP
Member since Apr 2008
40026 posts
Posted on 9/14/20 at 3:50 pm to
Got a few maps and Hilton books for the 1990's somewhere in the house. If I find them, I will give them to anyone that wants them.
Posted by SeaPickle
Thibodaux
Member since May 2011
3176 posts
Posted on 9/14/20 at 3:51 pm to
Im in platform decommissioning work and there are no capped wellheads permanently left there once a platform is removed. All wells and piles are cut minimum 15' below mud line. In certain situations there are well stubs left after platform removal but they are temporary until a dive boat can come back to get them.

There are items like valves or piles of cement bags to weigh down a pipeline at a junction or crossing that will show on depth finders. Also like mentioned above he may have ran over a reef site. There are a few around the gulf.
This post was edited on 9/14/20 at 3:53 pm
Posted by bamarep
Member since Nov 2013
52363 posts
Posted on 9/14/20 at 7:27 pm to
Thanks for all the info guys. He ran across something that lit up. Based on where it was he assumed it was a capped head.
Posted by C
Houston
Member since Dec 2007
28165 posts
Posted on 9/14/20 at 7:47 pm to
Sometimes they leave the platforms for artificial reefs. Just lay them down. LINK
Posted by SeaPickle
Thibodaux
Member since May 2011
3176 posts
Posted on 9/15/20 at 7:17 am to
There are 7 or so federally designated reef sites in the GOM. Jackets are towed to reef in these zones.
If a structure is too heavy and or deep to be cost effective to be removed it can be permitted to be reefed in place. This means it can be toppled from where it stood or horizontally cut in half and the top placed next to the bottom
This post was edited on 9/15/20 at 8:03 am
Posted by greenhead11
Member since Feb 2012
952 posts
Posted on 9/15/20 at 9:48 am to
So most of the previous rigs that have been removed won’t even have any pylons ruble etc on the bottom?
Posted by G2160
houston
Member since May 2013
2125 posts
Posted on 9/15/20 at 10:24 am to
quote:

SeaPickle


Speaks the truth. Except there are a shitload more than 7 reefsites in the GOM.
Posted by G2160
houston
Member since May 2013
2125 posts
Posted on 9/15/20 at 10:28 am to
quote:

So most of the previous rigs that have been removed won’t even have any pylons ruble etc on the bottom?



Not only is everything removed to down below mud line, the area is dragged with nets to pick up anything left behind.

And as was previously mentioned, there aren’t really many random wellheads sticking up above the mud. I’m not going to say there are zero, but you can bet that most anything on a printed map that says “wellhead” is something else or has long since been removed. If they were actual unguarded wellheads, shrimpers would eventually destroy them. It’s possible he stumbled on a valve assembly or something else (which will be covered by a net guard or sand bags).
This post was edited on 9/15/20 at 10:30 am
Posted by SeaPickle
Thibodaux
Member since May 2011
3176 posts
Posted on 9/15/20 at 2:37 pm to
quote:

Except there are a shitload more than 7 reefsites in the GOM.

you are right. Not sure why i had 7 in my head. after looking its 14 designated areas in Louisiana waters. Each reef site had multiple jackets that have been towed there - some more than others
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