Chevron boss talks Gulf of Mexico growth

Business in the Gulf of Mexico has boomed in recent years – a surge in activity so rich that the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010 feels like a distant memory to most within the industry.

A top Chevron executive said this week that he expects the surge to continue into the future – obviously good news for the Tri-parish area’s economy.

Speaking before local business leaders and lawmakers at last week’s regularly scheduled South Central Industrial Association (SCIA) meeting, Chevron North America vice president of exploration and production Warner Williams said that all trends are pointing upward for the Gulf of Mexico’s future in exploration.

The vice president said that he thinks the current “golden age” will experience prolonged life, as companies like Chevron and others continue to invest millions and sometimes billions of dollars into Louisiana’s coast and the Gulf South.

“Some people ask, ‘Is this energy-driven Renaissance going to continue?’ I’m here to tell you that in spite of that uncertainty, our industry will continue to expand,” Williams said. “The Energy Information Administration forecasts global energy demand to grow by 40 percent by the year 2035.”

Williams’ comments come as refreshing remarks to our area – a segment of the country that is heavily dominated by the oil and gas industry. Williams said he understands that President Barack Obama and other world leaders are making a push to promote greener energy – a shift that has some uneasy across the state. But Williams said even if one forecasts a drop in American dependence on fossil fuels, companies like Chevron and others are still forecast to grow.

“Currently, we know that fossil fuels make up 80 percent of the global fuel mix,” Williams said. “Even if we look at future scenarios, we see that fossil fuels will still account for a huge portion of our nation’s energy.

“No matter how it’s sliced, Louisiana will play an important role in dividing the country’s domestic supply of oil and gas.”

With Louisiana playing a huge role, Williams said Chevron is dedicated to the Tri-parish area. The vice president touted some of the oilfield conglomerates biggest projects within the region, including a multi-million dollar project underway at the Leonard Miller Jr. Airport in Galliano.

During that project, Williams said, $29 million will be spent so that Chevron can house a fleet of helicopters in the Lafourche Parish facility – a construction project that once completed, will move 6,000 workers to and from the Gulf of Mexico each month.

Williams said the project will also be beneficial to the area’s economy directly, as local companies will be among those in the mix to land the construction jobs to build the facility.

“We couldn’t do what we do without the people in this room today,” Williams said. “The business leaders, workers and citizens of this area work together with us in our continued efforts to see this region continue to grow and prosper.”

Williams said Chevron recently unveiled its budget for 2014, but that he couldn’t share specific figures because the budget hasn’t been made public just yet.

But he quickly assured those in attendance that the Pelican State will remain in consideration for any and all projects that Chevron has to offer.

He said Louisiana has been a “crucial state” in America’s continued fight to gain energy independence from the Middle East.

He also lauded the work done by Chevron and the rest of the oil and gas industry to quickly rebound following 2010’s oil spill, saying that things are currently back to normal in the industry with workers laboring in safer conditions than ever.

“We’ve operated in Louisiana for over 60 years and we hope to be here for many more,” Williams said. “So getting results the right way means that we’ll continue to protect the environment and support charitable causes and invest in Louisiana’s economic development.”