HOUSTON, May 15 (Reuters) - U.S. government and offshore oil industry officials on Thursday touted their readiness for the 2008 hurricane season, including a new effort to strengthen "high-consequence" structures in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico.

"We are much better prepared than we were three years ago," said Walter Cruickshank, deputy director of the U.S. Minerals Management Service, recalling the widespread destruction by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005.

Cruickshank was joined at a news briefing by officials of the U.S. Coast Guard and American Petroleum Institute to call attention to the June 1 start of official hurricane season, which ends Nov. 30.

The U.S. Gulf accounts for 25 percent of U.S. domestic oil output and 15 percent of gas production, so it is important to minimize disruptions from hurricane winds that can exceed 150 mph and waves that can reach 90 feet, officials said.

The latest move is to identify 65 offshore structures that are considered "high-consequence" because of their location, function or proximity to other important infrastructure and to require companies to assess and strengthen them if needed.

MMS Gulf Region Director Lars Herbst said new engineering standards, based on a new estimate of worst possible storm conditions, are being applied to platforms, especially those in the Central Gulf and deeper waters.

Other measures already have been taken and continue to be implemented to toughen offshore oil infrastructure, including stronger mooring of floating structures and better tie-down of equipment on platform decks to withstand hurricane winds.

The minimum distance between platform decks and the water has been increased from 50 to 70 feet to make facilities more resistant to the biggest storm-produced waves.

Plans are in place to shift flows of oil and gas in the event of damage to undersea pipelines, officials said. Oil can be moved ashore in barges and gas can be rerouted to other pipelines, they said.

MMS has added a Coast Guard official to its "continuation of operations" committee to improve coordination. MMS also has bolstered its readiness to temporarily shift offices from New Orleans to Houston if necessary, officials said. (Reporting by Bruce Nichols, editing by Richard Chang)

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