About 63% of US Gulf oil production shut in ahead of Hurricane Isaias
USO•US Gulf producers shut in about 1.3 million barrels per day of oil and 1.1 billion cubic feet per day of natural gas, representing roughly 63% and 57% of regional output. A model forecast estimated the storm could cut Gulf oil production by about 9 million barrels.
1. Production shut-ins
Producers shut in about 1.3 million barrels per day of oil and 1.1 billion cubic feet per day of natural gas as Hurricane Isaias moved toward the Gulf Coast. The shut-ins represented roughly 63% of Gulf oil production and 57% of natural gas production, the Marine Minerals Administration said.
2. Evacuations and losses
Personnel were evacuated from 121 of the Gulf’s 371 manned production platforms, and workers were removed from five of 11 non-dynamically positioned rigs. Four of 17 dynamically positioned rigs moved off location as a precaution. Earth Science Associates’ model forecast estimated that about 9 million barrels of oil production could be lost across the Gulf during the storm.
3. Company operations
BP said it shut in production and evacuated personnel from its Na Kika and Thunder Horse platforms. Chevron shut in production at five Gulf facilities, moved most offshore personnel onshore and continued production at four other platforms; Shell said it was curtailing Gulf operations.
