US Gulf producers shut in more oil and gas as Isaias nears landfall
USO•US Gulf producers shut in about 1.5 million barrels per day of oil and 1.3 billion cubic feet per day of natural gas as Hurricane Isaias approached, representing nearly 72% of Gulf oil output and 59% of gas output. The storm could disrupt roughly 7.2 million barrels of Gulf oil production, Earth Science Associates estimated.
1. Production shut-ins rise
US producers shut in about 1.5 million barrels per day of Gulf of Mexico oil production and 1.3 billion cubic feet per day of natural gas as Hurricane Isaias moved toward the coast. The Marine Minerals Administration said the shut-ins represented nearly 72% of Gulf oil production and 59% of natural gas production.
2. Evacuations and storm impact
Crews evacuated 129 staffed production platforms, or 35% of the Gulf total, and eight non-dynamically positioned rigs, the agency said. Earth Science Associates estimated the hurricane could disrupt roughly 7.2 million barrels of Gulf oil production, down from its 9 million-barrel estimate on Thursday as the projected path shifted east.
3. Company and refinery updates
Shell said it completed evacuations at five facilities and had shut in production at four. Chevron evacuated most personnel, maintained production at four operated platforms and shut in output at five others. Energy Aspects estimated about 500,000 barrels of daily refining capacity, including the Pascagoula refinery, were in the storm’s path.
