Energy Producers In Gulf Prepare For Storm, Shut Production
From Rigzone
U.S. regulators said Sunday that energy producers have shut nearly a quarter of the U.S. Gulf of Mexico’s oil production as Tropical Storm Isaac seemed to shift its trajectory westward, heading towards the heart of the region’s offshore oil patch.
The National Hurricane Center predicted that the storm, which is expected to leave the Florida Keys on Sunday night, would reach the Louisiana coast on Tuesday. Isaac, which has winds of 60 miles per hour, is expected to become a hurricane in a day or two, the NHC said. The agency issued a hurricane warning for the northern Gulf of Mexico coast from Morgan City, La. To Destin, Fla., including the city of New Orleans. The storm’s projected path goes over areas that contain a large portion of the oil and gas production in the Gulf–and towards a coastline brimming with refining facilities.
